Two bills have recently been proposed in Congress to curb online gambling. One targets online gambling as a whole, hoping to ban all online betting. The other specifically targets financial institutions that allow credit to be used for online gambling, which is illegal.
For some, gambling can become an addiction. It is fair to say that gambling can have a negative affect on society, but many activities that for some can become addictions also pose this risk. Although lotteries raise revenues for states and occasional trips to Atlantic City provide a retiree with a day of enjoyment, this page believes gambling is an indulgence best saved for special occasions.
Online gambling takes an activity once limited by location and laws and creates an online venue always open to take a bet. Increasing the accessibility of gambling makes gambling more appealing to more people, specifically in the age group of our readers. As such, online gambling presents risks of increasing addiction, driving people into debt, or becoming a more prevalent problem in our society.
It is important, however, to believe in personal autonomy and limited government. Therefore, although online gambling presents issues in conflict with social betterment, increasing the regulation and prevalence of government in our lives is not desirable either.
People will continue to gamble. Multi-million dollar lotteries garner nationwide media attention. Las Vegas is ever increasing in its opulence with expanding hotels and casinos and flashier nightclubs and restaurants. And the ever increasing interest in poker, seen throughout the country and on our TV, insures the prevalence of gambling tournaments in our entertainment forum.
Placing a ban on online gambling will not curb the amount of gambling, nor deter people from gambling, if they choose. As such, excessive regulation by the federal government is not desirable either for its breach of personal autonomy and its costly bureaucracy.
© 2006 - The Lantern
For some, gambling can become an addiction. It is fair to say that gambling can have a negative affect on society, but many activities that for some can become addictions also pose this risk. Although lotteries raise revenues for states and occasional trips to Atlantic City provide a retiree with a day of enjoyment, this page believes gambling is an indulgence best saved for special occasions.
Online gambling takes an activity once limited by location and laws and creates an online venue always open to take a bet. Increasing the accessibility of gambling makes gambling more appealing to more people, specifically in the age group of our readers. As such, online gambling presents risks of increasing addiction, driving people into debt, or becoming a more prevalent problem in our society.
It is important, however, to believe in personal autonomy and limited government. Therefore, although online gambling presents issues in conflict with social betterment, increasing the regulation and prevalence of government in our lives is not desirable either.
People will continue to gamble. Multi-million dollar lotteries garner nationwide media attention. Las Vegas is ever increasing in its opulence with expanding hotels and casinos and flashier nightclubs and restaurants. And the ever increasing interest in poker, seen throughout the country and on our TV, insures the prevalence of gambling tournaments in our entertainment forum.
Placing a ban on online gambling will not curb the amount of gambling, nor deter people from gambling, if they choose. As such, excessive regulation by the federal government is not desirable either for its breach of personal autonomy and its costly bureaucracy.
© 2006 - The Lantern