USA -> C2P money transfers may soon be illegal?

[neai]

http://www.theexaminer.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=852

Internet gamblers lose big in U.S. Senate
By Jerry Jordan, Senior Staff Writer

Secreted into H.R. 4954, the Safe Port Act, the U.S. Senate attached and voted to approve an amendment that now makes it illegal for banks to fund Internet gambling sites, as well as, the money brokers, like Neteller, Firepay and Click2Pay that act as a go-between from U.S. banks and offshore gambling sites.

In addition, the legislation, which is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush, will make it illegal to use credit cards for funding Internet gambling accounts.

http://www.online-gambling-insider.com/online-gambling/ogi-still-many-online-casino-gambling-options-in-the-usa-10-11-06.html

The reality according to numerous legal opinions is that the new Bill does NOT outlaw online gambling, but the processing by banks of financial transactions related to gambling.
The good news is that neocron isn't gambling, there are no bets or monetary prizes.
The bad news is that C2P seems to be all about handling gambling money X_X.

I guess that in best case this wont affect nc players. Most likely though banks may start refusing sending anything to C2P. In worst case "Hello IRS and mr policeman. I have an explaination! I really do!".

Paypal seems to be a very popular alternative in USA, why not add it (back?) to PBC.

[Darkana]

H.R. 4954 @ govtrack.us (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-4954):


SEC. 802. PROHIBITION ON ACCEPTANCE OF ANY PAYMENT INSTRUMENT FOR UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING.
...
§ 5362. Definitions
...
(10) UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ means to place, receive, or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager by any means which involves the use, at least in part, of the Internet where such bet or wager is unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received, or otherwise made.
...

§ 5364. Policies and procedures to identify and prevent restricted transactions
...
(4) ensure that transactions in connection with any activity excluded from the definition of unlawful internet gambling in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D)(i) of section 5362(10) are not blocked or otherwise prevented or prohibited by the prescribed regulations.

I read gambling all over, which means they can block C2P all they like for transactions in regard to "illegal" gambling; if they block your payment to play Neocron you could at least in theory gank them with your prefered Law Enforcer :cool: Although I must add I just crossread that thing, and most probably failed to catch finer details and regulations, this law-speak is hard to read and understand at times.
...

[unreal]

Best news I've heard all year. If all C2P transactions do actually get blocked in the US and people can't pay for Neocron via Click2Pay even though Neocron isn't gambling, hopefully this will be a final kick up the arse in terms of payment methods. Give us a stand-alone Paypal service please. :)

[Glok]

Hopefully they have the sense to know that C2P isn't purely gambling, if not and they blanket it as a gambling provider well heck. If KK can get a provider which doesn't ask for a scan of your card just to update the expiry date, so much the better I guess. Not having NC in the interim may annoy me a bit tho.

[Riddle]

Had heard about this change, lets see how it pans out.