To Protect Our Ports, We've Now Banned Online Gambling
from the say-what? dept
A bunch of politicians have been pushing for this for quite some time, but this weekend, it surprised many people when the Senate was able to squeeze in an anti-gambling bill with an unrelated bill on port security. While the administration has long claimed that online gambling was already illegal, it wasn't entirely clear from the language of existing legislation what was covered and what could be done about it. This new law helps clarify it and tacks on punishment. Of course, it seems reasonable to ask what online gambling has to do with port security. It also seems reasonable to ask why an activity that millions of adults choose to engage in, and which can easily be regulated (and taxed) should be outright banned. What will be really interesting is seeing what comes next. While all the big online gambling sites have said stuff about stopping bets from folks in the US, it's unlikely they'll really be able (or all that willing) to do so. People will still be online. At the same time, the WTO has already pointed out that the US's attitude towards online gambling is in violation of various agreements -- but it's not like the US is going to bother listening to an organization like the WTO. Still, this ban seems unlikely to work, and only likely to infuriate a bunch of Americans who don't see anything wrong with playing an occasional hand of poker online. And, of course, it's not even worth looking at the various exceptions for the types of gambling (state lotteries and horses) that politicians think are just dandy.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.
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We need a new law
I think it would get passed wuite easily, just put it in as an amendment on the next law to "Protect the children"
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Re: We need a new law
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Re: Re: We need a new law
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Re: Re: We need a new law
First of all the line item veto has been an issue of contention for most of the modern age, it isn't a "Dems won't give it to him" thing. Clinton wanted the same thing and didn't get it, so did every President I ever read about since Kennedy. Btw, since the Dems don't control the house or the senate I think it's a little more complicated than the Democrats not giving it to them, seems a lot of Bush's Republican allies don't want him to have it either. I think a line item veto is a horrible idea because it breaks a fundamental check and balance between congress and the president. The president signs the laws, congress writes them.
Also, let's remember earlier in the year where the Republicans tried to get Alaska drilling approved by tacking it on to a bill to raise the minimum wage. As sleazy as it is, that is the nature of modern politics. If people don't like what you propose include it with something they do want or need and force feed it down their throats.
As per the original issue, I remember when I was a kid lots of church groups sponsoring bus rides to Atlantic City casinos for the day. It amazaes me how the religious right can be so against gambling and particpate in activities like this (or the ubiquitous bingo night held in church halls across the country). I think the issue isn't so much about gambling but the fact that the government didn't feel they could get a good enough cut of the pie, so they outlawed it.
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Re: Re: We need a new law
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Re: We need a new law
what we should really be doing is putting term limits on these clowns. the senate is a joke. a bunch of old rich men who haven't been in touch with our version of the world for a very very long time.
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I think you are showing very simple thinking when it comes to online gambling. I know the govt. allows lotteries and horse racing, but two wrongs don't make a right.
I think you underestimate the damage done to society via online gambling, and gambling in general.
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Re:
Like any activity a human can partake in, gambling can pose a problem to those with addictive personalities. However, in the absence of the ability to gamble, many would just move on to another self-destructive addiction.
Online gambling has advantages over the traditional industry, as far as society is concerned. Traditional casino's have a reputation for attracting very seedy characters, with online gambling, that is eliminated.
The only reason this was pushed was that the government didn't have it's hands in it, so they outlawed it till they could figure out how to take a cut.
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Re: Online Line Gaming
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What do the folks think?
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Re: What do the folks think?
As far as gambling being dangerous, what about legalized gambling like the lottery. I know in some states the state collects the profits and uses it for education. And since we all know how important it is to 'protect the children' gambling (lottery) is just another way to do this.
I am aware that there are some people who become addicted and end up in serious financial trouble, but these people aren't the norm. Although it is difficult to conduct an acurate unbiased study of the affects of crime in a community when a casino opens, there is significant evidence that suggest that casinos don't have a negative impact on crime, but may even reduce crime in certain situation because of the large number of new jobs created by the casino.
(pardon my ramblings, I got way off topic)
Time for me to cash out and go home.
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Re: What do the folks think?
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Re: Re: What do the folks think?
OK, you don't gamble at all and are mugged by some idiot that is trying to pay off gambling debts. So is that not dangerous to you or does that make you stupid?
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Re: Re: Re: What do the folks think?
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Lotteries do bring in money for school (when the politicians don't screw around with the money) but states are feeding off of tainted money. They hurt their own (probably stupid) people to pay for education instead of fighting for what is right. They take the easy way out.
Towns up and down the Mississippi passed riverboad gambling laws to improve the economy, only to bring in a bad element, minimum wage jobs and take from again ignorant peoples meger paychecks.
Forget about what is morally right, forget about religion. What is good for society. I doubt you can point to anything that shows gambling actually improves it.
Are office pools, home poker games and gambling like this beneficial? Of course, it provides social interaction, fun and excitement. When gambling is done by industry, it pretty much tears at societies fabric. It brings with it crime and a bad element.
Its one thing for the gaming industry to do this, and they should be watched very carefully to not be allowed to run amok. It is quite another thing for our own govt. to be in the same game. The govt. is supposed to protect the people, not exploit it.
I know, its everybodies right to choose, but there is a large part of society that just can't handle it, and the govt. should be there to make sure that they are not taken advantage of. They are there to protect. They are there for us.
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Re: Anonymous Coward
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Actually, it is -not- the federal government's role to 'protect' the citizens from themselves. The federal government has no right to legislate morality. Put limits on it? Sure. That's why you have to be 18 to smoke tobacco, 21 to drink alcohol or gamble...
But telling us what we can do with our own money (usually) in our own homes...that's way beyond what the federal government is there for.
It's funny how they can find time to pass laws to tell us what we cannot do with our own money, but they can't find time to come up with laws to protect our borders, help educate our children -properly-, fix the rampant problems in our country...which politics is just one of...
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banned
See also: The War on Drugs
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Whats the human cost, the cost that can't be measured. How many lives have been ruined? What is the financial cost for that? How do you put a pricetag on a life, a family, a society?
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re: by anonymous coward
the glaringly obvious difference being that muder had the direct effect of ending someone else's life. whereas the act of ingesting drugs (and this is certainly NOT limited to the illegal ones, i'm talking alcohol, caffeine, everything) is a personal choice that no one in the world has the right to make for you it directly affects YOU, nots someone else. only you can make the choice to, or not to put something in your body, anything else is absolute bullshit.
see also: Fascism
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What?
Wow, don't even get me started on that point...yes, murder is the same as gambling. (uh...no)
Gambling can be just as destructive as say drinking? Smoking? What about you walking down a street and get beat up by some drunk wanting another six pack. Or in a bar fight. Or say a drunk driver.
I'm sorry, but compared to a lot of legal activities...online poker is WAY safer. And tax it, by all means, but don't be stupid about it.
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To say ban nothing is as bad as saying ban everything.
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Re: A/C's posts
ie: if i get hooked on something illegal and neglect my child, thats a horrible effect, however indirect.
its the exact same thing as getting hooked on gambling, or hooked on WORK... and neglecting your child, they're horrible effects.
addiction is addiction no matter how you brand the addicting substance
the point is, the concept of moderation and control is up to the INDIVIDUAL not the STATE. this is why i said "see fascism" in my earlier post.
now stop spouting rhetoric and include some actual substance in your reply.
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It's My Money...
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Don't get bogged down in the BS, folks
The politicians do what the the casino industry wants because that's what the industry pays them to do. Blunt way to put it but true. It's the same for every industry - pharmaceuticals, automobile air pollution standards - everything.
When the casino industry decides to get into the online gambling industry, the pols will jump into line with a new line of BS to justify themselves.
Meanwhile, no law can prevent people from doing anything they want to do on the internet. So, in the US, it's untaxed and unregulated.
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Funny Headlines
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You all bitch now
How does this surprise anyone? It shouldn't. You voted for stupidity, and thus you will recieve more stupidity. Get used to it. Until we, the people, start electing people based on more than our own BIAS for political parties, we will continue to elect MORONS that wont actually do anything for the US people. I SPEAK OF BOTH PARTIES HERE PEOPLE. Fuck partisian politics and lets grow up?
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F#CK YAH!
Im just waiting for a politician who is in the job for the job and not the money to tack on a few political paycuts... that is how you get these little additions rectified...
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Coincidence?
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Isn't it interesting that many of the same people who hate Wal Mart because they provide such low paying jobs have no problem with an industry that also pays low paying jobs and gives no other wealth (i.e. products) other that "entertainment" (i.e. idle time) back to the community?
If you supposedly hate Wal Mart for their minimum, barely living-wage, then hate the gaming industry as well.
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Re: got any stats...
Hmm... kinda like paying for Cable. You don't really need it, but almost everyone I know dumps about $800 a year into it.
Yes, gambling exploits human nature in every way it can. That's not good. But it's presence doesn't hurt a particular market, nor does it make society any worse of a place.
If this is all based on the good of society, then why is Online Gambling outlawed but not Alcohol?
There's a risky nature in all of us. Whether it be the stock market, sky diving, or gambling. It'll always be there. Alcohol isn't outlawed anymore because, well... you can't stop people from doing it. Because people demand their freedom to be belligerent, reckless and irresponsible. And we need it. Because otherwise, life might just be boring.
As for Wal Mart... it distorts almost every market it goes into. It promotes unrealistic materialism. It exploits peoples tendency for materialism for their own profit. It promotes unrealistic wages around the world. There are abusive wages from the factories in China to the Warehouses in the US. If Wal Mart can exploit it for profit, they will. To me, that's a bit worse than providing expensive entertainment.
Sure, with gambling there are a few poor victims of the game. But with gambling... it's people who chose the risk of becoming a victim.
With Wal Mart, honest workers are victims. The economy is a victim. And communities are victims. This is just as a result of their presence. No one chose to be a victim of Wal Marts procedures. That's the difference. That's why I can hate Wal Mart, and not Gambling.
I don't need stats. It's right in front of my face.
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Deep thoughts
I'll bet(pun intended) that if you really dug into this piece of legislation that you would find a lobbying group back by either religious organziations who are seeing their donations go down due to online gaming or US based gaming corporations who are already restricted from offering online gambling and don't want you to be able to gamble anywhere other than their casinos.
This is just business as usual for US politics. If you haven't noticed the american tax payer is for sale. We have been pimped out to anyone willing to contribute to the next campaign/slush fund.
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Re: Deep thoughts
Unconstitutional???Well they just passed the bill, now it's a law, so apparently not so unconstitutional at the moment.
Stupid? pretty much
Unenforcable? I guess we will find out.
"If you haven't noticed the american tax payer is for sale. We have been pimped out to anyone willing to contribute to the next campaign/slush fund." - As stated before, the American tax payer elected these people. Everybody needs to wake up and stop voting simply on party lines. Actually pay attention to the issues.
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Re: Deep thoughts
You don't have to look very hard or far to find out who is paying off the politicians to stop competition!
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Re: Deep thoughts
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They're related!
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Re: by Anonymous Coward on Oct 2nd, 2006 @ 3:30pm
you are stupid. why would you where are your stats that prove that it is?
oh, and just a note... anything you do has the potential to be mentally addicting if you enjoy doing it or there's a "reward" involved in doing it. the information i'm curious about is statistical information regarding the "danger to society" that gambling brings.
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Re: Re: by Anonymous Coward on Oct 2nd, 2006 @ 3:3
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Gangstas
the reason for the ban has nothing to do with
the protection of the public from the evils of
gambling. And everything to do with money
exchanging hands without the govenment getting
a cut.
The advent of legalized gambling in most states,
due to an insaitable lust for money, leaves the
government with no moral high ground on this
issue. Worst of all it was the lottery, a sucker's
game, that they instituted as their fool's tax.
Failing that, they've rubbed out some of the
competition. Capone would have approved.
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Gambling does cause social problem.
There is no doubt that online gambling is causing social problems and addictions. People who are not good players maybe losing valueable finances need to feed families or pay rent etc...... BUT... don't punish me for being able to afford to lose money online. Alcohol causes much more problems and it is legal. People with common sense are always suffering becuase the "STUPID" cannot control themselves and end up in trouble. Well I say don't take my fun away because the "STUPID" need to be protected from themselves.
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Re: Gambling does cause social problem.
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Anti-Govt. All the Way
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Re: Anti-Govt. All the Way
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ONLINE GAMBLING
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Gambleing on line
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Why Online Gambling & Poker Targeted ?
Jim
Crystal Palace Online Casino
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Not too sure about my freedom anymore
Here is the list I have compiled so far:
China
Iran
Malaysia
Northern Pakistan
Turkey
Syria
Jordan
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Kyrg yzstan
Kazakhstan
Iraq
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Politics
It's against your religious believes, fine. I don't ask that my OPINION be made into the LAW.
Please keep your right wing religious beliefs to yourself and stop oppressing all the people of this country and making them crimials for not believing the same way you do. Thanks
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