Internet Gambling, Morality, and The US Government

Forbes.com listed this article on the recent weekend passage of a bill outlawing credit card transactions and money transfer companies to internet gambling sites.

What does that mean?

It means that despite the World Trade Organization finding the United States guilty on many infractions and may force sanctions on them soon (antiguawto.com for more) the U.S. is now putting itself in a position to make itself actual less compliant with regulations. It means that the foremost reason poker sites are flourishing (US public consumers) will soon be lost. It means Christian right'ists and Harrahs' entertainment lobbyists we'll sleep well, knowing that they lobbied together successfully for something that very well will only become a hotter, more engorging debate in the coming years.

On the one hand, we have billion dollar gambling corporations, Indian and regular, in the US lobbying in essence to give them a chance to exploit gambling degenerated consumers for themselves, as well as giving their companies a chance to enter in the online marketplace for gambling. On the opposite side, we have the Christian right saying that on a moral level less gambling is as important as preventing overseas companies from profiting from the US without paying taxes on the margins.

Lastly, we have the U.S. Government. Separated from from church, letting its bureaucracy churn on by burning even more of tax payers money on enforcing a law which could turn into a multi-billion dollar money maker allowed and taxed, instead. Morality, unfortunately, I don't believe is driving any of the votes in congress or the senate against internet gambling -- bureaucracy, money, and stubbornness are.

Big business vs morality. I don't get it. Does anyone have any comments besides me?

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Side note: I'm real proud of wsex (world sports exchange)'s stance on this. Here's an e-mail sent to a player:

Hi xxxx,

We have absolutely no plans whatsoever of dropping any players. In short, it will be business as usual. WSEX.com and all its sister companies are legal and licensed businesses regulated by the Gaming Commission of Antigua and Barbuda. We are wholly located in Antigua and do no business or run any part of our operation on US soil.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has recognized the right of Antiguan companies to be in this business and has instructed the United States to stop trying to block US residents from playing at Antiguan operations.

Nothing in the bill criminalizes placing a bet or sending money to or receiving money from an offshore gambling business.

We strongly suggest that our players/bettors get set up with alternative payment systems (such as Neteller and First Pay).

Thanks for your enquiry xxxx. WSEX is here to stay.

Best regards,

Byron WPX "

So they said: suck it. Their balls drag on the ground. NH