Saturday, November 28, 2009

Opinion

Should Online Betting Be Legal?

Posted May 22, 2009

Reader Comments

Online Gambling

An online poker tournament is one of the few enjoyable pastimes I have. Do we still live in the land of the Free And THE Brave. It my Legal right and my Money to do what i like with it. Please keep us are County Free lets stand up for our rights and the Freedom.

OnLine Gambling

I want gambling leagalized in all states of the USA

online gambling

First let me say that I have no interest personally in online gambling. I was in a casino once in Niagara Falls, lost $7 of the $10 I had brought with me, and decided that was enough of that.

I read both takes reagarding online gambling in the latest US News Weekly. I'm no fan of Barney Frank but he gave serveral positive arguments for legalizing online gambling and he gave rebuttals to possible arguments against online gambling.

Representative Bachus main arguments were that there have been laws in the past prohibiting forms of gambling, that gambling is abused by some, that it could lead to drug money laundering and smuggling for terrorists and that it is difficult to regulate the underage from using it.

None of these arguments are pursuasive.

The fact that there were previous attempts to ban this form of gambling is not a good reason to review the matter and see if it should be legalized.

Gambling can be abused? I am shocked! So can lots of things that are legal. Again, the fact that there are those that can't handle responsibility is not reason enough to ban something enjoyed by a majority of others.

Rep. Bachus gives no evidence whatsoever tying money laudering or terrorism to online gambling. If it did occur than what needs to be stopped is the illegal activity, not the otherwise legal vehicle used.

Regarding access to minors- don't these sites require credit cards? A parent should have the responsibility to ensure their children are not using their credit cards without permission.

Finally Bachus mentioned that an IPhone gambling app was developed and ready to launch the day online gambling is leagalized. I believe that Apple approves every application released for its app store. I find it unlikely that Apple would sanction such an app.

In summary, banning illegal gamling is another attempt by the government to protect us from ourselves. There are many people who would use online gambling as an entertaining diversion without abusing it. If it is believed that it should be banned because it can be abused than terrestrial gambling, including state sanctioned lotteries should also be banned. Otherwise, let people make their own decisions about what they should or should not be doing. If you feel it shouldn't be done than don't do it. That does not give you the right to stop others from doing it responsibly.

On-Line Gambling

I can't understand how people can feel so impassioned at the prospect of not being able to gamble on-line. Legalized gambling is everywhere now with casinos popping up all over the place. Isn't that enough? Must people also have on-line gambling so that they can feed their insatiable appetites for trying to win money 24/7? What does it take for people to control themselves? Before you know it, we'll be a nation literally tied to the computer, all the kids playing video games and all the adults gambling.

Maybe the people who feel that their freedom is being denied should think about how they can better spend their time, maybe by reading a book or doing something else that would improve their lives, instead of wasting even more time (and money) chasing a dream.

online "gambling"

One trouble with this infringement on freedom is that tournament in games of skill, such as backgammon and poker, get thrown into the "gambling" category. Imagine tournaments in golf or tennis being prohibited because they have entry fees and money prizes.What an outcry there would be.

An online poker tournament is one of the few enjoyable pastimes open to me, an old guy who can't dance around the golf course anymore. While chance is an element of the game, it is present in golf as well, and skill is what separates the winners from those still learning. It is not at all like a gamble such as in a casino game of roulette or worse, slots.

So let us stand up for freedom and avoid prohibitive laws.

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