From fan590: Premiere of ontario might introduce bill

to ban the showing of poker shows on tv that are sponsored by online pokerrooms.

LOL

CGTV would be toast, even TSN and SN would feel it...

Cant find any url on it though, just listening to it from Mccowan on Primetime Sports.
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Comments

  • The .NET sites do not have any gambling, so I don't see any problem. I don't think that it will get as bad as the US, where my friends playing at the WSOP were ordered to add a ".NET" sticker to their jerseys, even though there was no website indicated on the company name.
  • BINGO wrote: »
    The .NET sites do not have any gambling, so I don't see any problem. I don't think that it will get as bad as the US, where my friends playing at the WSOP were ordered to add a ".NET" sticker to their jerseys, even though there was no website indicated on the company name.


    The bill will mention that any TV show that is sponsored by any play money or for real site (so .net sites would also be covered). I guess I should have mentioned that. (well, thats what Bob said).

    Pretty stupid bill imo, and McCowan almost busted some arteries, he was pretty pissed. :)
  • The premier of this province needs to get a F'n real job. Geezes it makes me sick. :bs: They will spend millions promoting a lottery for which you have a better chance of getting struck by lightening then come up with something stupid like this.
  • grazzt wrote: »

    That is it, now an interesting note is there

    [SIZE=-1]The purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the advertising of website addresses of Internet gaming businesses unless the person doing the advertising believes in good faith that the Internet gaming business has been properly authorized to operate and is in fact being operated in accordance with Ontario and Canadian law. [/SIZE]
  • Ladies and Gentlemen...our tax dollars at work!

    What a bunch of bull!
  • So, could this be the end of poker magazines being availible in Ontario since the majority of their advertising is for online poker sites?
  • Has any one contacted their local MPP and expressed their opinion on this yet?

    Politicians work for the people and if you do not like a certain Bill it is your responsibility to inform them of your opinion on it.
  • /Devils Advocate

    I don't think contacting a local MPP or otherwise will do much help. They're not trying to stop the studious poker player, who makes a few extra bucks a month from playing poker. That's ridiculous. They're more worried about the guy with kids, the old ladiy, the high school kid with a credit card, who have no idea of bankroll and don't have any self control (Do a sharkscope search on some of those fishes you play against, I was surprised when I saw how much money some of these people throw away). They spend their money on poker exporting money to other countries when they could be spending it locally on cigarettes, boos and strippers which make the local gov't money.

    /end devil's advocate


    Can I get a Woooooooeeeee stealing old ladie's pensions!!!
  • Dorez wrote: »

    I don't think contacting a local MPP or otherwise will do much help.

    Not contacting your MPP definitely doesn't help.

    Plus if you get a response from your MPP you can always post it here or better yet use that reply to contact the other people in your riding that are running next year for their opinion on it.
  • I'm at a loss as to the stripper derived streams of revenue for the gov't..but have always felt..deep down, that they were Good Canadians. Bless them, each and every one! ;)

    I'm on theme-post here, I just bitched and whined for two days on a similar note-that being laws that protect the gov't's interests or the people 'incapable' of protecting themselves. I liken this form of incapacity to the person for whom McDonalds coffee is now labeled 'caution hot'. I'll peel the 'no fork' sticker of my new toaster and smile to myself everytime I read the instruction sign on the crosswalk near my house...but sometimes the impositions made to protect those people goes TOO FAR. Whether or not this is one of those occassions where its 'gone too' far is probably debatable..I don't know enough about the potential fall out here to say for sure.

    What do you think will happen negatively and positively as a result of this?
  • It's Ontario legislation, so I can see it affecting Ontario-based TV stations. So CITY TV wouldn't be broadcasting WPT anymore. SportsNet no more Superstar Poker Invitational and EPT? Maybe. But what about non-Ontario stations? Could they force cable companies in Ontario to block the ads? How about ExpressVu? Hmmm maybe so but not without a lot of screaming. I think it is all governed by the CRTC anyway so I'm wondering what kind of tempest in a teapot the Ont gov't can create?

    Will they go around and tear down all those Dishnet satellite dishes that receive US stations? Sounds like a lot of work for a questionable benefit. Who knows where Big Brother will stop.

    I agree the govt is way too involved in personal decisions. They need to let people be responsible for their own lives. (I've always believed that if you have to tell people to not run with scissors in their mouth, maybe they shouldn't have access to scissors in the first place!)

    I think the bigger impact is the recent US gov't legislation. That will likely kill all poker advertising in the US, hence the vast majority of our poker broadcasting and we will suffer from the fallout.
  • BigChrisEl wrote: »
    Plus if you get a response from your MPP you can always post it here
    Will do ;) . I agree that mailing them won't help much, but it will help more than doing nothing, and it makes your MPP at least think about the issue (rather than blindly voting).
    pkrfce9 wrote: »
    I think the bigger impact is the recent US gov't legislation. That will likely kill all poker advertising in the US, hence the vast majority of our poker broadcasting and we will suffer from the fallout.
    Exactly right. This law will have little effect compared to what's going to happen as a result of the American legislation.
  • MPP LEAL INTRODUCES PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL:
    Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Internet Gaming Advertising), 2006
    PETEBOROUGH – Today, in Ontario’s Legislature, Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, introduced his private members’ bill entitled, ‘Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Internet Gaming Advertising), 2006.’
    This bill is intended to stop the advertising of illegal Internet gaming websites, which are not licensed in Ontario or Canada, thereby protecting businesses regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
    “The growth of illegal Internet gaming websites, onshore and offshore, is a serious threat to the future viability and integrity of both the horse racing industry and government betting operations,” said MPP Leal. “Responsible local businesses like Kawartha Downs and Kawartha Slots who provide many jobs to people from my riding of Peterborough, should be able to operate unhindered by illegal competition within Canada.”
    One of the key strengths of gaming in Ontario is the income-generating power of the industry. Charities, hospitals, mental health addiction projects and cultural projects benefit from the money collected by Ontario’s gaming industry.
    Bill 60 was debated during Second Reading today and has now been referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
    -30-
    For More Information Contact:
    Jeff Leal MPP Peterborough
    T – (416) 325-0534
    F – (416) 325-0570
    Email: jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
  • I think EPT and whatnot will still make it's way to tv. Maybe not all the shows, but most of them should survive quite easily. Degree puts out a free million dollar a tournament a year to get their name on a poker tourny, I'm sure there are other companies out there willing to advertise themselves using poker.

    Also, I said telling your MPP your thoughts wouldn't Help *MUCH*, i didn't say it wouldn't help at all. I just don't see the benefit of getting off my lazy ass. ;)
  • Dorez wrote: »
    I just don't see the benefit of getting off my lazy ass. ;)
    if there's no poker on tv, maybe you'll have a reason...
  • Dorez wrote: »

    Also, I said telling your MPP your thoughts wouldn't Help *MUCH*, i didn't say it wouldn't help at all. I just don't see the benefit of getting off my lazy ass. ;)



    Who said anything about getting off your ass....all you have to do is type an e-mail to your MPP, I already posted the link to find out who it is and send a brief e-mail asking them about the bill.

    You have done more work reading and responding to the post here then the amount of work that would be required to e-mail you MPP
  • Dear Hon. <NAME OF MPP HERE>,

    I am a resident of the riding of <INSERT YOUR RIDING HERE>and I am writing you to find your opinion on Bill 60 2006.

    Please let me know where you stand on this bill and why.

    Thank you

    <YOUR NAME>
  • fan590 again today, I think starting at 6pm (20 minutes from now), Bob is going to have on a lawyer, and I believe the MPP that introduced the bill. (not sure on this one). I will post a recap if I listen to it all. :)

    lawyer was on, basically says its a provincial bill trying to change the crimingal code. which cant be done, criminal stuff is federal. Also introduces tons of weird side affects, like HNIC broadcasting a game in Calgarys arena that has poker ads would be illegal to show in Ontario?

    The bill dude is on, its all about Woodbine and horseracing industry. He says fun sites are okay, they are just going against "illegal gaming sites". wtf, this makes no sense. He says .net are ok, and Bob is right, there are no .com sites advertising. "internet illegal gaming sites" has been repeated like 10 times. Honestly, it doesnt sound like this politician know what hes doing or what hes getting into.

    The last 2 minutes were good. Both Bob and the legal guy said "if the politician did not mispeak", then this bill does NOTHING.
  • BigChrisEl wrote: »
    Dear Hon. <NAME OF MPP HERE>,

    I am a resident of the riding of <INSERT YOUR RIDING HERE>and I am writing you to find your opinion on Bill 60 2006.

    Please let me know where you stand on this bill and why.

    Thank you

    <YOUR NAME>

    Here's what I wrote to my MPP....John Milloy.....oh and its pretty long...

    Hello Mr. Milloy,



    As a constituent of our riding I thought I should voice my concern about a new law being introduced by our government. I apologize for being the typical citizen who only calls(emails) when he/she has a problem and never voices his appreciating when things are going well. While I’m definitely of the Liberal bent I would say that the proposed ban on advertising for internet gaming concerns me. While I agree that most advertising for “not a gambling site” websites is a thinly veiled attempt to attract people to the links to the true for-money games, I believe that the dangerous effects of these online sites is grossly overstated.



    The Toronto Star article below attempts to portray internet gambling as a “scourge” that is highly addictive and a trap for underage players. While my philosophy may differ from that of the present government on this matter it cannot be argued by anyone that internet gambling is any more or less addictive than the Casinos that operate all over our fair province. And if the bottom line is simply about lost revenue to the province then legalize it and tax it…..just like horse racing, slots, lottery tickets, cigarettes, liquor and pornography all which are legally available in Ontario (AND considered addictive by people smarter than I). This doesn’t even account for the legality of two men fighting without sanction from the government (hockey, boxing, and so-called ultimate fighting). We all reap the rewards of the taxes that are paid by people attending these events. I also find it hard to believe that the honourable Ministers Jeff Leal (the originator of the legislation) and Gerry Phillips have never taken advantage of any of these things (and apparently their life was sufficiently unaffected to the point they are still quite capable of being MPPs)



    While advertising for gambling should be controlled, (as is advertising for alcohol and cigarettes) I think this bill is simply the beginning of a US styled ban on internet gambling. I do believe that the majority of the public have no problem with internet gambling and I think that they should be consulted. I’m sure that a solution to this problem is attainable. The Liberal party has many capable people such as yourself (I did vote for you) who can come up with a better plan than simple prohibition. I’m available to discuss this over a coffee , although I’m sure your busy schedule will prevent this from happening I appreciate your time in letting me voice my concerns. Otherwise keep up the good work…..







    Nikola
    Kitchener, Ontario





    Province trying to close online gambling loophole

    Oct. 18, 2006. 01:00 AM

    IAN URQUHART



    We've all seen the ads on television or heard them on the radio: A poker "star" boasts of his conquests and invites us to visit a website where we can gamble with play money.

    "It's fun," says the poker star. "It's free."

    But upon making the visit, we discover connections to the real thing: a website where we can lay down bets for hard cash, or credit.

    It is through such manoeuvring that the website operators continue to find ways to attract new customers, notwithstanding the fact that gambling on the Internet, or advertising of same, is strictly illegal in Canada.

    Accordingly, the provincial government plans to move to close the loopholes with a blanket ban on advertising of Internet gambling, direct or indirect.

    The ban will be part of an omnibus consumer protection bill to be introduced tomorrow by Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips.

    Phillips is essentially adopting, in government legislation, a private member's bill introduced earlier this year by Jeff Leal, Liberal MPP for Peterborough. Leal deserves credit for bringing attention to the issue.

    There are good reasons for the government to take this step: Internet gambling is highly addictive because it can be played anonymously around the clock, and it is also accessible to underage players.

    But, of course, the province has another reason to curb Internet gambling: It is cutting deeply into the government's share of the take from legal gambling at the casinos and race tracks.

    It is hard to know exactly how much money is being drained away from legal gambling by the illegal sites on the Internet; estimates range up to $500 million a year in Ontario.

    But this much is known: Revenues for the government-owned Ontario Lotteries and Gaming Corp. (operator of the province's casinos) were down $335 million over the past three years and is forecast to drop another $210 million this year.

    Border-crossing problems, the high value of the Canadian dollar, and growing U.S. competition share the blame for this. But there is no doubt that Internet gambling is a factor in the steady decline.

    Some argue that Canada should simply follow the lead of other jurisdictions (Britain, for example) and legalize Internet gambling, with governments either operating the sites directly or regulating and taxing them.

    But there seems to be little appetite for this option among Canadian jurisdictions.

    The Ontario government, for one, has categorically ruled out involvement in the Internet gambling business.

    The next option, then, is to fight the scourge.

    The problem is that, while illegal, Internet gambling is hard to police, as the sites are based either offshore (Antigua, for example) or, within Canada, at the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, outside Montreal.

    The United States Congress last month found a way to get at the offshore sites by passing a bill that makes it illegal for American banks to allow their credit cards to be used for online gambling.

    Such action is beyond the jurisdiction of a province, however, as Ottawa is responsible for both the Criminal Code and banking. So Ontario is focusing on advertising curbs for now.

    But Phillips has written a letter to federal Justice Minister Vic Toews to express his concerns about Internet gambling and appeal to Ottawa to join the fight.

    The letter, dated Sept. 28, has a plaintive tone to it as Phillips struggles to capture Toews's attention.

    "The government of Ontario considers illegal Internet gaming to be a serious issue," writes Phillips.

    "It is clear, however, that illegal Internet gaming represents complex regulatory challenges requiring a co-ordinated effort by provinces and the federal government on several fronts ... I would ask for your support and continued engagement on this issue."

    Toews has yet to respond to the letter.

    Somewhat surprisingly — given that the federal Conservative government often takes its cues from Washington — a spokesperson for Toews explains that Internet gambling is not a "priority" for the justice minister.

    So, the websites will continue to operate with impunity in Canada, but the advertising of them may soon be a little more difficult, at least in Ontario.

    A footnote: Phillips's omnibus bill will also contain sections dealing with real estate fraud, outlawing termination dates on gift certificates, and modernizing the provincial archives.



    Ian Urquhart's provincial affairs column appears Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. iurquha@thestar.ca
  • If this govt wants to keep the money locally they should allow/open up more poker rooms around GTA and beyond to let us play our game .. there is so much demand here ..
    they are now barking up the wrong tree, a toothless legislation that would jeopardise our enjoyment of the game and unnecessary jeopardising jobs in Ontario.
  • OK, my 2 cents:

    I don't think this "directly" affects poker on TV. They can't tell CityTV or Sportsnet or whatever to stop airing the WPT. But indirectly they "maybe" can stop their poker site advertisers from running ads (which may be their primary advertisers for those shows). Again, I think the free sites are a grey area here.

    The best part about both the article in today's Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star article both essentially seem to imply that Ontario isn't horrified with the morality of online gaming, they're interested in defending the horse racing "industry" and the casino and gaming "industry" within Ontario. Ie. "industries" that the Ontario government has a monopoly in.

    The government isn't worried about old ladies spending their pensions on online gaming. They're worried that those old ladies aren't spending their pensions on lottery tickets, bingo or horse racing in Ontario.
  • The government isn't worried about old ladies spending their pensions on online gaming. They're worried that those old ladies aren't spending their pensions on lottery tickets, bingo or horse racing in Ontario.

    So, so true.
  • What kills me is that they want to ban PLAY money advertising, but I still hear on the radio about playing the ponies or slots at the local racetracks.
  • STR82ACE wrote: »
    What kills me is that they want to ban PLAY money advertising, but I still hear on the radio about playing the ponies or slots at the local racetracks.

    Because the government get's their cut off this. Let's get the Ching HIll on line poker room started and get the government their share and see what happens.

    As some short hair bleach blonde chick used to say: STOP THE INSANITY mind you she was talking about food and exercise.
  • AcidJoe wrote: »
    Let's get the Ching HIll on line poker room started and get the government


    Hmmmmmmmmmmm, interesting.......let me work on that one.
  • STR82ACE wrote: »
    Hmmmmmmmmmmm, interesting.......let me work on that one.

    I know a few programers......
  • BigChrisEl wrote: »
    I know a few programers......

    Hmmmmmmmm...might be able to do something here!
  • For those of you that are interested:

    Hai Chris Elliott:
    I really want to thank you for your interest re: Bill 60.
    At present, private member's Bill 60 has been taken off the list but it has been included in Govt.'s Bill 152-"Consumer Protction Act" which is just starting to have 2nd reading this afternoon on Oct. 26 afternoon.
    To talk about my opinion about Internet GamblIng Advertising on the Internet, I am for banning this kind of Internet Advertising. I am proud to tell you that this banning bill is being included in the " Consumer Protection Act" Bill 152 which is for start of its 2nd reading today.
    As you may be knowing that it is illegal to put ads. on Internet by the Federal Canadian Govt.
    So we should be doing the same at the province level.
    I fully support the Bill 152.
    Thanks again for sharing your interest.
    Please feel free to write anytime you have any issues.
    Have a nice day!

    Dr. Kuldip Kular, MPP
    Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale

    Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
  • Holy crap! I didn't realize Cole was your MPP.
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