Louisiana Decides It Can Clean Up Offshore Online Gambling All By Itself

from the priorities dept

It turns out that the arrest of another British online gambling executive yesterday here in the US was based on a warrant from Louisiana state police, not a federal investigation, as was the case with the earlier arrest of the company BetOnSports. So the story gets even better -- now state officials are joining the fun, and trying to assert some authority where their jurisdiction is questionable at best. Never mind that Louisiana is home to plenty of brick-and-mortar casinos; apparently online gambling is just simply unacceptable (or maybe they don't like the competition). Really, this is just silly -- not only are they probably overstepping their jurisdiction, arresting and prosecuting this guy really won't do anything to stop the people of Louisiana from gambling online. Even if it did, they'd just go to a casino or engage in some other form of legalized gambling. What bothers the state so much about this being online? The fact that they can't tax it? Arresting company executives won't help change that either. As we've been saying for some time, drawing these companies into a dialogue and coming up with a rational way to regulate and tax the industry is the best solution. Of course, that's probably way too much to hope for.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:11am

    well

    Arresting murderers and bank robbers doesn't stop those from occurring either, so I guess we should forget about arresting them, too?

    Go ahead brainiacs, tell me this is an ad absurdum argument.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:17am

      Re: well

      especially since online gambling kills thousands of taxpayers every year.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      wolff000, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:21am

      Re: well

      The idiocy of some people still astounds me. What does murder have to do with online gambling other than the fact they are both illegal? Since I'm pretty sure you have jaywalked at some point in your life why don't you go turn yourself into the authorities now. Since you are one of the types that obvioulsy believes that any offense no matter how inane should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I won't waste any more time on you since I honestly consider people that think like you below me.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      William, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:48am

      Re: well

      I would say that is the straw man argument. Comparing two completely unrelated things and saying they are the same so if you support online gambling you obviously support murder. While I think gambling is not a good thing and a leads foolish people to poverty every day it is in not way similar to murder, so ha.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      William, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:48am

      Re: well

      I would say that is the straw man argument. Comparing two completely unrelated things and saying they are the same so if you support online gambling you obviously support murder. While I think gambling is not a good thing and a leads foolish people to poverty every day it is in not way similar to murder, so ha.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Big Huge Dave, 8 Sep 2006 @ 12:04pm

      Re: well

      "Arresting murderers and bank robbers doesn't stop those from occurring either, so I guess we should forget about arresting them, too?

      Go ahead brainiacs, tell me this is an ad absurdum argument."


      Okay, your argument is absurd.

      Murderers and bank robbers physically harm the person or property of another.

      People who gamble are not hurting anyone but themselves. They also hurt their families and relationships in many cases, too, but we can't go around making it illegal to hurt people emotionally. If we do that then breaking up with your girlfriend should be illegal, and divorce, and a myriad of other things.

      If you're married or dating someone with a gambling problem, and they're hurting you financially, then what you do about the situation is up to you, such as leaving the person, or even suing them in court for damages or whatnot.

      I think that summarizes the tip of the iceberg as to why your argument is absurd.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Gamblin' Fool, 8 Sep 2006 @ 12:11pm

      Re: well

      Just do you know... if you lock-up a murderer... They can not murder anyone else. At least anyone who matters anyways. XD
      Maybe you should take your head out of your ...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Pope Ratzo, 8 Sep 2006 @ 2:12pm

      Re: well

      This isn't just an absurd reduction argument, it is practically the DEFINITION of such.

      You are a total moron. How are you even able to use a computer?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Brian, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:33am

    I live in New Orleans, and am really surprised this is not on any news here. For the record, there's only one 'brick-and-mortar" state-sponsored casino (non-tribal), but we do have several riverboats. Semantics.

    Murder isn't legal anywhere. Whereas the hypocrisy of gov't anti-gambling stance is stunning.

    My problem with LA's gambling industry is that we target our own people. The casinos on the coast in MS have been such a success and cash-cow for that state b/c it's from LA and AL's tourists... The state only hurts itself when the taxes are generated from in-state gamblers. Negatives far outwiegh the positives in that scenario.

    Now reality sets in. I'm now a classed as an habitual felon b/c I love to bet a little on NFL football. I'm not going to stop and I'm not alone. The cause/effect is debatable, but the parallels to last centuries Prohibition is real.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sanguine Dream, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:37am

    We all know...

    the government doesn't like what it can't control or take a huge cut of the action from. This is why the goververnment really hasn't acted on net neutrality yet. Why bother to intervene when your pockets are already fat with money? The only way they would want to cut a deal with these sites is if they (the government) literally sets all terms. You know kinda like an ultimatum.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lay Person, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:52am

    Wow!...

    Wow is that the only garbage that Louisiana has to clean up?

    Gee I guess huricane Katrina wasn't all that bad after all.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mark, 8 Sep 2006 @ 12:02pm

    Now if only they would get rid of the crooked politicians.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Joe Smith, 8 Sep 2006 @ 12:57pm

    sauce for the goose ...

    Trying to extend the reach of American law is a dangerous game. If America's laws can make illegal conduct in England which is legal there then Pakistan or France or China can make illegal conduct in the US which is otherwise legal here.

    What happens when US businessmen travelling overseas start getting arrested by Interpol on warrants from Pakistan for crimes carrying the death penalty?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 1:16pm

      Re: sauce for the goose ...

      What happens when ..

      What happens then is that we are all screwed, and the "global government" gets reset to the lowest common denominator. Oh, and the entire world will be required to "pick an internet" by signing treaties to access certain fiber lines between countries. won't that be wonderful.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 1:26pm

    not clear

    the #1 post seems a little unclear to some of the more...umm..'intellectual' responders (though that seems slightly oxymoronic).

    He/she seems to have not said murder=gambling. I think he/she said illegal=illegal. Which is kinda true, and certainly not a strawman fallacy. Although, ironically calling it a strawman fallacy is in itself a strawman fallacy. Touche.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 1:26pm

    OMG... Maybe they should be spending time in Louisiana fixing Levees... working on Emergency Management..

    LOL, glad to see where their 'priorities' are - but that's what got them in a big mess to being with, isn't it?

    See what happens when you get all southern democrats running the show?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 2:15pm

    I agree

    State governments should only do one thing at a time. Every minute of every state and local employees time should be devoted to one single task. No other law should be enforced. No other work should be done until a town built 8 feet below sea level is drained and ready to be flooded again.

    The morons who live there would make the state of Louisiana's job much easier if they thought for one second, "hey, maybe living below sea level in a flood zone is not such a good idea."

    I say, instead of repairing the levees, tear down the remaining levees and build on dry land. Crazy, I know. The billions of dollars being wasted and stuffed into the pockets of overpaid contracters who are apparently doing little or no work, and the HIGHLY overpaid ACE should be used to pay each homeowner for his/her property and the state should shut down everything south of Metaire to habitation.

    Once that is accomplished, the state can go back to the little things like arresting people and educating people, etc. Well, I mean they can do one or the other...as #15 points out, the state should only do one thing at a time.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Sep 2006 @ 11:08pm

      Re: I agree

      There are so many issues at hand dealing with the Katrena disaster that the government should not have to deal with.

      1. If you lived in a hurricane zone like New Orleans, the only thing you should have done is leave the city. There is no reason that anyone should have been allowed to remain.

      2. If you remained in the city to ride out the storm, then you should have been left for dead, and the only thing that the national guard should have done was kill everyone off that remained... call it natural selection, or death by stupidity.

      3. The Insurance companies and federal assistance programs should not assist anyone that remained during the storm. The only ones that should receive assistance were those that relocated. And, they should get enough money to find perminent residence elsewhere. No assistance should be given to anyone that is going to reside within the flood zone. That is just a waste of money.

      New Orleans should be turned into the world's largest land fill. That is all it is good for. Nothing but trash and poverty there. It fits to have shit live with shit. And since they are used to living like shit, they can feel right at home in everyone elses shit.

      As for the online gaming thing... Who cares!! Let the empovrished blow their kid's dinner money on the slots... The less crack babies, the better. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for all of the people in the super dome or trapped in the floods... I have common sense and I use it. These people just want to make a political statement by not taking the time to rise above their self imposed poverty. If they would put as much effort into working hard as they do at finding any way to be lazy and poor, then they would be millionaires. NO SYMPATHY EVER!!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        cheryl, 13 Dec 2006 @ 7:15pm

        Re: Re: I agree I DISAGREE

        I shake my head in disbelief after reading your comment. How shallow of you to think and say the things you say, I have seen the pain and suffering of these people first hand and you can't possibly relate,I will pray for you and hope that one day you will like the person looking back at you in the mirrow...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 2:18pm

    Actually

    YOU are an absurd reduction argument.

    At least you managed to provide a good example of an ad hominum attack (the weapon of last resort for someone losing an argument).

    Again, well-played and thank you in advance for taking the bait.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    AlbinoRhino, 8 Sep 2006 @ 4:24pm

    lol

    This is kind of ironic coming from a state that has a bunch of crooks and swindlers running it on a daily basis. They should really clean up Louisiana politics before attempting to clean up it's online community.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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