Posted on 11/03/2005 10:28:14 PM PST by JTN
Americans are ignoring laws prohibiting online gambling so Congress is moving to create a bigger hammer. Gambling on the internet is illegal and booming thanks to the apathy of a lot of Americans. Congress is considering the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005 to stem the tide. The proposal does not change current law but gives law enforcement more clout in dealing with illegal gambling on U-S computers. Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council.
"A lot of time the federal government's hands are tied. This allows both credit card companies and the Treasury Department to work hand in hand in trying to shut down some of these sites."
McClusky says the legislation will not solve the problem, but it is a good first step.
"The one thing about internet gambling, the FBI, the Treasury Department has found that a lot of the funding goes to some pretty unscrupulous things, anything from pornography sites to terrorism. So if this helps in that fight that is certainly a good thing."
Focus on the Family's Chad Hills says unless there is a crackdown, any home with a computer is a potential casino.
"We're going to have a casino in every living room where, at least most living rooms in America, where there are computers. And with this internet savvy generation of kids, you can bet it won't be long before they figure out a way to get on there and start gambling as well."
The legislation calls on the Treasury Department to draft regulations that must be followed by financial institutions. For example, credit card companies would be prohibited from approving internet gambling transactions. The legislation has the endorsement of the National Football League. It wants to stop online gambling on professional football games.
Been to Casinos in Freeport Bahamas a couple of times when I was U.S.C.G...It was fun but I could see that gambling would be my ruination if I lived in place like Vegas.
I have backed down from playing state lottery.
do a couple of bucks here and there vice my former maybe 20 bucks a week.
Gotta say that that the game that has been kindest to me was BINGO....won 5 grand at the old AURORA BINGO(HOME OF THE LUCKY DOG)...in SEATTLE
Bingo I can deal with.
And got to get out to MUCKLESHOOT BINGO one of these days to see if BINGO GODDESS wil again smile upon me.
Rather my few bucks go to TRIBAL CASINO/BINGO HALL than to the RUSSIAN MAFIA.
You nailed it...
Party Poker is probably the biggest site and it is a money machine...no cheating necessary.
Cheating would just risk the neck of the goose that lays golden eggs.
Legal liability because they offered a crooked version of what is already illegal? Good luck with that line of argument. Kind of like suing the hooker that gave you the clap!
But, with no inspection, no regulation, how would anyone ever find out they are cheating?
That's why I say, legalize it, tax it , and regulate it so those who want to can gamble as safely as in Vegas.
It's only illegal in the US. As I said, the major gambling websites are based in foreign countries. If (astronomical if) the websites were cheating, then customers in the US might be SOL, but the internet is global and they would be opening themselves up to lawsuits from all over the world. Not to mention criminal prosecution.
Whistleblowers would be one way. The slightest suspicion of cheating would crush these companies. Why take the risk?
The government just hates competition.
"A lot of time the federal government's hands are tied." - Tom McClusky, Family Research Council.
"Courage is lacking in world leaders many times today." - Harriet Miers.
Is McClusky a proud graduate of the Harriet Miers School of English Composition? ;-)
Presidents Gore and Kerry would likely agree with you.
No way and not a supportable argument. The only thing a President Gore or Kerry would want is for the Government to be the ones making profit on alcohol, drugs, and gambling. In NH the state runs the sales of liquor and they have a huge exit off the highway were you can stop in and stock up. As I drive by I often wonder how long it will be before the place is turned into a Gov't sanctioned casino and house of prostitution - all raising money "for the children". Now I have no problem with people making a buck and there's plenty of things for sale out there that I decide to pass by ON MY OWN. I do have a problem with the Gov't enforcing a monopoly and making the same thing they are doing illegal for private citizens to do.
The reason we can assume this is that there is no evidence of it. Simple as that.
Andrew
Ya ever notice how any acitivity the gov't doesn't approve of has suddenly become a source of terrorism funding?
oh yeah ive been noticing that for years i really love the marijuana supports terrorism the best though becasue i cant for the life of me figure out how these terrorists are growing all that weed in the arid deserts of the middle east.
I wasn't saying Gore/Kerry would agree with you on policy. I am saying that they would agree that more conservatives should vote for Libertarian candidates (The "President Gore and Kerry" was the hint.)
Ok got it - don't you just love bulletin boards? For a while I was starting to worry about conservatives having another Ross Perot "Reformed Party" moment giving us another Clinton. Instead, I think the Dems are going to lose even more to the Greenies, Nadarites, MoveOn.org "purists" next time around. They are stuck on stupid over the war and now using it to distract people from their impotence in Congress.
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