U.S Online Gambling Rethink

[PredPred is verified member.]

U.S. online-gambling laws to be relaxed

good news all round
good for developers and domainers too me thinks

 

[BREWSTERS]

About time too in the 'land of the free'.

 

[newguy]

Great news. It was tied to a port security bill by brainless George Dubya years back. It was stupid then and it's stupid now. Hopefully common sense will win out.

 

[philipp]

Personally I think gambling is a scourge upon the stupid, and ideally players should at least have to make the effort to get themselves to a real casino before losing their money.

P.

 

[newguy]

Personally I think gambling is a scourge upon the stupid, and ideally players should at least have to make the effort to get themselves to a real casino before losing their money.

P.

I do see your point. I don't think the government should be nannying peoples' personal habits, but I do see the need for people prone to addiction issues to be able to make good choices. I would think something like an opt-out that applies to all UK (or US etc) gambling sites would be an acceptable compromise.

 

[GreyWing]

Anyone remember those two UK gaming executives that went to the US on holiday a year after the ban and were arrested for allowing US players onto their sites.

Although, funnily enough not arresting the head of Visa, Mastercard or Paypal for allowing them to transfer funds to gaming sites.

 

[doodlebug]

Anyone remember those two UK gaming executives that went to the US on holiday a year after the ban and were arrested for allowing US players onto their sites.

Although, funnily enough not arresting the head of Visa, Mastercard or Paypal for allowing them to transfer funds to gaming sites.

Very good point GW, about time this stupid law was changed, Yanks were using them anyway so now it will all be above board

 

[edo]

Big change if and when it happens. These things can take years to come about and more often than not they change their mind at the last minute. What I don't really understand is why sports betting continues to be penalised. How is betting on poker morally superior to betting on football??

 

[GreyWing]

How is betting on poker morally superior to betting on football??

From what I seen a few years ago the casinos donate huge amounts to certain lobby groups. Where as some of the sports betting companies were smaller less co-ordinated outfits by comparison and never bought into politics. So if you have the cash you can buy morality in American politics.

Someone said to me a few weeks ago, the only difference between American and Russian politics is that the Russians keep their bribes and spend on nice stuff for themselves. American politicians spend it on getting re-elected. But either way the victims have to buy favours or go out of business.

Seems pretty true..

 

[newguy]

From what I seen a few years ago the casinos donate huge amounts to certain lobby groups. Where as some of the sports betting companies were smaller less co-ordinated outfits by comparison and never bought into politics. So if you have the cash you can buy morality in American politics.

Someone said to me a few weeks ago, the only difference between American and Russian politics is that the Russians keep their bribes and spend on nice stuff for themselves. American politicians spend it on getting re-elected. But either way the victims have to buy favours or go out of business.

Seems pretty true..

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. The exception of poker likely has more to do with successful lobbying than logic. Also, you can of course still bet bet on racing and football on US soil, so if anything these measures are protectionism pure and simple and the biggest impact was felt outside of the US.

Interesting sites like intrade.com are popular in the US as trading seems to be viewed slightly differently to betting. According to the wikipedia page there is a lack of clarity over the legal status of intrade in the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrade

An interesting recent history of gambling in the US is here: http://www.blackjackchamp.com/about/gambling-legal-united-states/

I wonder if this years election will make any difference to the ban being overturned.