When will the United States government stop trying to force the morals of the few on the American general public? It didn't work in the last century with Prohibition, and it won't work in this one with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Does the government plan to throw 100 million Americans in jail? The purpose of the federal government is supposed to be to protect the rights of Americans, not take them away! When these small-minded congressmen couldn't get the bill through by itself, the proper, legal way, they attached it to a popular defense bill to increase port security. What does Internet gaming have to do with port security? What a cheap, slimy move!
What happens when a law is passed that no one will obey? Well, guys, nice move. You've turned one-third of the nation into criminals overnight! Legalize it, regulate it, and tax it!
One of the reasons given for including the gambling enforcement act in the port security bill was that gambling sites could be used to fund terrorism. This is one of the stupidest rationales I have ever heard. On those grounds, the government had better hurry and ban all free trade, because
any business could be used to fund terrorism! That would include charities and nonprofit organizations, as well.
Even if this were so, would the solution be to run the gaming sites further underground? The ownership of most sites is already unknown, as most are either in foreign countries or offshore. Their management is a little more in the open to anyone wishing to investigate, but it's still murky at best. I mean, you easily could establish many of the employees' identities by simple surveillance, but many work at sites other than the primary offices. Besides, trying to figure out who does what would be near impossible. If terrorists hold key employee positions, no one would know.
As far as the funds go … all of these sites keep their money out of the U.S., so who knows where or to whom it goes? If it were legal, the money could be followed, making sure that none of it ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations. And here's one more small thing: These funds also could be taxed.
The U.S. is currently fighting two wars simultaneously, with a possible third right over the horizon (hello, Iran). With the politicians frightened to raise taxes, this country needs new revenue now worse than ever. I don't see any new multibillion-dollar industry popping up out of nowhere, willing to pay huge taxes to the U.S. federal government. No, wait … I do see one! It's called online poker.
Imagine a new industry that actually wants to be taxed by the U.S. government. While every other business in the world is trying to figure out how not to pay (or pay the least amount possible), this industry is crying out to be legalized so that it can pay taxes. If the government would simply say, "OK, any site that wants to, can enter our fold," there would be a stampede of sites rushing to the U.S., cash in hand.
The sites could be based in a state (such as Nevada) that has an existing gaming control board, which could then regulate it. This might finally stop Mike Matusow from screaming that these sites are rigged. It might ease my mind a little, too.
Other forms of gambling are being carved out of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, such as lotteries and horse racing. Why them and not poker? Lotteries provide huge amounts of money for state governments. Can you say hypocrisy, boys and girls? Besides, poker would be a cash cow unto itself. And what about horse racing? I guess that's not really gambling in the eyes of Congress. That industry just had a powerful lobbying group, and we didn't.
So, as you can see from the reasons I've listed here, anyone with a brain in his head should realize that online poker should be legalized. As I said before: Legalize it, regulate it, tax it!
By the way, if you work for the Treasury or Justice Department, or any gaming control commission, please disregard that comment about "anyone with a brain." I realize that it's the politicians who are passing the laws, and you guys are just doing your jobs (and doing them well) by enforcing them. I also realize that you guys are much more powerful than a poker player, and could crush me like a bug. Please don't hurt me.
