The U.S. House took a huge step toward banning Internet gambling by passing Rep. James Leach's, R-Iowa, prohibition bill. Following are reactions from IGN readers.
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"The resources that are expended trying to protect people from their own follies is the crime, not the activities themselves."
"A few people can pull the curtains on the magic show, but they cannot stop the crowd from peeking behind."
"We need to get our weed killer ready for the elections in November."
"This is the time for the industry leaders and trade groups to kick into high gear, and stop this train before it gathers much more speed."
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"It is a wonderful thing that Congress can find time for this matter as the nation prepares to go to war. It seems a good time to reenact prohibition, since we appear to be intent, once again, on legislating behavior. This Republican-dominated Congress has done more to interfere with our rights than any since the Democratic Congresses of the '60s. But since Congress' writ does not run beyond our borders; we will still be able to exercise choice on foreign sites."
"Prohibition should not be part of the 21st century landscape. It is very hypocritical to take the view that high velocity securities trading, state lotteries, Indian gaming, state-licensed gaming operations, pari-mutuel wagering, oil and gas investments by the general public and myriads of other ways to risk one's bankroll are OK, but Internet gaming is the great devil. The resources that are expended trying to protect people from their own follies is the crime, not the activities themselves. We have a small number of people trying mightily to impose their values on a much greater number. The government should try to limit its involvement."
"I cant remember the last time I was threatened by a gambler on the Internet. I cant remember the last time a gambler blew up a building. I cant remember the last time a gambler blew up a crowded bus. If the House of Representatives would spend more time trying to protect U.S. citizens from terrorists and less time protecting U.S. citizens from gambling, this would be a better country. Shame on the House wasting our time and our money on nonsense. I cant wait till November to vote the rascals out."
"A few people can pull the curtains on the magic show, but they cannot stop the crowd from peeking behind."
"I must say the Republican party and its roots need to be pulled from our garden in Congress and thrown into the garbage pile at our next election. As you are aware, the Democrat Party has the majority vote in the Senate and hopefully they will be prudent and throw this bill back to the new majority-based Democratic Congress after the elections in November. We need to get our weed killer ready for the elections in November."
"If this goes through, it will be a disaster for internet gaming. The only casinos that will continue to operate in the U.S. will be those that are already operating outside any jurisdictions. It's going to be like the liquor prohibition in the 1930s; only the real crooks will benefit from this."
"I think this Leach Bill is a real joke. Both the U.S. and Canada are supposed to be FREE countries. I think our governments have the right to regulate and tax Internet gaming but DO NOT have the right to make it illegal. Who do these "do-gooders" think they are? I believe that this is just a bunch of political crap where the politicians involved are looking for recognition at the expense of the people's freedom."
"I've never had an issue with this bill since it only deals with illegal activity. If states decide to open up to online gaming, it doesn't prohibit that from being supported by financial institutions. My bigger concern is that the feds support a reciprocal agreement for online wagering similar to the racing industry."
"While this overreaching and ill-conceived piece of legislation was pushed through the House today, we must count on the Senate, which historically acts with more thoughtful consideration, to do the right thing. Certainly, the online gaming industry did not need another setback, just when it is attempting to rebound from the pullout by major payment processors and from the GAO Report accusing the industry of involvement with money laundering. This is the time for the industry leaders and trade groups to kick into high gear, and stop this train before it gathers much more speed.
"It is critical to note that this bill is a strong move forward on the developing international jurisdictional integrity framework. That is, any activity on the Internet must have respect to the sovereign rights of states to control and regulate what occurs on the Internet within their jurisdiction, but in the case of Internet gambling, prevents wholesale larceny of cross-border transactions by removing the notion of 'export gambling services' in one fell swoop."