Congressmen Vote To Allow Illegal Online Gambling To Harm Children

The United States government likes to claim they are looking out for our children's futures. Today on Capitol Hill, those same congressman who like to say they protect children, made the mistake of putting America's youth in a harmful path.

Thirty two members of Congress voted on a Bill today that could forever change the future of many American children. Instead of having the protection of our government, today's youth will have to decide on their own which gambling website out of the thousands available to them, could destroy their futures.

A Bill was being presented by Rep. Barney Frank that would have regulated an online gambling industry who will prey on anyone who they can steal money from. The Bill was defeated , in large part, because the thirty two members that voted against it were ignorant to what they were voting on.

Banks currently have the unenviable task of having to decide which gambling websites are legal, and which are illegal under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. For those who are unfamiliar with the UIGEA, it was a part of another Bill that had to do with securing America's borders.

By the time members of Congress realized what had happened, certain members of government had banned all online gambling that was not beneficial to them(lottery and horse racing were exempt). Not only did they backhandedly ban online gambling, they put the burden on financial institutions to police themselves on the matter.

At a hearing earlier this year, financial institutions paraded expert after expert into a committee hearing to explain that they could not handle policing themselves. The American government has now ignored their pleas for help.

Congressmen voted today to ensure that children will continue to be targets of a cold blooded, billion dollar industry. The online gambling will continue, the only thing that changes with today's vote is that Americans will not have the protection of their own government.

Weeding out the dangerous online gambling sites which will exist regardless of the government's wishes, now falls on the consumer. If you place your money with an online operator, you are doing so at your own risk. Whatever happens will be the sole responsibility of the individual, much like in third world countries where their government does not protect their own.

The downfall of today's vote will be that the banks will be stricter than ever in who they allow transactions from. Las Vegas, where gambling is legal, will be affected. State lottery's that allow their customers to purchase tickets online will also be hurt. Banks will not kno0w whether they are a legal or illegal gambling site, and will turn down transaction.

Many of those lottery's feed money to state school systems, so not only is the government hurting children by not protecting them, they are also taking money away from school systems across the country.

"The banks have decided that this is a financial burden. We have decided, on the other hand, that our children are worth protecting," said House Financial Services Committee's top Republican, Spencer Bachus.

If protecting our children means opening them up to the thousands of harmful illegal gambling websites that will lead them down a dark path, then Bachus and his mates have succeeded.

June 26, 2008
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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