US Bans Online Gambling

[kilo39]

London - Online gaming firms face their biggest-ever crisis after the United States Congress unexpectedly passed legislation to ban online gaming there, threatening jobs and hitting stocks by as much as 70 percent.

Britain's PartyGaming, operator of leading online poker site PartyPoker.com, and rivals Sportingbet and 888 said they would likely pull out of the United States and warned on future profits.
Online gaming in crisis after US ban 02 October 2006

I thought online gambling was already illegal in the states? This goes a lot further - now banks cannot process payments to online "gaming" sites.

Anything for more profit and less freedom (of choice) - for the US [Real World] Gambling Conglomerate.

 

[Person]

Places like PartyPoker.net have lost over 100 million UDS per week in funds because of this new Law. Its a real problem.

 

[kilo39]

I would think our new laws are "in the mail."

 

[Angelo]

Kilo why do you get so upset when authorities clamp down on smut? First you were up in arms over anti child-porn efforts?

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Angelo I wouldn't regard gambling as smut. I also believe that almost everyone agrees unanimously that child porn should be banned, however I think what most people are up in arms about is the banning of adult porn, using the "we're banning all porn to protect our children" line. Is this not taking away freedom of choice from adults? Is it not each persons own responsibility on how they raise their kids? So why then should the greater society bear the consequences for the ineptitude of certain individuals?

What possible motive does one have to ban online gambling? Why not ban gambling altogether then? Because there's surely no difference, unless the gambling sites are doing something illegal.

 

[kilo39]

Kilo why do you get so upset when authorities clamp down on smut? First you were up in arms over anti child-porn efforts?

Good question Angelo. I am against government legislation in any form. The less laws we have the better. The more laws, the worse. Legislating every single detail of a "free" persons life is not the way towards a morally discerning society. Laws are put in place to protect the public, by the public - not by some nameless legislator (who hasn't got anything better to do.)

Less laws? Yes. We should be taught the moral upholdment and upliftment of present law encouraging personal freedom and choice - not less. Child porn is just an excuse to pass laws while no one is looking - which ultimately can be used to impact on free speech and the power of the individual.

I do not need Big Brother looking over my shoulder at every turn. I have enough to think about - including my own place in the moral universe and what it is to be human.

 

[noxibox]

There was some talk about this a while ago. The biggest concern did seem to be that the gambling money was going to foreign countries. There was even mention of how this might be funding terrorists. The war on (or is that for) terrorism is proving to be a very useful tool for fighting freedom. It seems highly probable that the gambling industry in the US bought themselves a few politicians. They should just start holding open auctions and selling them to the highest bidder - the proud owners could even get a certificate of ownership.

 

[pupa]

Best Internet decision yet in a long time! IMHO

 

[Highflyer_GP]

pupa I'm sure if the headline read "SA Bans Online Gambling" then you would have sang a different tune huh

 

[mancombseepgood]

Uh - AFAIK it is illegal in some provinces... like Eastern Cape

 

[pupa]

pupa I'm sure if the headline read "SA Bans Online Gambling" then you would have sang a different tune huh

In Your mind. The problem is not the gambling but the lack of control and enticement to people that cannot control themselves! Kids is also a main problem with free access to online gambling. Open any home page and you will see reference pop-ups to three gambling pigs and others.

The problem with South Africa the GVT will even fcuck this small detail up. Why would I have anything against gambling if there is worse activity enticing people to call cell no.'s at a fee for competitions, sex and the rest?

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Well I doubt that kids have access to a credit card in order to gamble with. And if there are people who can't control themselves, why should everybody else suffer an inconvenience because of them. It's their problem not ours - they should deal with their stupidity.

Install google toolbar, should protect your kids from seeing three gambling pigs

 

[pupa]

Well I doubt that kids have access to a credit card in order to gamble with. And if there are people who can't control themselves, why should everybody else suffer an inconvenience because of them. It's their problem not ours - they should deal with their stupidity.

Install google toolbar, should protect your kids from seeing three gambling pigs

Have it! using it for years; did not see how to set up for three pigs blocking as yet tho! not that I have problems with my kids! Maybe I should not worry!

 

[neio]

It's a good move to stop online gambling, let people visit a bricks and mortar place if they want to waste their money. I personally think gambling is an incredibly addictive passtime and a waste of money.

 

[mancombseepgood]

When I see gambling, I see government officials with huge boeps smoking cigars and laughing at the poor people on the floor. You just gotto see a casino in a poor area - like Eastern Cape. It's incredible how many people you see there daily who can't afford to dress properly but are throwing their last rands into the machines...
And the highest potential jackpot is in the tens of thousands for the machines they play... hardly life changing.

 

[Chatmaster]

I think the most important point has been missed here. If you listened to Ted Stevens and the BS he discussed about online gambling blocking the pipes so much that he received an email only 3 days later...

This law went out for the wrong reasons, end of story! Despite a bunch of very uninformed senators and seemingly low in intelligence, this also infringe on the human rights of millions of people. Telling them where they can spent their money or not. I would not appreciate our government telling me what I must do with my money or my life. This is exactly what the US government are doing. They are also completely ignoring the WTO ruling against them! Something they seem to be doing very often...
http://www.antiguawto.com/WTOArticlesPg.html

It seems that US citizens are moving into a communism type of regime with the Bush administration. I mean legalizing torture?

Any country with a government like that should be very worried about this crazy "law" they passed.

 

[noxibox]

I would not appreciate our government telling me what I must do with my money or my life.

That is what governments try to do. It would be rare to find one that pays anything more than lip service to the notion of freedom.

It seems that US citizens are moving into a communism type of regime with the Bush administration. I mean legalizing torture?

More like fascism. A totalitarian state in which the government aligns itself with business interests.

They are also completely ignoring the WTO ruling against them! Something they seem to be doing very often...

WTO rulings only apply if they're against someone other than the US. They're quick to whine when another country allegedly breaks the rules.

Any country with a government like that should be very worried about this crazy "law" they passed.

The government has played the fear card. As long as you keep the people frightened you can do whatever you want. This is why we should always be wary of any sort of scaremongering.

 

[Chatmaster]

The point here is despite the people that in their selfish minds are praising this complete undiplomatic law being passed, you forget that the internet itself is being threatened here.

 

[Jpbothawyn]

Hi i'm a online poker player, and fistly think its pathetic if somebody but poker and gambling together! Poker is a game of skill and strategy, The best player will almost sertainly make more money than a player whom is less skillful and have less knowledge, Seconldy poker is aknowledged by many places as a sport, and dont be suprised that in the near future the tournament part will be free to enter if u qualify through a ranking system. And that the prize money will come from big sponsers like soft drinks, or car company's. If south africa take the stupid way by banning online gambling and place poker on the law it will be a sad day. I will stil play online just under another country which i qualify for.

 

[Chatmaster]

Hi Jpbothawyn

I see you are taking the path of the poker aliance... Poker is gambling, being a player myself I can tell you now that the argument you have is not nearly true for 95% of poker players. Then you can say the same for BJ and Craps, not mention the other casino games. You need to remember that Frist and Goolatte that are responsible for this act to be amended and passed did it for the money. They do not care about poker being a sport argument. It is all about the money. Added to this I do not support the argument of Poker Aliance in this regard as I feel they are fighting the wrong argument. Once again "the Bush" has taken away a very important right of the american people. They have actually taken the first step in taking control over the internet and has in effect commited to an act of terrorism against the american people as well as the rest of the world. This is the fight to be fought here, not poker being a sport!