 Politicians
Continue To Face Off Regarding Online Casinos
Online casinos in
general are emerging at an alarming pace worldwide. Online
casinos are popular in Europe, the United States, and parts of
Asia. Ireland has been hit with the online casinos bug too, and
the $12 billion dollar a year online casinos industry sees many
players coming from the UK and Ireland. Some online casinos
tempt players with bonuses while other online casinos choose
promotions or large tournaments, but it is clear regardless,
that online casinos are very popular and on the rise.
Online casinos face great competition and also regulation and
some legal battles. Online casinos legislation is currently
being debated in the House of Representatives in the United
States Congress, and online casinos legislation has also been
heard in front of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Antigua
and Barbados took the United States to court (to the WTO)
regarding the legality of online casinos and the island’s
popularity for online casinos setting up shop. The matter is
still unresolved and in negotiation. Online casinos have also
been the subject of debate in other countries. Italy banned
search engines from including these internet gaming sites in
their searches and now the government is being sued by a
conglomerate of British gaming sites.
Recently, politicians in the United States continued facing off
over online casinos.
Interesting perspectives on US political moves to ban online
gambling were reported recently in the New York Times, which
claims that several interest groups are lining up to lobby for
or against Web gambling.
The article reports that an array of interest groups like
casinos in the USA and abroad, as well as sports leagues,
antigambling coalitions and even poker players, has dispatched
lobbyists to argue what should be legal and what should not over
a wide range of Internet transmitted gambling entertainment from
horse racing to lotteries, and poker to fantasy sports.
Major League Baseball wants to make sure that any measures do
not diminish Internet based fantasy sports games, which it
credits for a resurgence in its popularity.
The big Las Vegas casinos, which have been neutral over online
betting, have embraced a proposal in the House to establish a
study commission. Convenience stores are watching to see whether
Internet sales of lottery tickets might be affected, though
Powerball seems to be safe for now.
The horse racing industry seems confident, but dog tracks are
worried. And offshore casinos are fighting any restrictions.
The article embraces the current moves to hamstring online
gambling in the House of Representatives, referring to the merge
of the Goodlatte (HR 4777) and Leach (HR4411) Bills that have
already been the subject of wide discussion. The majority
leader, Republican Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio,
announced a few days ago that the measure would be voted on this
summer as part of what the Republicans call their American
Values Agenda (see previous InfoPowa bulletins).
Nevertheless, the power of the gambling industry remains
worldwide as billions of dollars are generated.
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