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Internet Gambling Dangerous
Lawmakers have decided that internet gambling is way too dangerous to continue. They argue that the ability to pay off debts using credit cards would too easily become addictive for many players. Technology has now made it so that gamblers no longer have to go to the casinos and play slot machines--instead they can gamble from home--and pay off debts with credit cards. The House announced that they are attempting to pass HR 4411 which would prevent people from using credit cards or any other payment forms to settle their debts. Rep. Tom Osbourne, R-Neb. believes that this is the best step they could take. “The ease of Internet gambling poses a very serious threat to our families and our society" he stated. This is a threat that though there is much debate, slot machines and casinos have not encountered these problems. Basically the new legislation would declare internet gambling illegal, and would cut off payments to web sites as well as blocking access to those same sites. The bill supporters say that this would help those with an addiction to gambling, and thus make it harder for them to come by it--they would have to actually go to the slot machines and casinos and spend their actual money rather than sink into debt. The opposition claims that this is next to impossible, and instead of making it harder to gamble, that they regulate the industry instead – since it is a $12 billion industry. The American Gaming Association had previously sided with the government, but now has changed its tune as well – and feels it would be much more feasible to regulate it instead. Most of internet gambling is outside of the US, with about half of its customers inside the country, so it might be very hard to regulate it at all. There then is also the problem of what would be allowed to continue and what wouldn’t. There are exemptions within the bill that still allow online lotteries and betting on horse racing via the internet, but would shut out the sports betting, casino games and card games like poker- for those you have to go to the casinos where more temptations like slot machines become an issue. Back to July News>>> Back to Recent News>>>

Internet Gambling Dangerous

Lawmakers have decided that internet gambling is way too dangerous to continue. They argue that the ability to pay off debts using credit cards would too easily become addictive for many players. Technology has now made it so that gamblers no longer have to go to the casinos and play slot machines--instead they can gamble from home--and pay off debts with credit cards. The House announced that they are attempting to pass HR 4411 which would prevent people from using credit cards or any other payment forms to settle their debts. Rep. Tom Osbourne, R-Neb. believes that this is the best step they could take. “The ease of Internet gambling poses a very serious threat to our families and our society" he stated. This is a threat that though there is much debate, slot machines and casinos have not encountered these problems.

Basically the new legislation would declare internet gambling illegal, and would cut off payments to web sites as well as blocking access to those same sites. The bill supporters say that this would help those with an addiction to gambling, and thus make it harder for them to come by it--they would have to actually go to the slot machines and casinos and spend their actual money rather than sink into debt. The opposition claims that this is next to impossible, and instead of making it harder to gamble, that they regulate the industry instead – since it is a $12 billion industry. The American Gaming Association had previously sided with the government, but now has changed its tune as well – and feels it would be much more feasible to regulate it instead.

Most of internet gambling is outside of the US, with about half of its customers inside the country, so it might be very hard to regulate it at all. There then is also the problem of what would be allowed to continue and what wouldn’t. There are exemptions within the bill that still allow online lotteries and betting on horse racing via the internet, but would shut out the sports betting, casino games and card games like poker- for those you have to go to the casinos where more temptations like slot machines become an issue.

Back to July News>>>

Back to Recent News>>>