Should Online Gambling Be Legal?
Online Gambling Be Legal
The debate about whether or not online gambling should be legal has been raging for years. While the benefits of gambling are obvious, there are also numerous risks associated with online betting. In addition to the addiction risk, gambling can be highly addictive, so it is important to keep this in mind when making a decision. Legalising gambling can also help break down the sources of black money that are commonly managed by criminal syndicates and used for illegal activities.
While online gambling may be legal, there are several reasons that it should not be regulated by the government. Among other reasons, it is easier for online gambling websites to advertise because they do not have to worry about federal oversight. Legalizing online gambling also benefits the government. A Pricewaterhouse Cooper study estimates that legalized online gambling could generate between $8.7 billion and $42.8 billion over ten years. If the U.S. government decided to regulate internet gambling, the industry would no longer face the same problems as it does today.
Although there is no enabling legislation in South Africa, there are some positive indicators. South Africa, for example, has joined the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF), a global organization that seeks to prevent illegal gambling operations in the southern African region. The largest sportsbook in South Africa has recently proposed amendments to gambling law. The Gary Player Invitational, a global charity golf event presented by Coca-Cola, will take place at the Sun City resort from 24 to 26 November 2017.
Should Online Gambling Be Legal?
The debate on whether or not online gambling should be legal has also gotten political. Florida and Nevada have already legalized online gambling, and New Jersey has passed a bill to do so as well. A similar bill was vetoed in the past by Gov. Chris Christie due to concerns over underage gambling and the proliferation of online gambling halls in the state. The Ebola outbreak has added another layer of complexity to the legalization debate and the anti-gambling lobby.
While some officials have declared online gambling illegal, other officials believe that there is no way to monitor the industry. Many offshore gambling sites are located in Latin America, Australia, and the Caribbean. There are few cases of gambling being prosecuted in the U.S., so the debate is likely to continue. If the debate continues, lawmakers should consider implementing legislation to control gambling online. If successful, the legislation would generate $48.6 billion in annual taxes for the U.S. Treasury.
Many states already have casino and lottery operations, which means online poker is not illegal in those states. The internet gambling industry is a significant source of income for these states. However, the law banning online poker has severely affected the internet economy as well as its people. While the reason for banning online poker is unclear, the overall economic impact is significant. Further, people with a social conscience can find a legal casino or play poker with their local officials.
