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"One thing is certain. If the bill eventually becomes law it will be very difficultif not impossibleto enforce. The U.S doesnt own the Internet, after all, and offshore gambling operators and eager U.S. players will quickly find ways around the legislation."
Reaction to the House of Representatives attempt to stifle online gambling with a few notable exceptions has continued this week. The Texarkana Gazette carried a well reasoned editorial opinion on the issue under the title "In Our View: Fold 'Em".
The article starts with a summary of Bill HR 4411, on which House members voted 317-93 to prohibit the use of credit cards and other payment gateways for Internet gambling purposes. The bill also clarifies current laws against gambling and opens the door for enforcement officials to work with Internet service providers to block online gambling sites.
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The Gazette notes that state lotteries and horse racing sites would not be affected, and opines that these were exempted primarily to keep lawmakers from states hosting such activities from opposing the legislation.
"Others see it as simply another business that should be regulated and taxed, pointing out that gambling has become a major revenue stream in the U.S., with casinos operating in several states," the piece points out. "The bill now goes to the Senate, which has shown little interest overall in online gambling so far."
The article says that it is curious that Congress "....is so worked up about Internet gambling. Americans, for the most part, dont see gambling as a major threat to our society and dont really think its any of Congress business if they want to place a wager online or off.
"And since gambling has expanded over the past couple of decades across the U.S. without much action from Washington to stop it, its hard to see why it is somehow more acceptable to place a bet in a casino on a riverboat or Indian reservation than to ante up at an online poker site.
"One thing is certain. If the bill eventually becomes law it will be very difficultif not impossibleto enforce. The U.S doesnt own the Internet, after all, and offshore gambling operators and eager U.S. players will quickly find ways around the legislation.
"If the bill eventually becomes law it will be very difficultif not impossibleto enforce. The U.S doesnt own the Internet, after all, and offshore gambling operators and eager U.S. players will quickly find ways around the legislation.
"Gamblers will find a way to gamble. Always have, always will. You can bet on it."
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