Polls Show the American Public to be in Support of Online Gambling
28 Aug 2006
Despite efforts in the American House of Congress to ban internet gambling, the American public supports the freedom to enter and use online casinos freely. Indeed a poll conducted by CNBC recently, which asked whether those polled supported the legalization of online gambling in the US, produced clear results. 91% of the responders expressed their support for legalized online gambling. A similar poll conducted by The Wall Street Journal showed 85% against a ban of online gambling.
Keith Furlong of the Internet Gaming Council, an online gambling industry trade group pointed to other reasons why the bill prohibiting online gambling should not be ratified. The bill makes exceptions for horserace betting and for lotteries; this is perceived by Furlong as unfair and hypocritical. He argues that if the concern for gambling addictions and gambling by minors was really the driving force behind the bill, these exceptions would not be made. He argues that regulating the online gambling industry, as the UK does, rather than banning it is a much better option.
Indeed, legalization and regulation of the online gambling industry is the direction in which most countries are going. Over 80 countries have legalized online gambling with strong rules and regulations. This, argues Furlong, is the optimal way to protect gambling addicts and minors. Another objection raised by those who oppose the online gambling ban is the US government's attempt to tell Americans how to spend their money. An opposing initiative that proposes examining the online gambling industry before banning it has been introduced by Congressman Jon Porter.
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