INTERNET GAMBLING

Is this the end for online sports betting and online poker?

On July 11, 2006 the House Of Representatives approved a crackdown on Internet gambling that would ban not only sports betting but also online poker and casino games. Once again big brother is flexing their political muscle and dictating to the American people that they know what is best for them. The reality though, is that the U.S. Government does not have a hand in this cash cow pie. They can’t regulate it, they can’t profit from it and therefore they must abolish it. This is a multi billion dollar industry that the U.S. is simply not a part of.

The ramifications of removing a multi billion dollar industry from society are so vast, that one could not possibly comprehend the entire fallout that would occur should the ban become law. People who bet on sports will continue to bet on sports. We will undoubtedly see an increase of underground Bookies. You know, the guys in the back of the pizza shop with 25 phone lines ringing off the hook. Perhaps we will begin to see more organized poker games in the back room of your local pool hall. Maybe your neighbor will set up a mini casino in the basement of his home and invite you over for some Baccarat. These are all plausible scenarios. None of which are desirable or healthy for society. The point is people who enjoy gambling will find a way to gamble. The U.S. Government is just making it dirtier for them to do so.

The real impact will be felt by those who are directly and indirectly associated with online sports books, casinos and poker rooms. These are some very large Companies with some very large marketing budgets. Millions upon millions of dollars are spent on their online advertising campaigns alone. Search engines such as Google and Yahoo will suffer an enormous loss of revenue should this bill become law. There will be no need for these Companies to advertise in newspapers or magazines, on the radio or television. All the revenue generated through these Companies marketing campaigns will vanish overnight.

There are also thousands of website Owners on the Internet that feed off of these Online gambling houses. Many of which make their living through affiliate programs that many of these poker rooms and sports books offer. It will be these Online entrepreneurs that will be affected the most. Not only will they lose the revenue that is generated through online gambling but they will lose whatever they have invested in the development, optimization and advertising campaigns associated with their websites.

You would think that the House Of Representatives would have more pressing matters to focus on. It seems big brother, is becoming a big pain, in the ass.