Should online gamblers be genuinely worried about this news?

On Tuesday the US House of Representatives spent three and a half hours debating the merits and faults of H.R. 4411, a.k.a. the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. More simply, the bill that will attempt to terminate online gambling in the country.

HR 4411 is a Repbulican-sponsored bill that merged two separate online gambling prohibition bills submitted by Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and James Leach, R-Iowa. It passed  317-93.

Supporters of this bill argued against online gambling sucking billions of dollars away from the American economy, fostering addiction and family problems, serving as a vehicle for money laundering and is run by disreputable "offshore, fly-by-night operations."

The bill says that each state "preserves the right to regulate online gambling" only if they choose to do so. To do this however, will require well-advanced technology that can monitor state residence’s Internet activities.

Goodlatte doesn’t believe that such technology is in existence, therefore he’s so he envisioning his bill as an all-out prohibition. Well maybe he should have a talk with Washington state on how they plan to catch online casino players in their state. Or the NSA.

The bill now travels to the Senate where a more bloody combat is expected. This early, many are predicting it won’t be passed into law for lack of steady political support. Wisebettor says:

"Many major companies in Nevada want online gambling to be legalized, taxed and regulated. This will allow them to setup their own gambling destinations online. It’s quickly becoming obvious to many that online gambling cannot be stopped and the United States does not own nor control the Internet. The only way to do so would be to go against the Constitution, ignore freedom of the people and adopt policies like China."

Moreso, Rep. Robert Scott, a Democrat who voted nay, said the bill really says nothing about banning the act of online gambling per se. Rather it will target the operation of online gambling businesses that are already based outside the US and out of the reach of authorities.

If that’s true, then WTF are these blabberings about? Too many grey areas, too many unresolved issues, if this bill is signed into law then their reasons as to why the country is at war based on imaginary WMDs will all seem….rational.

Revisit: Gambling Magazines Now Cancelling Washington Subscriptions

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