How does the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act affect US gamblers?
Posted on | September 21, 2006 | No Comments
The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act is one of the major concerns for US gamblers who spend more than just a few buck and several hours engaged in online betting games, including state lotteries, horseracing and sports books.
“The House of Representatives belongs to the American people, and the American people want us to act on the issues they care about.” such were the words of House Majority Leader John Boehner, (R-Ohio), when the House merged the H.R. 4777 and H.R. 4111 acts.
The initiatives of the resulting act makes it illegal to use credit cards and fund transfers from banks to settle internet wagers, cracking down on illegal gambling, allowing authorities to work with Internet providers to block access to online gambling sites.
Although Internet gambling is actually regulated in over 80 countries and jurisdictions, including Central America, but especially the Caribbean nations, which is giving them the status of “illegal activities haven” from where most casino, poker and sport books are managed.
The number of American gamblers increases everyday, but in defense of the gambling industry, casino and poker web sites argue that players place their bets using “play money”, being that way a recreational activity that may not cause such large harm as organizations against Internet gambling claim.
Poker operators state, “players may pass a few hours playing without putting up any cash, and there is not commitment.” However, they are continuously encouraged to play for real where they feel ready to make a “million dollars” easily.
The worst thing about this is children accessing poker sites and writing stories such as that of Greg Hogan, Jr., the son of a pastor, who before the of age 19 gambled away $7,500 playing online Texas Hold ’Em. After this impacting experience, Hogan robbed a bank trying to recover his losses and ruining his life permanently.
Sports and horseracing are as addictive as poker, craps or other casino games. It is estimated that the average US gamblers has at least one favorite sport they enjoy betting on. The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, makes no exception when live or simulated Sport books and horseracing into illegal activities.
However even before the public’s access to the Internet, horseracing was under regulating terms back in 1978. Later, during the 1990s, federal legislations tried to regulate online gambling through the Professional and Amateurs Sports Protection act.
Today, Congress has hit the nail on the head with the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act 2006, supported by the NCAA, and all the major professional sports organizations, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, a healthy measure for sports, but for gamblers.
The question is up in the air; however, no other act has had the support of these and many other organizations, family groups, financial services, religious committees, as well as 48 out of the 50 state attorneys generals.
The H.R. 4111 affects American gamblers from a leisurely perspective, which is not as healthy as their improved finances after this measure. There is nothing new about hearing about people who have lost their home, their car or are swamped by credit card debts resulting of online gambling.
The statement of Representative James A. Leach (R-IA), has been clear, “The reason the sports groups support the legislation is that they are concerned with the integrity of the games. The reason the religious community has come together is that they are concerned for the unity of the American family.”
Gambling is virtual but the money is real, a sad fact brought to gamblers’ attention after the arrest of David Carruthers, BetOnSports CEO. BetOnSports has major operations in the United Kingdom and Costa Rica; however, just because gambling is legal in those countries does those not make it legal in the United States.
Therefore, being an American gambler does not change the illegal status of gambling even when choosing an offshore Internet Sports book to bet.
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