China May Teach US A Lesson On Internet Freedom

from the alternate-takes dept

Thu, Sep 14th 2006 2:03pm — Mike Masnick

While politicians in the US are working overtime to ban online gambling, it seems that politicians in China, where the internet is so controlled, may be taking a different route. They're realizing the significant tax revenue they could bring in from legalizing it and are apparently exploring the possibility of legalizing online gambling. Perhaps all of those online gambling companies who are getting worried about the US should start to prep some marketing plans for the population in China.

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22 Comments

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Sanguine Dream, 14 Sep 2006 @ 2:15pm

A lot of people...
There are a lot of people in China. If they pull that off correctly legalized gambling would generate so much revenue.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:15pm

Sometimes you have to wonder if we deserved to be a first world country. Of course I have doubts we're going to stay that way.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:16pm

Too bad the United States is slowly becoming the "Land of the Oppressed", while the ex-communist and communist countries are slowly edging closer to the "Land of the Free"
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:22pm

China controlls everything their people get to see on the net. But they get to gamble and give the government their money. Sounds like real freedom to me....
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Against the Stream, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:24pm

Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
it produces no tangible product. It merely takes the money out of the pockets of those foolish enough to think they can beat a casino. It's a TAX.

Human nature is depraved and the more freedom we have the more depraved we become. I believe gambling laws should be determined at the local level - just like porn. Those who want gambling can have it - along with the Mob, prostitution, drugs and murder. But to act as if gambling is some high freedom and those who oppose it just aren't bright is wrong headed.

Imagine a world in which we had 100% freedom, but no one had invented gambling, firearms, alcohol or drugs. It would be a better world if we were just unaware of the vices around us and unable to choose a path of personal destruction. Alas - we are free to shoot ourselves in the foot daily.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:25pm

Re:
no doubt. the pessimests in this forum need a reality check.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:27pm

China controlls everything their people get to see on the net. But they get to gamble and give the government their money. Sounds like real freedom to me..

He did say Chinda is "slowly" becoming the land of the free. Just as the National Security Survellance Act "slowly" brings us closer to oppression.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:29pm

Chinda = China. Yes. I mistyped. I'm sure that's going to start a whole new string of discussions.. :-)
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DittoBox, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:33pm

Re: Re:
'nuff said.
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DasJew, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:35pm

I wouldn't agree that US becoming 1984-ish while ex-communist nations are becoming land of free. I mean sure the US is tapping phones and peeping into personal emails and stuff, but you only think that because you KNOW about it. In China, that same thing is happening without you even knowing.
However legalizing online gambling would be a HUGE task
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:45pm

if you like china so much go live there. I love americans who bash on america but would never live anywhere else.
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Stu, 14 Sep 2006 @ 3:50pm

Dear Against the stream
A tax is not optional - gambling is. You don't want to gamble - don't gamble.

On a more personal level - revealing your view of human nature as being depraved and believing that our freedom to shoot ourselves in the foot is a bad thing, makes me feel very sad for you. How self hating! (Do I detect a religious undertone?)

Personally, I'll take the risks that personal freedom offers, thank you.

As for the choices that your mindset leaves you with, they are few and bleak indeed. You live in a world where - for the most part - individual freedom is cherished.

Don't do anything rash. Life is good.
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charlie potatoes, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:13pm

if everyone walked around naked smoking dope there wouldn't be any more wars.
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Jo Mamma, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:19pm

Re: Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
I contest the point that gambling doesn't produce anything... it just does produce much DIRECTLY. Any trip to the lights of Vegas will prove my point.

Also, you can't forget the whole reason we're uptight about gambling as a nation (and we're getting less and less so every decade) is the whole religious angle. China has no such similar religious history.

Gambling used to be considered immoral, now politicians don't like gambling because... well, who the hell knows why. (I would contend that it's moral inertia).
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Jo Mamma, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:20pm

Re:
Agreed! Pipes for all!!
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Yo MAMA, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:29pm

Not So Fast
It's funny to see so many praise China over this and make statements like the US will be third world. Have any of you lived in China? I had to wear a mask because the pollution was sooooooo bad, you could rarely see the sun unless the wind was blowing, makes LA look like a wildlife preservation. The water was so bad from chemicals being dumped with no regulation enforcement, and this is every provence. These are the costs of money at any cost to the land and people. Many have some 'idealized' view of the still opressive China. Last week another law was passed to limit any "free" press in the country. I'm glad we dont have the "growth at any cost" policy as China does. Our health and our childrens' healths are worth it. Just be more realistic before making these comments. That's all I have to say about that.
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Jack Sombra, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:36pm

You do
" I'm glad we dont have the "growth at any cost" policy as China does. "
As far as the rest of the world is concerned you do (if you are an american) just not as out of control and blatant as china
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Reactrix, 14 Sep 2006 @ 6:41pm

Not all gambling is a tax.
I make money every day in online gaming. The trick is to not play against the house, and instead concentrate on fools who think they know how to play poker ;). And THAT is a freedom I would like to keep.
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Jesse McNelis, 14 Sep 2006 @ 7:23pm

Re: Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
Freedom is the ability to choice your own path, be it 'self destructive' or 'self improving'.

Democracy has the same problems as freedom. Most people don't care about politics and therefore really shouldn't be voting because they don't actually think about the policies invovled and tend to get tricked.
But democracy and Freedom, for better or for worse, is the only fair system.
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Against the Stream, 14 Sep 2006 @ 7:48pm

Re: Dear Against the stream
Not against personal freedom - just noting the potential negative consequences, especially when it comes to the vices in life - of which GAMBLING is a big one.

Our freedom is restricted everyday by our laws so we can life together without killing one another. I merely suggest that the locals know best what laws suit their community. Others waft through with a smell of anything goes is a superior philosophy and only understood by the intelligent. I say - you haven't lived enough to know how important boundaries are to freedom. Yes, you read that right.

And let me know when you find a human that deep inside isn't a selfish depraved individual. There aren't any.
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Against the Stream, 14 Sep 2006 @ 7:53pm

Re: Dear Against the stream
Technically you are right - in most instances the "optional" part will divide gambling and taxes.

I submit that gambling is a voluntary tax on...

1. The poor -who dream of being rich
2. The greedy - who want easy money
3. The stupid - who don't understand that the odds will always catch up to them if they gamble long enough.

I don't propose to take anyone's personal freedoms, only suggest that the laws regarding gambling should be decided locally. And please, don't condescend to me with how bleak my life is and don't do anything rash. It just makes YOU look like an ass.
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WowThats, 15 Sep 2006 @ 5:34pm

Online Gambling
I am not against online gambling what I am against is the non regulation in the United States. Should online gambling ever be legalized I suspect many people will go to jail and even get murdered.
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