Obama Administration Treats Gambling Industry to a Late Christmas Bonus

A recent ruling by the American government has paved the way for the legalization of online poker, internet poker, online lotteries, and online gambling. The Wire Act of 1961 restricts bets from happening over the phone, and until recently, the rule applied to all internet gambling as well. The new ruling states that this Wire Act applies only to sports-related bets. It seems that the Obama administration has given the online gambling industry a late Christmas present, and powerful reactions from both pro- and anti- gambling groups are being expressed. The decision came a mere day after Nevada administrators approved in-state online gambling.

Whether you抮e a player, a stock market speculator, or an online casino owner, if you plan to make money gambling in the US, be prepared to encounter a slew of harsh criticism from American conservatives. Utah Rep. Sandstrom has already conveyed plans for legislation which clearly bans all forms of gambling, which he sees as damaging to American society in the long-term. His views reflect those of anti-gambling advocates across the US who are criticizing the Obama administration for its failed economic policies. Their view is that the administration is relying on easy methods for getting much-needed funds instead of increasing taxes or reducing spending. They view gambling as an industry that takes advantage of the weak and also the poor. So far, Utah and Hawaii are the only American states which happen to have comprehensive anti-gambling laws in place.

Even Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson is a vocal opponent of internet gaming, stating that modern technology is not dependable enough to stop the youth from gaining access to online casino games.

In contrast, businessmen and stock market speculators are excited at the hint of potential millions to be earned in the online gambling industry. The same goes for players, of course. One of the most optimistic groups is the Poker Players Alliance, which has been lobbying for the legitimization of online poker for several years now. Pro-gambling advocates quickly cite sleepy American towns who had been stirred into big business and progress as a result of the building of casinos in their vicinities-advocates propose that internet casinos can generate similarly helpful revenues not just for the US business sector but for the US government as well.

Insiders and theorists say that the new ruling regarding the Wire Act is a calculated move by the Obama administration, as the US government had previously prosecuted offshore gambling sites for bank fraud, effectively closing down their US operations and creating a gap in the market. Newer legislation will allow the vacuum in the online gambling industry to be filled by American agencies.

The face of America is constantly changing, and it is too difficult and simply too early to tell what the effects of the current Wire Act ruling will be. But it抯 obvious that a decisive move has now been made, and states can either be very open and receptive to online gambling, or they will oppose it completely.