| With the effects of the Unlawful Internet | | | | We'll see what takes place in the upcoming |
| Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) making | | | | Presidential elections, during which we may |
| themselves clear one month after the bill was | | | | see a promise to legalize online gambling and |
| made into law, many are asking themselves | | | | repeal the UIGEA. If politicians want to use |
| 'What are its benefits?'. | | | | online gambling as a political maneuver, it |
| | | | will be more beneficial to promise American |
| The US government says that it passed the | | | | billions in tax dollars and jobs. |
| UIGEA law because it was worried about a rise | | | | |
| in online gambling addiction. Since online | | | | Although the negative aspects of the industry |
| casinos put gambling access into every home | | | | have been discussed to the point of nausea, |
| in America, they believe that Americans are | | | | few are talking about what the online casino |
| now at a severe risk of developing gambling | | | | industry will do for the United States. So |
| addictions. However, as the government shouts | | | | what are the benefits of legalizing and |
| about an online gambling addiction epidemic, | | | | regulating the online casino industry? |
| studies show that no major rise in gambling | | | | |
| addiction exists. In fact no large rise has | | | | After a year or so of the UIGEA being in |
| taken place in gambling addictions over the | | | | effect, many of the 3,000 small online sites |
| last 10 years, almost the whole lifespan of | | | | will have gone out of business (it's already |
| the online casino industry. | | | | started), and only the largest online casino |
| | | | companies will be left standing. The larger |
| Current speculation claims that the real | | | | casinos will be out of the US market and |
| reason behind the UIGEAis that online casinos | | | | American land-based casinos will be free to |
| are not based in the USA and therefore are | | | | take over if the ban is repealed. Legalized |
| not taxed by the US government. Also, since | | | | online casinos would bring billions into the |
| online gambling is not regulated and | | | | United States economy, and rumors already |
| monitored, Americans do not pay taxes on | | | | exist that Vegas casinos are pushing to |
| online casino wins like they do on land based | | | | repeal the ban and take advantage of the wide |
| casinos. It is estimated that the US | | | | open gap in the industry. |
| government is losing out on nearly $600 | | | | |
| million in taxes each year. | | | | If the ban is repealed right now, not only |
| | | | will billions flood the US economy, but |
| Some rumors claimed that the UIGEA was an | | | | Americans who are continuing to bet in online |
| attempt by Republicans to hold on to a | | | | casinos, would be safer. The casinos that are |
| majority in this year's mid-term | | | | refusing to leave the US market are more |
| Congressional elections. The ban would have | | | | often than not the smaller and less regulated |
| attracted the right winged Christian based | | | | casinos. This is putting Americans in danger |
| voters. However the move obviously backfired, | | | | of identity theft. The risk is that |
| and the Democratic party took the house in an | | | | unregulated casinos that can disappear in an |
| overwhelming win. | | | | instant, taking players' funds with them. |
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