Date: 18052010 | Categories:
News | Tags:
The issue with online gambling legalization in the USA becomes more urgent with each month as average people realize that they are forced to give up some of their legitimate rights without a good reason. The government exploits any means of making money while the citizens are prohibited to do the same, forced to be satisfied with meager leftovers. That is why the Fox Business News channel presented a show called “Leave the Gamblers Alone” with John Stossel as an anchorman. The famous professional poker player Andy Bloch stood upon the rights of all gamblers, while Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from the state of Arizona, and Chad Hills, a member of the social movement called “Focus on the Family” had an opportunity to present their reasons for the prohibition of internet gambling.
The TV-show touched some of the most difficult questions concerning online casinos and gambling in general. Problem gambling is of course real and many people suffer all the negative consequences of the addiction, like losing their families, property, freedom and even life because they are unable to stop wagering. Their minds get clouded as they only see the amounts they win, unable to take into account how much they really wager and eventually lose. Problem gambling is especially serious when it comes to underage gamblers who are yet unable to be responsible for their decisions. That was the point of Senator Jon Kyl and Chad Hills, his ally on the program. John Stossel and Andy Bloch responded that the ultimate majority of gamblers don’t have that problem, because in the end it is all about being responsible and if the government doesn’t let its citizens decide for themselves, they become nothing more than cattle, driven by uncontrollable shepherds. If the Constitution grants freedom of choice to every adult, they should be left with an opportunity to make their own decisions, because after all nobody would walk into their homes and make them gamble.
Prohibition is never actually an option. It has been proven in the beginning of the XX century by the introduction of a dry law amendment to the Constitution, which caused the never before seen rise of criminal activity. While Chad Hills was not at all against of driving the gambling business underground, pointing out to the fact that only the desperate would want to risk breaking the law for a couple hours of gambling, the host of the show responded that a person will always find some means to bet his or her money when a desire arises. Especially nowadays with all the modern technologies, like internet gambling, available to the public. An official can usually be bribed to look the other way, thus any prohibition would eventually contribute towards the corruption of the ruling classes. The government itself is using gambling as a means of raising money through its nationwide lotteries that in fact feature a much bigger house edge than any private casino or other gambling provider. Almost 50% of all the bets go to the pockets of lottery organizers, and how much of these incredible sums are actually implemented to make the lives of average citizens better still remains a question.
The government itself exploits the desire of people to gamble, which is why the current prohibition of online casinos in not just impractical, leading to less tax revenue and worse customer protection guarantees, but is also hypocritical. The money of online betters goes offshore and their rights are not protected, as they are not seen as responsible and mature people. The matter demands an urgent decision or else the business of online gambling will become more and more criminalized.
