As promised I wanted to write an article and share my thoughts on the recent bill being introduced by Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and his counterpart Rick Boucher (D-VA). They are essentially seeking to update the U.S. Wire Act to include Internet Gambling. Looking at history, Mr. Goodlatte has taken a few bad beats along the way when it comes to making online gambling illegal. He started his quest back in 1997 in the 105th congress and we are now in 2006 and the 109th congress.
The fact that he has 100 of his original cosponsors on board for yet another crack at his prohibition bill should not be alarming. In his last attempt to make internet gambling illegal in 2002 he had 155 cosponsors and the bill still was defeated and passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on June 18, 2002 by a vote of 18-12. What is even more comical about this is that these two characters are trying to say that all of their past unsuccessful attempts at internet gambling prohibition are directly related to Jack Abramoff. To my knowledge Abramoff was more connected with Tribal Gaming and Indian Casino's. To attribute a booming $12 billion dollar industry to Abramoff's disregard for the legislative process is idiotic to say the least. It seems to me like these politicians are using the Abramoff scandal to exploit their continuously failing efforts of internet gambling prohibition. Politics you have to love it! These guys should hang up their expensive suits and trade them in for red wigs and honking noses. The statements they make and their understanding of internet gaming truly makes them look like clowns. Yea fellas, restricting sites from accepting credit cards............Brilliant..........Neteller, Firepay, Bueller, Bueller, anyone?
Now let's talk about about prohibition in general. In the 1920's when our government decided to prohibit alcohol it did not solve any problems, in fact it made them worse........much worse. The prohibition act of the 1920's was essentially unenforceable. If this act passes to prohibit internet gambling, it will be no different. After the prohibition in 1920 the crime rates and problems associate with alcohol actually increased. Do you really think the millions of Americans that currently gamble online from the comfort of their own homes are really going to just stop? Regardless if you are sitting on U.S. soil, in China, or on the moon, the gambling that anyone does online is actually taking place on soil in countries where online gambling is 100% legal. Every hand and transaction in the card room is taking place on a server in a legal jurisdiction. Does this mean if I visit Antigua on vacation that Representative Goddlatte is going to say it is illegal for me to gamble in their country. After all this is exactly what you are doing when you are sitting in the comfort of your own home.
To complicate matters even further is the infamous Antigua decision that was ruled upon by the World Trade Organization in April 2005. Antigua's argument before the WTO panel was that U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling violates free-trade agreements by not allowing the companies in Antigua to freely market to U.S. customers. Now the tricky part, both sides have claimed victory. I could go into a 4 page article on this whole fiasco by itslef, but you can google "Antigua WTO" and get a wealth of information. Bottom line though is that this is going to throw a huge monkey wrench into any kind of "prohibition" that our government may try to uphold. In fact just today Antigua already came out and publicly made it known that they are protesting this move - Antigua Protests U.S. Bill to ban Internet Gambling.
Now let's look at this from just the online poker side of things. I am obviously no attorney but the the bill defines a bet or wager to include wagering on sporting events, lotteries and games of chance. Hmmmmmm....... where would that leave online poker? Many regard poker as a game of skill. There is a reason that some people are winning players and others are not, and it has nothing to do with chance. Do you really think Phil Ivey is just plain lucky?
In closing I shouldn't have to say it because I have said it so many times before. But look at the drug problem, healthcare problems, homeland security issues, welfare problems, and of course the pending terrorist threat, and you tell me how dangerous one of America's favorite past times being played online is. It's not gambling that poses a major threat to our country, instead it is the partisan politicians who fight with each other and the opposite parties. When was the last time our government came together and really did what was right for the country instead of just trying stick it to the other party?
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