Online Gambling
The Attraction of Online Gambling
Although the USA has taken a hard line on internet gambling, outlawing it completely in October 2006, most European governments have adopted the totally opposite approach and are continuing to liberalise online gambling legislation; making it a lucrative market for online gambling operators.
Even though Britain has one-fifth of the population of the USA, it spends as much as Americans on gambling, according to figures issued by the Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC). And much of that UK spend is now taking place online. So, what attracts online gamblers and are there are any dangers involved?
The basis of America’s ban on online gambling stems from a report issued by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission in 1999. The major finding in that study highlighted the fact that ‘the presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers’. Obviously, with the rise of online gambling that ‘gambling facility’ is sited within the home. So – the argument goes – that gives rise to more gambling opportunities and therefore the possibility that more people will become compulsive gamblers. They are obsessed with gambling, and winning doesn’t minimize that compulsion; the more they win, the more they play. Worse still, the more they lose the more they play to try to recover their losses until the point where their habit becomes unaffordable, and they go under financially.
But, despite the dire warnings from the USA, the vast majority of people who participate online can control their gambling and play comfortably within their means. For most, online gambling is a form of entertainment from which they get a buzz and occasionally a win. The fact that games can be played in the comfort of the home obviously adds to the attraction. Sophisticated software can now replicate the casino experience; full-colour graphics and convincing sound putting the player in the heart of the action, even if in reality they are in front of their computer screen. And because of the rapid uptake in online gambling, revenues are increasing allowing a percentage of it to be returned to players as bigger jackpots and prizes, which in turn attracts even more players.
As well as the comfort and convenience factor, another issue that has lead to a massive uptake in online gambling is the introduction of a ban on smoking in all public places. Rather than head off to their local bingo hall or casino and have to endure the rain and cold while they smoke, many UK punters have opted to stay at home and play online. That is a significant factor driving an increasing number of women to sign up to Online Casino and bingo games. Online gambling may be illegal in the USA, but evidence from Europe is that it is here to stay and will continue to thrive into the foreseeable future.
About the Author
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
Online Gambling Questions
What do you know of the online gambling bill? What are your opnions?
I personally think it’s horrible that the government is trying to stop online gambling. If the government is going to try to shut down online casinos they might as well shut down land casinos as well. But their not going to do that because they a lot of money off of the land casinos. With the online gambling they don’t.
It is outrageous. Bill Frist is a little Nazi that decided to shove this bill right into an anti-terrorism bill just to push his radical Christian Right agenda.
He claimed it was to stop online gambling because gambling is wrong, yet the bill legalizes online horse race betting, online lotteries and online fantasy sports betting.
Thankfully the government is not going to succeed. You can still use a company like Neteller to deposit and withdraw funds from your poker account, and major sites like PokerStars.com and FullTiltPoker.com are still allowing US players.
Given that over 74% of Americans believe that online gambling should be legal, this bill is just an outrageous abuse of power and a flagrant disregard for the democratic process.
But keep in mind that it is still completely legal to gamble online, this bill does not create penalties for players. Hopefully the upcoming elections will shake up these idiots that wish to take away our freedom. Maybe another administration will see the obvious truth which is that the sensible approach is legalization, regulation, and taxation. This would generate billions in revenue for America.
is it illegal to gamble online overseas?
I bought into a casino for one hundred dollars, I stoped gambling at $1,147.50 but this goldencasino.com does not want to pay up, they keep putting me off telling me they will, but they don’t. What do I do
Bush signed a law in Oct 2006 that prevents banks from making the transactions and gave them 9 months to put it in effect. Is it possible it’s your bank stopping the transaction?
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