Group Forms to Fight Bills Banning Credit Cards for Net Gaming

29 August 2001

The PAC is called freedomofchoice.org. It has an address in Washington, D.C., and plans to also lobby at the state level. Fein hopes to get support, and contributions, from online players, who would be inconvenienced if such bills become law.

To reach players, the group is asking "legal online gaming sites" to participate in its banner program. On its Web site, freedomofchoice.com says it supports "responsible regulation," not prohibition, of online gaming, and will endorse elected officials, candidates and referendums that agree with its position.

Fein works for a company that processes credit cards for e-commerce sites, as well as for bricks-and-mortar retailers. Joseph Fein is a political analyst who has worked in Washington.

The following is freedomofchoice.org's first press release, which was issued Tuesday:

WASHINTON, D.C. . . . In a move to block pending legislation on the federal and state levels that would restrict personal freedom in relation to the use of credit cards, checks, wire transfers and other prevalent financial instruments, a core group of concerned citizens has formed freedomofchoice.org (FOC) – a grassroots-based political action committee (PAC) which has established a presence in Nevada, California and the nation's capital. The fledgling PAC is now actively seeking to forge strategic political alliances, as well as funding from organizations, corporations, and in large part, private contributors, to fuel its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and in individual states, including California, where such legislation is in the works.

According to FOC's administrative director and spokesperson Stephen Fein, a pioneer of eCash and veteran of the merchant bankcard industry, the mission of freedomofchoice.org is to "protect the individual's right to use whatever financial instrument they so choose (i.e., credit or debit card, wire transfer, online bank deposit, money order, check, etc.) to engage in whatever legal pursuit, online or offline, they so desire.

"Online gaming is the first activity this restrictive type of legislation is intended to eliminate, so we are focusing our initial energies there," continues Fein. "By legislating, in effect, that legal adults can not use a valid credit card, check, wire transfer or any prevalent financial instrument for legal online gaming, government is really -- in our opinion – creating bureaucratic infringement and breaching Constitutional rights. I mean, where is this all going to stop?"

Adds Joseph Fein, legislative liaison for freedomofchoice.org: "Currently, there are three bills in the U.S. House, one in the Senate, AB1229 in California and other similar bills springing up in other states on an almost weekly basis which are basically using the same tack to snuff out an activity that a small group of politicos in power don't want. While we certainly recognize the need for responsible regulation of online gaming, particularly in relation to underage players, we can not sanction what in reality becomes prohibition of a legal entertainment activity. Remember, this country has tried prohibition, and it never works."

To this end, plans call for discussions to be initiated with key credit card associations, banks and other financial institutions to find "common ground" and solutions to problems, as well as address any misconceptions which may plague the online gaming industry. In addition, freedomofchoice.org will be endorsing elected officials, candidates and referendums that support its views; research the breadth and scope of regulation to the industry that is needed; and suggest legislative initiatives that address these concerns, with the issue of underage online gamers numbering among the top priorities.

As part of its ground-level fundraising efforts, freedomofchoice.org has established a Web site at www.freedomofchoice.org which spreads its message. Currently, PAC organizers are inviting legal online gaming sites to participate in this banner program by displaying links to FOC on their sites, so that gamers may easily locate the organization and learn more about its activities on their behalf. The organization's philosophy is: "If the people lead, eventually the leaders will follow."

Established in 2001 with a presence in California, Nevada and Washington, D.C., freedomofchoice.org is a grassroots-based political action committee whose mission is to protect the individual's right to use whatever financial instrument they so choose (i.e. credit or debit card, wire transfer, online bank deposit, money order, check, etc.) to engage in whatever legal pursuit, online or offline, they so desire. Its support comes from the many users of financial services, online and offline, that seek to safeguard the right to use and manage their private finances in any legal way they see fit. Spreading its message via Internet and brick and mortar businesses that follow its views, freedomofchoice.org endorses elected officials, candidates and referendums sharing its position.

For more information, to join the banner program or to make contributions, interested parties may visit www.freedomofchoice.org; call 202-298-0580 or email info@freedomofchoice.org. Contributions to freedomofchoice.org can be mailed to 2117 "L" Street, NW, #208, Washington, D.C., 20037-1524.