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Attempted Internet gambling ban in US
By Zach Arnold | September 30, 2006
If you live in America, watch out. Don’t think about placing bets on MMA, boxing, or other sports online if you are in the States… in the future.
This attempted gambling ban is an incredibly dumb political move.
Story details: USA Today | Eye on Gambling | Poker Players Alliance | Gambling 911 | The Daily Telegraph (UK)
Update: The end.
Update II: This Google News screen capture says it all.
Topics: All Topics, Media, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
There are two possible outcomes to this debate. One is that internet gambling is banned (but that could lead to WTO sanctions against the U.S. and is unlikely) the second is that American casinos are allowed to get into the online gambling business. Allowing U.S. Casinos in seems the more likely outcome to me. They’re the ones behind trying to get Congress to ban offshore internet gambling. The Costas Show on HBO last week said $40mil per week is bet in Vegas on the NFL and $2bil is bet per week offshore via the internet. American Casinos want a piece of that action.
Internet gambling is quite far removed from the seedy, mafia-linked, kneecap-breaking street-level gambling that got gambling banned most everywhere. There’s tax revenue to be made. Any ban will be short-lived; politicians can buy more votes with the taxes than they gain from the ban.