It's my money, my connection and my life. What is wrong with gambling online? Who am I hurting so much that it needs to be outlawed?
2006-10-27 06:53:38 · 8 answers · asked by psychosolodiver 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
because the politicians are afraid they won't be able to get their hands on their share!
2006-10-27 06:56:12 · answer #1 · answered by grumpy 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Taxes are certainly a part of it. The government is having fits trying to figure out an effective way to regulate and tax internet commerce, and online gambling is a multibillion dollar industry. Making it illegal sends gamblers back to the places they CAN tax, casinos.
Speaking of casinos, don't underestimate the power of the gambling lobby in the US. Places like Harrah's or Caesar's were missing out on the online gambling game, and probably put a little pressure on some of their pocket politicians to do something about it while they try and figure out the best way to take advantage of it. A lot of states have some form of legalized gambling now, so the influence of the gambling industry isn't localized to Nevada anymore. There's a little bit of it everywhere.
So the government gets to say it's protecting people (which its not, people just go gamble in casinos), make more money from taxes, and keep the gambling lobby happy. The only surprise is it didn't happen sooner.
2006-10-27 07:07:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is an excellent article on the subject on this blog...
"Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006: What it Really Means to the Gambling World"
http://www.bettingbots.com/blog/?p=60
The comment...
"The new law in my eyes, and in the eyes of many, is just a cowardly and ineffective move of the US government to stifle the online gambling industry."
...pretty much sums up the way most of us are feeling :-)
2006-10-28 15:58:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Taxes is the main reason. Where are these site operated from? How do we tax them for business done in the United States? How do we deal with the state-to-state tax implications? It is much easier for the government to outlaw it than to write a new tax code dealing with it (given that the government even has the right and power to tax online gambling).
2006-10-27 07:03:43 · answer #4 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we all like to have our freedom, but freedom from the swindle and the cheat are also what we claim we want, and the gambling sites afford a ready opportunity for people to make bad decisions and continue on the path of addiction and sometimes financial insolvency.
As for me, I am just happy when the government seems to give a damn about people. (Very oftent the government does not seem to really give a damn.)
2006-10-27 06:58:36 · answer #5 · answered by voltaire 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey conservative protestants! Remember when gambling was a sin that led to hell? And liquor, make-up, short dresses, marrying blacks, smoking, and non-marital sex? What happened?
2006-10-27 06:57:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell me about it! Stupid law. And I usually agree with the republicans! Except on this issue.
2006-10-27 06:55:19 · answer #7 · answered by jfahd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One word for you that should sum-up just about everything- taxes.
2006-10-27 06:57:10 · answer #8 · answered by TJD 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋