Gambling Is Bad (Unless It's A State Sponsored Lotto Or Involves Horses)
from the then-it's-fine? dept
As expected, our elected Congress folks have moved forward with their plans to "clarify" gambling laws, which will effectively outlaw playing online poker, even allowing the government to push ISPs to block access to gambling sites. Of course, if the similar law in Washington State is anything to go by, expect all sorts of perfectly legitimate sites to be forced offline. Once again, it seems unfair to put the burden here on ISPs to block these sites. If the gambling sites share servers with other perfectly legitimate sites, those will be taken offline as well. It's worth noting, of course, that the law carves out exceptions for state lotteries (gambling is good when the money goes the government, apparently) and horse racing... because... well, there's really no good reason for it, but apparently some Congress folks like to bet on the ponies. It's unlikely the bill will go anywhere as the Senate apparently doesn't care much about this issue, but it's yet another example of Congress gearing up for election season by tackling the "really important problems" facing our nation.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
F**K IT
Oh wait...
But seriously, online gambling doesn't hurt anyone but the ones dumb enough to blow their mortgage, which they would likely do anyway without regulation. Horse racing is using animals and running them into the ground, as well as the jockeys. So if you're gonna ban Online Poker ect, than ban horse racing too.
There's no argument that can justify allowing horse racing to continue but shutting down all online gambling.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: F**K IT
that is FAR more inhumane than the very much loved and cared for horses (by comparision).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I just don't understand
Seriously I know many retired people who have no means to get to Nevada to gamble because it would be a health risk. They love to gamble at home, with penny bets, that even after losses comes up to 'far' less than the trip to a casino would cost, not to mention they are saving the planet by not driving their 8MPG SUV's.
I'm starting to wish that they had some sort of "Big Brother" type thing that just followed around politicians everywhere (meetings, dinner table, bedroom) just to keep them legit, so that everyone would know the second they started looking shady.
All I can do is sit back and vote, and hope everyone else does the same... what irks me is when laws get passed because of lobbyists from big companies, without the general public getting a real say in the matter.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I just don't understand
Through the wonders of EVoting we could be very well be getting it in the backside on that one too...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I just don't understand
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
we get what we desserve keeping these arseholes in office.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Beavis
To vote independant, libertarian or for any other off the wall group that has no chance to win is NOT, I REPEAT NOT a protest vote.
it is a vote for the republican party.
those chicken shit christian nuts and their rightwing lap dogs in congress are united. they vote en mass. the only way to get what we, as citizens, want is to hold a democrat to the fire after we elect him. nothing else works.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Beavis
Seriously, i am a Christian and I love to Gamble. Just won a Hold'em tourney at a friend's house. Drank beer and won money and praised the lord.
Don't think all Christians are as bad as the ones you see on TV.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Beavis
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You realize it takes 67,000 signatures on a petition in order for you to even be a candidate in a third party. Democrats and the GOP have no such regulation. Until our government changes it's viewpoints on the "haves" and "havenots". You will likely not see a 3rd Party President anytime in the near future. There's too many fanatical religious christians, rednecks, morons, and old people voting on merely one key topic. (ex: "I always vote Republican!", "Business owners should vote GOP!" , "I ain't votin for no damn hippies!" So if you think about it, the government gives you the right to "vote" for the president, but they only give you two candidates of thier choosing. It sure is a good thing there aren't Fiefdoms, serfs, and Lords anymore, Oh Wait! Rather than a Nobleman being "granted" title and ownership you get to choose between he and his cousin. Ah now that's better. I can vote for this guy who doesn't care about my interest or the other guy who feels the same way. Southpark said it best, "A giant douche, or a turd sandwich." All you can attempt to do is vote for the lesser of two evils, if you can tell the difference, that is.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
poker online
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
buy your way in.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: buy your way in.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: buy your way in.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Carl
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Carl
Maybe you should more carefully read what people write before calling them names.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Carl
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
you forget
All they know is that it's full of scams, pedophiles, gambling, porn, copyright violations, and untaxed sales.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: you forget
I'm sure the second sentance could just as easily be applied to Congress, and it would probably still be a valid statement.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Carl...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
The problem is that some might be a bit more mollified if the government was closing off foriegn interests and opening more local ones. Most people would certainly rather gamble at a federal or state regulated online casino.
Regardless, it boils down to freedom, which is becoming mroe and more of an illusion in this country.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
They go to pay for public, state, and federal programs, plans, projects. After that, the money is MINE.
################
Actually your oversimplifying and thus by effect missing the point. If Offshore gambling site x gets your bets then their revenue isn't taxed and it also creates a money leak. The money is no longer in the US economy it is in third world countries economy. So while it is your money you live in a soverireign nations that makes a habit of setting the worlds economic policy. Thus it is easier to kill the industry then regulate it. I think eventually someone will go to the supreme court on 1st admendment claims.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Unless next the gov't is next planning to ban international travel and tourism.
Oh, and after that, outsourcing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You are a wad
It will only cause me to play in underground clubs in my area.....where more danger could come to me.
America is a joke. as you are.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ugh
They should spend more time on illegalizing smoking then working about how people spend their money in entertainment.
Gosh!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Ugh
WTF has that to do about gambling?!?!?!? And.., WTF makes that a bigger issue?!?!?!?
If more people smoked, then maybe some of the old foggies in this country would die sooner. I'd rather my health care dollars go to a 50 year old with Lung Cancer, than replacing broken hips and assisted care living homes for the leeches that are old folks. God, please take me before I am destined to wear 'Depends' and too feeble to wipe my own arse!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Online gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why the horses are supported? Horse owners are rich.... rich people pay alot of taxes (because of larger incomes and spending)... as well as other reasons
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fix healthcare in the US? OK, lets reduce the cost of perscription drugs by importing them from Canada. Course, drugs only account for about 10% of the healthcare spend, but hey, whatever. Lets not talk about having a baseline of healthcare that everyone can have, lets not talk about having to tell a mother and father that their baby can't get cutting edge treatement to keep their baby alive because its so expensive.
Social Security? Lets not talk about cutting benefits for the rich, because its much easier to keep pushing back the date that young people will be able to collect, because old people vote and young people don't.
Immigration? Lets keep the borders open, because its just too easy to leave them open. Who cares about drugs, criminals and terrorists being able to also get in.
People don't really want Congress to address the hard issues, because the results would basically piss off everyone. Look at Medicare Part D (Medicare Perscription Drug Coverage). There was no coverage of perscription drugs in Medicare, yet now people bitch about how Part D doesn't cover enough. Well, the donut hole was a hell of a lot bigger before Part D, in fact, there was only the hole. Which is about the same as can be said about Congress.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Christians are Stupid
I just want to give you some things to consider, not trying to "hurt your feelings."
Check this out.
Christianity is a hoax
"the New Testament, the Church, and Christianity, were all the creation of the Calpurnius Piso family, who were Roman aristocrats. The New Testament and all the characters in it...are all fictional." And so begins one of the most amazing little pamphlets that I've come across in many an aeon.
Its conclusions, if true, are astounding, for they shake the foundations of history and make a mockery of the wits and intellects of a great host of epoch bending sages, philosophers, and theologians.
Thus the gospel according to one Abelard Reuchelin, an earnest researcher of historic genealogies who specialized in ancient families.
He began to zero in on one family in particular, the Piso family of Roman Patricians, who dominated the Roman aristocracy over several generations, producing caesars, consuls, generals, statesmen, philosophers, historians, scholars and bishops of the early Church. blood and marriage relations within the Piso family included Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Trajan, Vitellius, Vespasian, Julius Caesar's uncle? Lucius Piso, Galba Caesar, and on and on. Rome was essentially ruled by the same tribe directly for over two hundred years, and indirectly via the Church up to the present.
What did Mssr. Abelard discover, then? Merely that the authorship of the New Testament, and hence Christianity, was an ongoing Piso family project for over two generations, utilizing some of the best literary minds of the age as a battering ram against a series of alarmingly effective Jewish revolutions primarily in Judea, but also spreading to Egypt.
The Pharisee party was in a powerful geopolitical position to choke trade routes and a powerful ideological position to challenge a variety of what they viewed as idolatries, with a monotheism that was at its core anti-slavery. Roman abuses and the abuses of their puppet regimes had created a tinderbox that could easily be fanned into a full scale insurrection of the Eastern provinces. It was obvious to the patrician strategists that the Jewish ideology had to be countered on its own terms.
Similar to the fostering of American pacifism in the 1930's by Germany, a messianic splinter religion was planted within Judea which preached a pacifist message. The writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the subsequent Epistles, the personages including the Christ figure, the apostles, the later important converts, Simon Peter, Saul/Paul, etc. were fabricated out of various Eastern mythologies, and in some cases, the biographies of the conspirators themselves.
The case for this argument is made stronger by a glaring and obvious body of supporting historic fact, although fact by omission. One of the great conundrums to Biblical research has been the nagging lack of independent contemporary documentation making any reference whatsoever to a nascent Galilean religion. All extant literature dating from before 100 A.D. which makes reference to early Christianity is from the pen of the conspirators, often writing under pseudonyms. Reuchelin claims that the contemporary Jewish General and historian Flavius Josephus is, in fact, Arius Calpurnius Piso.
However the real dogbone to this bare cupboard of references to early Christianity is to be found in the strange silence that surrounds researches into the famous Dead Sea Scrolls; leather, parchment and metal scrolls written in Hebrew which have been unearthed in the hundreds, often complete and in excellent condition. Here are a records of religious events, important commentaries and chronicles by a sect of Essene scribes and scholars writing in Judea for a hundred years up to 70 A.D., and nowhere is mention made of a new religion, a Messiah, a worker of miracles, a preaching to multitudes, a trial and crucifixion. Nothing. This silence is a great embarrassment to Biblical scholars and is treated extremely gingerly by the Biblical academic community.
Perhaps Abelard Reuchelin is on to something. You can decide for yourself by getting the pamphlet and a package of photocopied abstracts from the Abelard Reuchelin Foundation, Box 5652, Kent WA 98064 or Vector Associates, Box 6215, Bellevue, WA 98008.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Christians are Stupid
Yeah, I worship a carpenter. So? Wanna come play cards and have a drink and discuss it more? I'll take you're money and donate it to the cause. For historical info...read the works of Josepus. Read also Foxes (sp?) book of Martyrs. I just HATE it when lame Christians tell me the Bible is the word of God because it says so in it's pages. God, we invite ourselves to look stupid sometimes. Hell, MOST of the time.
Don't you know that Christians are monotheists? One God. Jesus = God = Christ = the creator. One. You can't understand that. I don't. I accept it on faith. You miss the point entirely. The Jews missed the point too. They were looking for a physical deliverance from slavery. It wasn't about that! Jesus brought deliverance to them (and all of us) in the form of deliverance from ultimate and eternal death (don't get me started on the fallacy of an ever burning hell fire). He brought freedom. He lived just so he could pay a price for my soul. Yours too. Christianity is about freedom. It is not about following a bunch of rules. My favorite description of Christianity is this..."it's one beggar telling another beggar where to find food." Get yourself a beer, get a comfy folding chair and head to the beach. Read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity"...if you are brave enough to do so. See what you think then. But before you read it, do this to humor me. Sincerely say this, Jesus, if you're real. PROVE IT! That's all I ask.
I myslef have gotten on my knees and prayed to that carpenter and had miracles delivered. At death's door, prayers were issued for me and suddenly I was as if I never had sickness. Christ is alive. Jesus is real. I pray you know Him someday.
Good luck, brother.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Christians are Stupid
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
More?
“In an accurate translation of the Jewish Scriptures, the word "Moshiach" is never translated as "Messiah," but as "anointed."1Nevertheless, Judaism has always maintained a fundamental belief in a Messianic figure. Since the concept of a Messiah is one that was given by G-d to the Jews, Jewish tradition is best qualified to describe and recognize the expected Messiah. Judaism understands the Messiah to be a human being (with no connotation of deity or divinity) who will bring about certain changes in the world and who must fulfill certain specific criteria before being acknowledged as the Messiah.”
“These specific criteria are as follows:
1) He must be Jewish. (Deuteronomy 17:15, Numbers 24:17)
2) He must be a member of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and a direct male descendent of both King David (I Chronicles 17:11, Psalm 89:29-38, Jeremiah 33:17, II Samuel 7:12-16) and King Solomon. (I Chronicles 22:10, II Chronicles 7:18)
3) He must gather the Jewish people from exile and return them to Israel. (Isaiah 27:12-13, Isaiah 11:12)
4) He must rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1)
5) He must bring world peace. (Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 11:6, Micah 4:3)
6) He must influence the entire world to acknowledge and serve one G-d. (Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 40:5, Zephaniah 3:9)
If an individual fails to fulfill even one of these conditions, he cannot be the Messiah.”
“A careful analysis of these criteria shows us that, although Jesus was Jewish, he did not fulfill any of the other criteria. An examination of the contradictory accounts of Jesus' genealogy demonstrates a number of difficulties with the fulfillment of the second criterion. Specifically, the New Testament claims that Jesus did not have a physical father. The Jewish Scriptures, however, clearly state that a person's genealogy and tribal membership is transmitted exclusively through one's physical father (Numbers 1:18, Jeremiah 33:17). Therefore, Jesus cannot possibly be a descendent of the tribe of Judah nor of King David and King Solomon.
There are even further problems with any attempts to use the Jewish Scriptures to prove Jesus' genealogy through Joseph, the husband of Mary (Jesus' mother). For the New Testament claims that Joseph was a descendent of King Jeconiah, who in the Hebrew Bible was cursed to never have a descendent "sitting on the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah" (Jeremiah 22:30). Joseph's genealogy, even if it were transmittable to Jesus, would only serve to further disqualify Jesus as the Messiah.
Finally, there is the problem of the contradictory accounts of Jesus' genealogy in Matthew, Chapter 1 and Luke, Chapter 3. The common Christian explanation of this contradiction claims that Luke's genealogy is that of Jesus' mother, Mary. However, this is unfounded, even according to the Greek original. In addition, it has already been established that genealogy is transferred solely through the father, making this attempted explanation completely irrelevant. Even if one could trace one's genealogy through one's mother, there would be the additional problem that Luke 3:31 lists Mary as a descendent of David through Nathan, Solomon's brother, and not through Solomon himself as required according to the prophesy in I Chronicles 22:10 of the Jewish Bible.
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth criteria have obviously not been fulfilled -- neither during Jesus' time nor since. Any Christian claims that these final criteria will be fulfilled in a "Second Coming" are irrelevant because the concept of the Messiah coming twice has no scriptural basis.
To summarize, we cannot know that someone is the Messiah until he fulfills all of the above criteria.
The Christian understanding of the Messiah and Jesus differs greatly from the Jewish biblical view. These differences developed as a result of the Church's influence during the time of the Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea that issued the Nicene Creed in 325 CE.”
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Wrong. The laws would prohibit credit card companies from collecting the debts or processing the payments to the casinos. So the only work-around would be to get a card from a non-US bank.
Good luck on that. If the debt to them was for gambling online and you refused to pay, they'd have a hell of a time collecting the debt.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Competitiveness
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Unfair judgement by gov
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
compulsive gambling
As you are reading this paragraph, someone you know may be embezzling money to support a gambling addiction. Drugs and alcohol are not the only two addictions that destroy lives. Every day the newspaper, TV, radio and magazines carry stories about the compulsive gambler who has committed a crime, committed suicide because of the shame, or they are being locked up in a psyche ward. Some women have used their bodies to earn money for gambling.
I have 17 years of recovery from gambling and have written a book which has been placed in the reference section in the high schools, colleges, and universities in the state of Mississippi. It is also on the shelves of the Sun City Library, Phoenix libraries, and libraries in Scotland. Several gambling counselors have told me they recommend my book to their clients. Please take a minute and look at my story of addiction, recovery, and my life today.
http://www.grippedbygambling.com
Ask yourself, are you spending more than you want to on gambling? Are you beginning to lie to your friends when they ask questions about your gambling? If you think you may have a problem or have any questions about the addiction, this book will answer some of your questions and reveal some warning signs. My book has sold over twelve hundred copies. It has been purchased by readers in at least 30 states in the US, several provinces in Canada, Mexico City, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and several other countries.
I also publish a Newsletter for female gamblers which may be seen at www.femalegamblers.org The site has been on-line for than eight years.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: compulsive gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: compulsive gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
gambling poker
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
gambling poker
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Free Choice in Gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Free Choice in Gambling
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Online Casino Planet
Online Casino Planet
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not much change in the law?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The modern age
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Gambling problem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Addiction is Addiction
No matter what someone is addicted to it shows a deeper problem with their mental state.
gambling provides many hopes and it's pretty easy to see the connection of why one would get addicted.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]