Kyrgyzstan parliament bans gambling

[alp227]

Source: BBC News

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has voted to ban gambling, meaning casinos will close throughout the country.

The bill was passed with almost no opposition, following repeated warnings from politicians that gambling has become a major social problem.

The new law allows a single gambling zone to be designated, but no location has yet been identified.

Thousands of casino workers took to the streets to protest against the passage of the law.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15116452

[closeupready]

1. "a major social problem" - next up, vodka!

[JDPriestly]

2. Good for them. Now if we could only ban the gamblers from Wall Street

we could get back to real investment and the creation of a real economy -- not just a gaming table economy.

[valerief]

3. My thoughts exactly! nt

[harmonicon]

7. shhhhh....

the fact that the stock market is the biggest casino in the world is supposed to either be a secret or "wink-wink, nudge-nudge".

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. So gambling will go underground. Problem solved. nt

[SnakeEyes]

5. Nothing like creating an underground illegal market

where criminals can prosper without regulation, taxation, or oversight to ensure fairness.

Gambling restrictions are ridiculous. Why shouldn't I have the right to wager my money on something if I choose to do so?

[harmonicon]

8. just like murder, eh?

I mean, christ, if you want someone killed, why shouldn't you be able to pay someone to do it for you without repercussions? What kind of panty-waist free market is this?!

[SnakeEyes]

10. what a ridiculous and nonsensical comparison

You're really equating two parties entering in a wager with contract killing?

Absurd.

[harmonicon]

14. Ridiculous, but not non-sensical.

It's about a contract that people enter into willingly. That part is the same. It's a situation where someone's life probably isn't going to turn out so well. That's also the same. Governments have different laws, and I think that's fine. If you want to gamble, it's a good thing you don't live in Kazahkstan, I guess.

[SnakeEyes]

15. Ridiculous

Of course i don't need to mention that one consists of two parties entering into things willingly while the other consists of two parties willing agreeing to harm an unwilling third party.

And someone's life won't turn out well if they are gambling addicts or can't manage their money properly. Not me nor the people I know. We outta be allowed to gamble if we choose.

Do you support a ban on alcohol too? That ruins lots of lives too!

[harmonicon]

16. Support? What do I support?

I don't give money to any person or cause, especially in central asian countries. Some countries ban alcohol. It's their business. Of course you know what's best for everyone, and it should be you who dictates all laws in all countries, right?

[SnakeEyes]

17. I support personal freedoms.

And speak for such regardless of where they are in the world. "It's their business" is a poor attitude to have as it allows for anyone to claim anything as "their business"

[izquierdista]

9. Gambling in the FSU

I'll go on the assumption that you haven't lived in the FSU and seen the pervasiveness of gambling and how it sucks money from people. We're not talking American style casinos, where gambling is HIGHLY regulated and minors are kept from gambling. The most common gambling taking place there is with machines the size of a soft drink vending machine in a public place, like the public square in front of the bus station. Anyone can throw coins in with the hope of a payoff, and the owner of the machine (likely a criminal with some pull) sets the payoff as small as possible to keep suckers coming. Bars, restaurants, and markets are also likely venues, with the business getting a piece of the action.

So the criminals are prospering, with little regulation, no taxation, and oversight is easy to buy off. Now can you see why they voted that way?

[SnakeEyes]

11. Ok so highly regulate it if you must.

But I still don't see way they voted that way other than as an overreaction. Nobody is forced to put money in a slot machine and many others enjoy a game of chance.

[izquierdista]

12. It was an overreaction

People there are still a little naive about all the ways that capitalists can pry their last kopeck out of them.

In my ideal world, I would make any sort of gambling a state monopoly and keep the capitalists out of it. Yes, people enjoy a game of chance, but there's also a small percentage who become compulsive gamblers. Instead of having gambling corporations that only care about profits, a state monopoly could also run a compulsive gambling treatment program out of their budget.

[boppers]

13. Been to Oregon lately?

We don't have sales tax. We have property tax, and income tax, and the "lottery".

And by "lottery", that means that locations like my corner convenience market have a back room with video poker, video slots.... along with keno games and scratch tickets in the front room, all run by the state. Family restaurant? "Lottery room". Strip club? "Lottery area". Deli in a strip mall? It's probably a "lottery" house that serves sandwiches. Want to gamble at home? You can buy tickets and watch drawings on the internet... and I'm not talking about a weekly drawing, I'm talking a new game every 10-20 *minutes*.

http://www.oregonlottery.org /

Oh, and yes, there's a treatment program funded by it.

[stockholmer]

6. so they are banning stock market high frequency trading, dark pools, and banking derivatives?