Congress effectively outlawed online gambling in this country last week, sneaking in this piece of legislation onto a port security bill. This is another terrible piece of legislation destroying freedom in this country, protecting people from themselves. I have to wonder if the large Vegas casinos and their lobby had anything to do with this legislation, since that's $6 billion a year that they are not getting a piece of.
I did hear an interview with one of the executives of the MGM Grand recently, and he indicated that they actually wanted to get into the online gaming business, but the federal law (before this legislation passed) forbid them from doing so. So the federal government could have either changed the law to even the playing field and let the Vegas casinos compete, or ban it altogether. Unfortunately, in an election year, limiting access to gambling plays better, especially when none of the companies affected are paying U.S. taxes.
Speaking of taxes, the online gambling businesses were recently asking to be regulated in this country. They wanted the U.S. government to impose regulations and tax them, but instead of tapping a huge revenue source, the nanny-federal government this time chose to outlaw it. Legislation like this is where I part ways with Rebublicans, and lean towards the libertarian view.
Posted by Palouse123 at October 16, 2006 08:57 AM | Email ThisRemember when gambling was bad regardless of who was profiting from it? Governments' move towards protecting government-sponsored gambling should tell everyone something about government itself when it exploits people with addictions so it can profit from smokers, drinkers, and gamblers.
Posted by: mjcostello on October 16, 2006 11:36 AMRepublicans backing the provision said it was designed to protect youngsters from the financial and moral damage of online gambling, but opponents said it could prove extremely difficult to enforce.
Critics also said that gambling businesses that cater to horse-racing and state lotteries, which enjoy powerful political patronage, were exempted from the law.
What a load of crap. Since when can kids get their own credit cards in order to gamble online? Even if they do it with their parents' credit cards, that is the responsibility of parents to prevent it, not government. I wish there was a viable alternative to this Republican party, because I am disgusted with it.
What exactly does this bill have to do with Port security and terrorism? This was thrown in there so that Bush could use the sound bites to tout their port security measures instead.