done

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Rep. Scavello responded on Facebook:

Rep. Mario Scavello – Online Gambling
Good morning. I see some comments from people feel they need to discuss this issue on my facebook page rather that pick up a phone and contact me 570-269-6349.

I’ve spoken with many people who are shocked to hear that online gambling is illegal. Even though it is against the law, use of online gambling sites is on the rise across Pennsylvania. If we don’t act now to enact strict penalties for this unlawful activity, I know that use will only grow in the years ahead.

This bill is important to me because online gambling has proven to be harmful in a wide variety of ways. The first reason relates to our state’s most valuable resource, its children. It is nearly impossible to prevent kids, especially teenagers, from going online to gamble. This is an even larger issue with young college students.

A study conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that the use of Internet gambling sites by college-aged men grew from just more than 4 percent in 2008 to 16 percent in 2010. Those statistics are from four years ago! Imagine what they would look like if the same survey was conducted today.

Beyond the impact on our state’s children, it is impossible to police the problem and compulsive gamblers online. This is a problem the state has tried to address since slots were introduced several years ago. In fact, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has worked to help these people with programs designed to treat their addiction. But here again, online gambling is best described as the “Wild West.” Online, there’s no one around to keep an eye on someone who doesn’t know when to stop.

The third reason for this bill is something that many people wouldn’t think about when considering online gambling. Over the past couple years, officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation have grown concerned about terrorists and organized crime rings using online gambling sites to launder money.

I paraphrase here, but in a memo, FBI officials said that online casinos are home to a wide variety of criminal schemes, including games with exclusively criminal players, who are exchanging money to launder criminal proceeds. Members of Congress have also expressed concerns, with calls to block the expansion of online gambling. While this is good, Pennsylvania can’t afford to wait, we need to act now.

Finally, online gambling is an enterprise that hurts legitimate businesses and jobs right here in Pennsylvania. I did not support Casino gambling and have voted against the legislation. However, I have seen the important, economic impact legal gambling has had in my district. It has brought new jobs and investment. In comparison, online gambling does not bring investment, and more importantly, jobs, into our states.

A few states have legalized online gambling, including New Jersey. Even though it remains illegal here in Pennsylvania, use of gaming web sites continues to grow. I believe that if you hit people in their wallets, we can start to crack down on lawbreakers.

That is why my bill calls for the first offense for someone caught gambling online to be a summary offense. If convicted, that person is looking at the possibility of 90 days in jail and a fine that could reach $300.

For those who are second-time offenders, the violation would be graded as a third-degree misdemeanor. In that case, following conviction, jail time could reach one year and a fine could reach $2,500

It is my hope that not one fine is ever issued.

My phone number is 570-269-6349

Thanks for the info Rich. Since he is responding to some comments and leaving them up, I went back and posted there too.

**** Friday #Fight4Poker ****

• Let's send Senators Cornyn & Murkowski prefilled, editable #poker tweets:
- http://spredd.it/rK49Mazq
- http://spredd.it/2NX7M9a4

• Let's keep making & liking #poker posts to an article on Adelson's #poker ban quest:
- http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...ad-103461.html

• Please retweet & favorite today's action plan:
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/434267105169387520
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/434267588193828864
- http://www.facebook.com/PokerDailyAc...52617671450693
- https://plus.google.com/+RichMuny/posts/EwL6hck4DHx

• Let's all reply here with "done", "tweeted," "posted," etc. to encourage others, and please share & favorite this post on your wall. Thanks for participating!

done

Done

done

Done

**** Weekend #Fight4Poker ****

• LA Gov. Bobby Jindal came out against online #poker in an op-ed arguing for prohibition. Let's make & like some #poker comments there:
- http://businessreport.com/2142014/In...n_Middle_Class

• Let's send Govs. Jindal & Corbett prefilled #poker tweets:
- http://spredd.it/B595y9ml
- http://spredd.it/Yc68cb9i

• PA state Rep. Mike Tobash proudly announces his desire to criminalize playing online #poker in his newsletter: http://t.co/crRH4XxU4v . Let's make & like posts on his Facebook page:
- https://www.facebook.com/RepTobash?filter=2 (to view, you'll have to go to "posts by others)

• Please retweet & favorite today's action plan:
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/434598640485556224
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/434621378302459904
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/434623414326677504
- http://www.facebook.com/PokerDailyAc...53026868076440
- https://plus.google.com/+RichMuny/posts/hCXWCaAimpW

• Let's all reply here with "done", "tweeted," "posted," etc. to encourage others, and please share & favorite this post on your wall. Thanks for participating!

Done

done

done

With these Republicans, stress "market solution" in your posts. A regulated intrastate market is a deterrent to play on offshore, unregulated sites.

that's like telling an evangelical that handing out condoms is good because it deters unprotected sex.

if you are trying to convince someone of something, you can't just say that your idea will reduce something that is bad when your proposal replaces the bad thing with something else that they view as also bad. (ie replacing unregulated gambling with regulated gambling is viewed by many as kicking your heroin addiction by switching to cocaine)

better than bad can still be bad. if you want them to think its good, you need to tell them why its good, not just why its not as bad as something else that is worse.

done

Done

**** Monday #Fight4Poker ****

• Let's make & like #poker comments on three articles, including an LA Times article at on Adelson's online #poker prohibition jihad:
- http://discussions.latimes.com/20/la...ik-20140216/10
- http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...-fear-net-bets
- http://businessreport.com/2142014/In...n_Middle_Class

• Let's keep making & liking poker posts on anti-online poker PA state Rep. Mike Tobash Facebook page. He proudly announced his desire to criminalize playing online #poker in his newsletter:
- https://www.facebook.com/RepTobash?filter=2 (if you don't see your post, reclick the link here or verify you're viewing "posts by others")

• Please retweet & favorite today's action plan:
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435302885434621952
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435306599792791552
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435307738114322432
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435308515704729600
- http://www.facebook.com/PokerDailyAc...53988997980227
- https://plus.google.com/+RichMuny/posts/bcCWr1hLpje

• Let's all reply here with "done", "tweeted," "posted," etc. to encourage others, and please share & favorite this post on your wall. Thanks for participating!

Done

done

**** Tuesday #Fight4Poker ****

• Let's make & like #poker posts to a supportive USA Today online poker article that quotes Gags30 and me:
- http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...growth/5562481

• Let's keep making & liking #poker comments on two articles on Adelson's online #poker prohibition jihad:
- http://discussions.latimes.com/20/la...ik-20140216/10
- http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...-fear-net-bets

• Let's send Senators Graham and McCain prefilled, editable #poker tweets:
- http://spredd.it/k3SdudqG
- http://spredd.it/bLf8aTei

• Please retweet & favorite today's action plan:
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435694522820227072
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435699093256802304
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/435700039734661121
- http://www.facebook.com/PokerDailyAc...54436367935490
- https://plus.google.com/+RichMuny/posts/PKEPguGk23s

• Let's all reply here with "done", "tweeted," "posted," etc. to encourage others, and please share & favorite this post on your wall. Thanks for participating!

Done

Done

done

**** Wednesday #Fight4Poker ****

• Let's make & like #poker posts on SC Sen. Lindsey Graham's Facebook page:
- www.facebook.com/LindseyGrahamSC/posts/10201835599000282

• Let's make & like #poker posts to an online poker article in The Hill:
- http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/te...ling-to-states

• Let's send Govs. Jindal & Corbett prefilled #poker tweets:
- http://spredd.it/B595y9ml
- http://spredd.it/Yc68cb9i

• Let's keep making & liking #poker posts to a supportive USA Today online poker article that quotes Gags30 and me:
- www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/17/new-jersey-online-gambling-growth/5562481

• Please retweet & favorite today's action plan:
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/436053680748380160
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/436054019799142400
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/436054276620578816
- https://twitter.com/RichMuny/status/436054867379900416
- www.facebook.com/PokerDailyActionPlan/posts/654902567888870
- https://plus.google.com/+RichMuny/posts/gmLBfkyUBQ9

• Let's all reply here with "done", "tweeted," "posted," etc. to encourage others, and please share & favorite this post on your wall. Thanks for participating!