A Firestorm of Political Debate Over Internet Gambling

stacy123 · #1 12-02-2008, 07:37 AM

A fierce debate is ongoing among government officials concerning internet gambling. Many are for legalizing and taxing gambling online and many are against it.

Those who are for it say that a United States ban on internet gambling leaves players vulnerable to very poorly regulated or unregulated offshore sites and to abuse.

They say that the government would be much better off by legalizing it and regulating it so that they may collect the tax revenue that it would generate. There are already lotteries, casinos and racetracks everywhere you look so gambling is widespread. It is happening reguardless. They feel that it can be made safer for the public by regulating it.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance says that the government should not be making innocent people seem to be criminals because they have taken the game from the kitchen table to the computer table.

Internet gambling may be illegal in the United States but tens of thousands of sites are out there that do accept bank wires, electronic transfers and prepaid debit cards from players in the United States.

Those who are against lifting the ban say that any type of internet gambling should remain banned forever. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says that internet gambling is an underworld that is nothing but scams and schemes.

screamingmimi04 · #2 12-02-2008, 02:52 PM

I just can't understand why the government just doesn't figure out a way to tax internet gambling and then reap the benefits from it. With our economy in such a turmoil, you'd think they'd like to put some money in the coffers, instead of dragging their feet and debating the issue for another ten years.

Government officials should realize by now that they aren't going to stop internet gambling, so why not legalize it!

stacy123 · #3 12-03-2008, 08:30 AM

The thing that gets me is that it sure does seem like they have no problems figuring out how to tax us for everything else so why are they having so much debate about this???

ClassyTouch · #4 12-03-2008, 03:08 PM

The thing on this is it is so worldwide and hard to put a finger on to control. They really don't know what should be legal and what should't be. It will take a lot of figuring and working on to get it regulated, if that is what happens. Which I hope they do for the sake of the US players.

I do not think anyone as yet knows how to control the internet. It would cost so much to try to stop it in the US and right now they do not have the money or the neans to stop it all. There is always people to find ways around anything that is done. If our government would think on how to help us in these trying times, instead of trying to tell us what we can and can't do in our own homes, we would not be in the situation we are now.

They need to get thier priorities straight. They sure don't have thier heads in the right place now. I think they are realizing just what a BIG job this would be. In my thinking it will either be regulated or the whole UIGEA will be thrown out.