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Implications of Online Casino Gambling in the U.S.

A controversial bill in Massachusetts has brought the online casinos bill back into the spotlight. What many in the U.S. are not aware of is that though internet gambling is legal for the average American gambling from their home, some states in the U.S. are jumping on the wave that feels that if online casino gambling is illegal for the financial institutions processing the gambling payments, than it should be illegal across the board. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is catching heat from lobbying groups and those with a vested interest in reversing the internet gambling ban because of a paragraph in his recent land-based casinos bill that would make online casinos gambling an offense punishable by a prison term or a hefty fine.

Only one other state in the U.S. has proposed and passed similar legislation. In Washington State, online casino gambling is a Class C felony offense. Laws like those in Washington State and the proposed law in Massachusetts seemingly take the UIGEA one step farther – and most would say too far. The UIGEA, though highly controversial, only goes so far as to make internet gambling illegal for the financial institutions and online casinos processing the gambling transactions.

As it stands in the U.S right now, Americans can gamble at the online casinos if they can find a way to process payments and receive winnings. But Patrick’s latest bill is an alarming approach that makes many question if politicians in the United States aren’t simply taking this debate a step too far. The fact Governor Patrick proposes to expand land-based gambling yet make online casinos gambling illegal for the Mass. resident borders on ridiculous according to some.

As awareness of the online casino issue grows in the U.S. politicians are increasingly leaning toward regulating and licensing the pastime rather than the current outright ban. Not only would this solve international battles that the U.S. is currently involved in with the World Trade Organisation, the European Union, and other countries and organizations, but it would actually better protect Americans who currently wager and bet in a completely unregulated online casino and internet poker industry.