US Gambling Giants Still
Considering Online Gambling
 December
8 - There are many opponents to America's arguably draconian and
'prohibitionist' online gambling ban that feel the main
driving force behind the government's blatant push to quash the
activity is centered around protecting the country's existing
land gambling infrastructure.
This means preventing Americans from gambling away their
hard-earned dollars on foreign-owned online gambling sites to
force them instead to fill up the coffers of the main land
casino groups that are prevalent in gambling-friendly
jurisdictions such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno and so
forth.
Many feel the ban is also designed to protect the massive US
horseracing industry as well as many lucrative national and
state lotteries dotted around the country. Despite this,
however, some of the country's largest gambling groups are
reportedly interested in the feasibility of launching their own
online gambling offerings, but not all.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), the country's
largest casino industry trade group, is reportedly struggling to
reach a consensus on the issue of online gambling, include
online betting, because its large member base has so many
viewpoints on the issue.
For instance, some casino groups support the federal regulation
of online gambling, while others would prefer to see online
gambling regulated by the respective states themselves, while
others still are fully supportive of the blanket online gambling
ban to protect their long-time interests.
Like the infamous Prohibition in America in the 1930s which
resulted in the growth of underground illegal stills, drinking
dens and ultimately gave birth to organized crime in the form of
the Mafia, the current online gambling ban has forced many
American's to seek out illegal and often shady online gambling
operators.
By legalizing and regulating online gambling in America, not
only would the government benefit from billions of dollars in
online gambling taxes, but it could keep the industry fair and
honest, and thus force the more disreputable and dubious
operators out of business.
While the AGA is making sounds that it would support legislation
designed to 'conduct a study into the feasibility of legalizing
online gambling practices including online betting', many
critics feel that the organization is simply 'going through the
motions' and that its core focus is still very much the
protection of its giant domestic casino groups.
Clearly when you've been cornering the gambling market for as
long as many of these large companies have been, the saying
'competition is healthy' doesn't really apply.
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