It ceases to amaze me how these right-wingers preach morality (in their effort to get rid of Internet-based gambling), but fully support an immoral war, and the alcohol and tobacco industries, which collectively kill thousands per year, both directly and indirectly. It just doesn’t make sense, although the argument is that one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
Let’s try to look at this issue objectively:
Don’t let them fool you. It’s not really about morality – it’s about money. The U.S. is green (no pun intended) with envy, in seeing all the money flock overseas, with few people actually paying taxes on gambling winnings (even though they should be). They want to stem the tide of this overseas cash flow, with the intent of people going to “in-house”, legalized, gambling parlors. Fat chance of this happening, since it is too much effort for most people to hop in a car and travel to the “nearest” casino.
With the ever-increasing budget deficit what it is, wouldn’t it behoove our wonderful government to jump on-board into this industry, help regulate it (which could actually have some positive benefits to us), and claim a piece of this very lucrative pie ? By “playing ball”, the government stands to make some money, and a decent amount at that. Prohibiting it outright, will continue to push these industries offshore, which hurts the U.S. Additionally, how on earth can the U.S. force its citizens to not gamble over the Internet ? Are they going to get Internet providers to block access to the multitude of sites out there ??? Never ! Are they going to get the Credit Card companies to comply with not permitting gambling charges to made ??? Never ! People will always find loopholes – alternate ISP’s and alternate payment methods (NETeller, for example). The bottom line is it really is totally non-regulatable from a technical and practical standpoint.
Can Internet gambling become additive ? Most certainly it can. But does it cause gambling addiction ? Certainly no more than legalized alcohol causes addicition, or legalized tobacco causes addiction; both of which, by the way, can cause harm to others. Do the existence of pornographic websites increase sexual offender behavior ? Let’s examine a whole bunch of social issues, if we are going to ban online gaming. The gambling sick are a small minority, and if they can’t bet over the Internet, they will find other ways to bet – horse race betting, lotteries, etc. There is no way it can be curtailed by imposing a restriction on Internet Gambling. It would be just like prohibition – people would find other ways to get their moonshine; hence, prohibition was eventually repealed.
I cannot see our government passing any legislation in both houses, without this subsequently being challenged in the Supreme Court. And at that juncture, the legality of regulating international-based activities, will never see the light of day; even with Bush’s 2 new cronies in the seats.
I suggest everyone who advertises for pay put an appropriate legal disclaimer on their sites, and to pay every penny of taxes on revenue due to the U.S. government. And sit back, and not worry. We will not be shut down !
Comments anyone ?