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The first independent gambling guide to the best online
casinos!
Online casinos expert speaks out on
the law
Frank Catania, the
former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and
respected legal figure in the online casinos world published an article
this week condemning the rush to ban online casinos and internet
gambling in the USA.
Catania wrote about online casinos and was quoted as saying, "Every
attempt to regulate activity on the Internet seemingly raises questions
about the proverbial slippery slope," writes Catania.
"But if regulation of the Internet is a slippery slope, then surely an
outright ban of an Internet activity constitutes falling off the cliff,"
he added.
The online casinos industry is a $12 billion dollar a year venture, and
with new online casinos sprouting up very often, online casinos now
number in the thousands. Millions of players have visited online casinos
worldwide.
Catania described the current attempts in Congress to ban as an
"over-the-cliff" approach, and he says the proposed legislation would
cut off the ability of Americans to use the Internet for all forms of
gambling, not just online casinos. The exception is for those who bet on
horse racing, which is not included in the online casinos legislation.
In his online casinos article, Catania writes: "We all know the Internet
is revolutionising the way we obtain information, enjoy leisure time and
connect with others. This prohibition attempt has little to do with the
technology; it's really about some members of Congress trying to impose
their own sense of morality on the Internet. The fact is that Christian
conservatives pushing these bills are attempting to force their
religious beliefs - that gambling is immoral - on all Americans (except
those who bet on the horses)."
"It's time that Congress developed a consistent and sensible policy for
Internet gambling. What the bill's supporters fail to understand is that
short of completely banning the Internet or heavily censoring the
Internet as China does, there will always be Internet gambling available
to U.S. players. The Internet sails far beyond our boundaries or the
long arm of U.S. law. More than 70 countries currently regulate Internet
gambling, and sites based in these countries are accessible to U.S.
players. A ban on Internet gambling just doesn't make sense," Catania
said.
Pointing out that a ban on online casinos would not address issues such
as preventing underage gambling or offering assistance to problem
gamblers, he suggests that instead of prohibition, the US politicians
should turn to regulation to deal with these complex issues surrounding
online casinos.
"State-of-the-art technology to regulate the activity, including age
verification software and existing government databases, combined with
proper operating procedures and strict regulation, can prevent minors
from gambling online and offer greater assistance to problem gamblers,"
Catania wrote.
Catania says that whether the gambling is at online casinos or land
based ones, consumers deserve diligent regulators who make sure that
online casinos are honest, games are fair, winning players are paid
promptly, problem gamblers are offered assistance or ultimately barred,
and minors are prohibited.
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