tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911672266822781901.post5990824864388962260..comments2023-11-21T00:58:09.580-08:00Comments on Kevin's Corner: 2010 GiGSE Montreal Conference SummaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911672266822781901.post-13795675447534351282010-05-24T13:27:51.235-07:002010-05-24T13:27:51.235-07:00Hi Kevin. Interesting summary, thanks.
If I had ...Hi Kevin. Interesting summary, thanks. <br /><br />If I had to bet (pun intended) I would lay heavy odds against the USA legalizing online gambling anytime soon. <br /><br />What most people fail to consider is that, unlike most other countries, gambling in the USA (and also Canada?) is regulated and taxed at the local level, usually the state level but sometimes even the municipal level. <br /><br />But internet gambling, by definition, is interstate commerce, and will need to be regulated nad taxed at the federal level. <br /><br />Which means every constituency that matters -- casino operators, lotteries, state regulators and legislators, Native American tribes, gaming equipment suppliers, even local mom and pop lottery vendors (who ALL vote) -- is firmly against internet gambling. Not for moral or ethical reasons. Strictly because internet gambling -- again, by definition -- will dilute their franchises and reduce their economics etc<br /><br />So who is for it? No one that matters, politically- or economically-speaking.<br /><br />Even in Europe, where gaming is often regulated and taxed at the federal level, has seen massive fights break out over tehse issues, eg various countries lotteries suing to preserve their exclusive domains<br /><br />Barney Frank is my Congressman, and whil I do not suspect him of wasting taxpayer resources, his support of internet gambling or even poker is wafer thin. He's got a few other pressing banking issues to deal with! And I don't think he wants internet gambling to be an issue in his next reelection. My prediction, he abandons the effort soon.Steven Kanehttp://twitter.com/stevenkanenoreply@blogger.com