Reasons to Regulate Online Poker
GamblingRecently, in 2006, the United States enacted legislation, known as the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), which essentially made any American poker player’s fund for unlawful use of poker gambling. There are many reasons why this detrimental law should be reversed, and why the U.S. Government should consider regulating online poker. Here are a few central ideas:
The UIGEA was literally a tacked-on last minute rider with a Ports bill, which was destined to pass. The UIGEA was added to the Ths bill, which was signed by President Bush, about 20 minutes before the Port Bills Congress vote. The UIGEA was never discussed or debated in Congress, and was voted on in its original draft, which has many, many holes in it link vào dafabet.
The UIGEA unfairly puts the U.S. on its implementation. Banking system. It makes banks responsible and culpable for identifying and stopping checks and internet bank transfers that are gambling-related. Specifically, the UIGEA does not clearly delineate what a gambling transaction is and is not. The banking system is currently ill-equipped with the necessary man-power to implement such a vague law, and it would take several years to implement an appropriate system that would have been able to provide a reliable system of transacting and halting benign transactions. Further, the UIGEA is required to implement the banking system in its own time (i.e., no payment), and assume the culpability of its actions. Given the recent turmoil in the U.S. The banking system, which makes absolutely no sense in the banking industry, is devoting its time to a plan to implement a law that is full of crevices, especially when there are infinitely more pressing needs that the banking system must reckon with these days.
Now, for the hypocrisy argument – the U.S. The government says that online poker is illegal, when accounts are funded for the purposes of gambling, but it is entirely legal and permissible to play state lotteries, horse racing for wager, and fantasy sports on bet. Why on earth are lotteries deemed to be legal (when, in fact, they are completely left to chance), when a game of skill (poker) is deemed to be illegal and immoral, as stated by the UIGEA. It just makes no sense. Anyone who plays poker knows that there is an inherent chance element associated with the game, but it’s a game of skill (akin to chess).
We are currently running the largest government deficit in American history, the Bush administration, and the National Debt will have increased from 5 BB to 9.5 BB under George Bush’s watch (that’s a 90% increase). Regulation of online poker could bring a significant windfall The government will have a positive impact on the lowering the budget deficit and slowing down the ballooning national debt. There are many who have implemented taxing online poker, and we could certainly learn from our friends in the U.K., who are already doing this.
There are many (this author included) who believe that the U.S. The government is not regulating internet-based poker, the strong Las Vegas casino lobbyists (who believe that online poker is their business), and those who believe that Las Vegas is somehow going well at planning their strategy. The lawmakers who engineered UIGEA believe that elimination of non-US-based online poker, will help pave the way for land-based casinos to enter this market, and will help eradicate any international competition that might otherwise exist.
Other proponents of the UIGEA argue that online poker encourages underage gambling, which destroys the fabric of American society. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the technology of sophistication now exists that would enable online poker websites to prohibit the patronage of underage customers.
Finally, the American government can tell its U.S. How can citizens spend their own money? There is a serious Freedom of Speech issue at stake here. Further, the internet shows no geographical boundaries, and an online poker site for playing by prohibiting citizens that is physically located in another country. The government feels no remorse in telling its constituency what websites it can and cannot frequent. If the U.S. If the government is not going to allow online poker sites, then maybe, just maybe, we should eliminate any websites that cater to alcohol, tobacco, sex, credit cards, etc., etc., etc. Why stop at online poker?
In summary, there are many, many reasons to repeat the UIGEA, and permit online poker to be played. Hopefully, the next governmental regime will see the light, and the reverse imposed by the stupidity and short-sightedness of the current administration.
Douglas Hayman, Presiden poker.