As the U.S. House of Representatives again considers whether Internet gambling should be banned, several groups on both sides of the issue are clamoring to add their views. According to "New Ideas for A New Century," recently published by The Century Foundation, online gambling promotes addiction through easy accessibility and presents potential for criminal abuse. In the brief, the group calls for the federal government to enforce a ban on Internet gambling within the United States.
The group suggests that a ban is necessary because online gambling is widely available to children and teens, increasing the chances that underage players will gamble and even become addicted. Further, it says that easy access will encourage current pathological gamblers to gamble online, while encouraging even more players to join the ranks of gambling addicts. Internet gambling also provides opportunity for illegal activities, such as money laundering and fraud yet provides no economic benefits to the community, the group added.
"Ideas for A New Century" outlines several proposed methods for making a ban effective: updating and
strengthening existing laws that prohibit the use of telephone lines for placing bets or wagers; enacting laws that require Internet service providers to shut down any gambling sites hosted on their networks; and prohibiting the use of electronic payment methods for Internet gambling activities. It also explains some of the challenges for enforcing the ban.
Click here to view "New Ideas for A New Century."
Copyright 2000 - The Century Foundation - Reprinted by Permission - www.ideas2000.org