Starved State Budgets Inspire New Look at Web Gambling

[LeighAnn]

Source: New York Times

The District of Columbia is not thrilled that its residents are traveling to Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to gamble in casinos. Starved for cash, like states across the country, the district wants some of the millions in revenue that gambling generates each year.

So district officials want residents to gamble closer to home — inside their homes, actually. Or in cafes, restaurants and bars. By year’s end the district hopes to introduce an Internet gambling hub that would allow Washington residents to play blackjack, poker and other casino-style games.

<snip>

But the states may run into trouble with the Justice Department, which has been cracking down on all forms of Internet gambling. And their efforts have given rise to critics who say legalized online gambling will promote addictive wagering and lead to personal debt troubles.

<snip>

But legal experts say the law sent a mixed message to the states. It seems to carve out an explicit exception for states to run online gambling operations. But in the bill’s legislative history, it says it is not meant to amend existing law on the subject, which can be taken to mean that the Wire Act prohibitions still apply, said Mark Hichar, a lawyer who specializes in gambling law at Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge in Boston.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/business/states-study-online-gambling-to-bring-needed-revenue.html?_r=1&hp

[BadgerKid]

1. "...will promote addictive wagering and lead to personal debt troubles."

Like how Big Finance bets on the stock market, loses, and gets a federal bailout? Lovely.

[underpants]

2. So we moving directly into the "Idiocracy" world?

[pam4water]

3. +1

[bjobotts]

4. Why won't they consider a "STATE BANK" where all profits go into state treasury?

[dogmoma56]

6. because thats F'n socialism.

[Downwinder]

8. Thats the lottery

the numbers racket.

[dogmoma56]

5. wont roll back tax cuts to the richest people on the world, but give the poor false hope

[saras]

7. Fine, if they figure out how to get customers outside the USA