You Gotta Know When To Hold 'Em...

...You gotta know when to Fold 'Em. And it looks like we'll all be Folding 'Em". Man, I am so depressed. I just don't understand it. Well, I do understand it. It's how Politics work. You sneak a little Law in with a Bill that people really want to pass. Then later, when it's a success, you claim to have spearheaded the campaign. I've been doing a bit of research about the effects of this Anti-Online Gambling Bill. It seems that what they will really go after is the ability for the Casino Companies to use any sort of Electronic Funds Transferring, including Credit Cards and Electronic Checks. I've also read (or heard, can't remember which) that there still will not be any law specifically banning Online Gambling for the American Consumer. They are just making it illegal for companies to take your money. Therefore, most companies have already pledged to stop operating in the United States.
What I really do not understand about this is why the Government isn't taking the opportunity here to cash in on this huge industry, rather than prohibiting it. From what I understand, they are planning to use technology that will prohibit online transactions from occurring. So, why can't they simply find a way to use technology to impose some sort of Luxury Tax on each Online Gambling Deposit? It's bound to be a HUGE profit for the Government. You could tax at a rate of 5%, getting a Dollar on every $20 people deposit. I don't think the general player will mind, seeing as most sites give a Deposit Bonus anyhow. They won't really lose any part of their $20.
And, why aren't more Online Gambling companies using their huge profits to organize a protest against this insult to our freedom? Are they really going to bow out of this Gag-illion Dollar Industry, because of the accusation that they are "Ruining the Families" of people that can't control their gambling problems? Since when did America's knack for indulging in un-healthy practices ever guilt an industry into folding under the pressure? Do you see McDonald's closing down because people sue the company for making them fat? Do you see Cigarette companies stopping production, even though they KNOW without a doubt that cigarettes are deadly? Heck no! The people who run those companies are too busy bribing our Government, and raking in money hand-over-fist to care what their industry does to the American People. And you know what? Good for them!!! Why aren't the leaders of the Online Gambling Industry following suit? Do you mean to tell me that they honestly believe it won't change life as we know it? Take the WSOP for example. Might as well kiss that goodbye. Do you really think that without the sponsorship of companies like Party Poker that they stand a chance of staying in the spotlight on ESPN? No way. But that's what I don't get. Online Poker has permeated every home I know of. How can the companies that offer it possibly be willing to give it up?

I have read, however, that BoDog and someother sites do not intend to give up their Online Poker operations in America. I've always been a fan of BoDog. Now, I know for sure they'll never lose my loyalty (even if their Casino does rob me blind).

Oh, wouldn't you know, the Congressmen that pushed the original Anti-Online-Gambling bill is none other than Congressman Bob Goodlatte, from the lovely state of Virginia. (Note to Family: Don't count on me bringing any Tourist Money to your stinkin' state!!!)


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Here are some articles I found about the Online Gambling Ban:

http://www.crushthetables.com/onlinepokerlegislation.html

http://online.casinocity.com/news/news.cfm?ArticleId=67957

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/10/061004_gambling.shtml

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15118962/