Skip to comments.
Legalize online gambling
LA Times ^
| 6/09/2006
| Editorial
Posted on 06/12/2006 3:39:15 PM PDT by Roamin53
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES is due to vote soon on proposals to ban online gambling, and the deck seems stacked in favor of sound bites over sound policy. Federal law already outlaws businesses from using phone lines to place or receive bets across state lines, particularly when the bets are on sporting events. That restriction, although it's not a clear ban on Internet gambling, has stopped the country's major casinos from taking bets online. What it hasn't done is stop Web users from gambling around the clock at offshore sites, often based in Central America and the Caribbean. According to one estimate, offshore sites offering poker games, sports betting and casino-style gambling collect $12 billion a year, about half of it coming from American wallets.
In response, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill last month that would explicitly ban online gambling businesses of all kinds. Even worse, to cut off the money supply for virtual gaming, the committee also backed a bill that would impose significant new regulatory burdens on financial companies, which would be barred from supporting electronic wagers or payouts. The bills are expected to be consolidated and debated on the House floor this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abramoff; gambling; indiangambling; poker; regulation; taxes
I seldom agree with the LA Times but can only think that this is a Lobbyist funded Indian Gaming effort or just another attempt by the Feds to control our behavior. They even want to have your ISP give you a 404 error (shades of Red China). My father taught me to play poker with pennies when I was about 5...he'd hate this.
1
posted on
06/12/2006 3:39:18 PM PDT
by
Roamin53
To: Roamin53
Online gambling is already legal...It`s called the stock market.
2
posted on
06/12/2006 3:40:36 PM PDT
by
Screamname
(I`ll give peace a chance when it doesn`t need one.)
To: Roamin53
Why anyone would expect a computer gambling program to be scrupulously fair and random is beyond me.
3
posted on
06/12/2006 3:47:21 PM PDT
by
Centurion2000
(You go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company and conversation.)
To: Centurion2000
I would'nt (you realize that includes many state lotterys).
But online sports books are as fair and reliable as any.
4
posted on
06/12/2006 3:49:44 PM PDT
by
Dinsdale
To: Roamin53
I think it should be really easy to access your home equity to play online poker. All you'd need to do is type in the account numbers and your betting limits.
To: CSM; jmc813; Phantom Lord; doubled; Graycliff; Tallguy; Lexington Green; ThinkDifferent; ...
Legalize it where brick and mortar casinos are already legal.
Poker Ping!
Freepmail me if you want on the Poker Ping List.
6
posted on
06/12/2006 3:54:09 PM PDT
by
frogjerk
(LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
To: frogjerk
And where there is riverboat gambling....
7
posted on
06/12/2006 3:55:12 PM PDT
by
MikefromOhio
(aka MikeinIraq - WTFO)
To: Centurion2000
Do you expect INdian Casino slot machines to be scrupulously fair and random?
8
posted on
06/12/2006 4:00:35 PM PDT
by
Hildy
("Whenever someone smiles at me all I see is a chimpanzee begging for its life." - Dwight Schrute)
To: Roamin53
"But the fact that the House bills wouldn't outlaw online betting on horse racing, which Congress allowed states to authorize in 2000, seems to belie the sincerity of the effort."
Phew. Had me nervous for a moment.
9
posted on
06/12/2006 4:04:24 PM PDT
by
angkor
To: Hildy
Do you expect INdian Casino slot machines to be scrupulously fair and random? Nope, I only gamble with my life, not my money.
10
posted on
06/12/2006 4:12:58 PM PDT
by
Centurion2000
(You go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company and conversation.)
To: Roamin53
Even worse, to cut off the money supply for virtual gaming, the committee also backed a bill that would impose significant new regulatory burdens on financial companies, which would be barred from supporting electronic wagers or payouts Where the hell are they going to find justification in the Const. for this?
11
posted on
06/12/2006 4:15:54 PM PDT
by
Centurion2000
(You go to Heaven for the climate; Hell for the company and conversation.)
To: Hildy
Do you expect INdian Casino slot machines to be scrupulously fair and random?There has never been any slot machine created that is fair and random. Buyer beware.
Before I enter a casino I find out from reviews, friends, and others whether the establishment is "fair".
12
posted on
06/12/2006 4:25:08 PM PDT
by
frogjerk
(LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
To: Roamin53
Government already encourages gambling. Almost every state has the numbers game (lottery) monopolized and spends millions of advertising dollars enticing the suckers to bet the numbers. Casinos are common.
"Gamming Commissions" (officials avoid the word gambling like the plague.) have replaced the Mafia as the general supervisors of gambling.
Gambling is hardly among man's highest virtues and is harmful to the individual. Because of the fiction that government is supposed to promote the general welfare of the people it's a shame that government has become the biggest game in town.
Notice that having made it easier to become addicted to gambling, government now magnanimously sets up "hot" lines where habitual gamblers can get "help."
It's a good bet that legalized drugs and prostitution will soon follow. Aalready we have the words "recreational drugs" instead of heroin and cocaine, and "sex workers" instead of whores.
To: R.W.Ratikal
So, are you saying that Mr. Potter won?
Are we wallowing in Pottersville?
14
posted on
06/12/2006 6:30:49 PM PDT
by
The Duke
To: Roamin53
Wrote my Congressman on this issue. Its to pay back powerful brick and mortar gambling interests AND to enable further prying into our financial records.
15
posted on
06/13/2006 7:34:09 AM PDT
by
Ghengis
(Alexander was a wuss!)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson