U.K. pushes legal online gambling
The British government plans next week to seek
international support for legalized, regulated online gambling, emphasizing a
trans-Atlantic difference on the issue after the Bush administration’s
recent move to outlaw transactions with Internet gambling services.
The British government plans next week to seek international support for legalized, regulated online gambling, emphasizing a trans-Atlantic difference on the issue after the Bush administration’s recent move to outlaw transactions with Internet gambling services.
During a conference scheduled for Tuesday at the Royal Ascot racecourse, the British government plans to seek adoption of a broad code of principles on Internet gambling, according to a person briefed on a communiqué prepared by the British delegation. Officials from more than 30 countries are expected to attend.
The U.S. Justice Department has declined to send a representative.
“We believe that tough regulation is a better approach than a free-for-all or prohibition,” Anthony Wright, a spokesman for Tessa Jowell, the secretary for culture, media and sport, said Friday. “We will be looking to secure agreement to the principles for international standards of regulation.”
Wright’s comments echo remarks attributed to Jowell that were reported in The Financial Times on Friday. She, too, alluded to the U.S. prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933, saying the move to ban online gambling could lead to the creation of “modern-day speakeasies,” driving Internet gambling underground and into the control of criminals.
Gambling -- if you wish to -- is so normal a part of life in the UK that even Rupert Murdoch's satellite TV service includes a red button you press on your remote to place a bet.
Given the choice between tough, sensible regulation — and criminalizing something that brings in the hypocrite and puritan vote — which do you think American politicians would choose?
Posted: Sat - October 28, 2006 at 05:26 AM