Online gambling is a fairly recent practice, yet a very controversial one. Its history began in the 90’s, as the internet began increasing in popularity. One of the first events to take place was when the government of an island in the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, passed a law in 1994 which allowed online casinos to base there. This was called the Free Trade and Processing Act. Realizing the almost endless possibilities of making money through online gambling, several entrepreneurs jumped at the now legal chance to start this new venture.
Different companies were formed that same year and more continued to be formed in the years that followed. Some of these companies were creating online casinos, and others were designing the software needed to run the financial transactions of online gambling and developing new games. As online casinos แทงบอลออนไลน์ started to increase in number and become an extremely lucrative business, with reported revenues of nearly 835 million dollars in 1998 alone, different layers of the U. S government began to take notice. One in particular, Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, decided he would be the leader against online casinos and introduced the internet Gambling Prohibition Act in an attempt to restrict gambling activity in the united states. The bill failed to pass in Congress, and online gambling continued to flourish, possibly even better thanks to the media attention it had received courtesy of the senator.
As online gambling continued, a few companies created software packages that could be leased by online gaming sites for a percentage of their earnings. This helps many new online gaming sites appear. Around this time, Canada also began to curb online gaming activities, raiding offices and eventually fining one of the largest online gambling servers.
In 1999, Senator Kyl presents a revised version of his Prohibition Act bill, and once again, it fails to gain the support needed in order to pass. Meanwhile, Australia allows the creation of an online casino, which in the end became the only one allowed and is currently still in operation. Although many more would-be casinos attempted to obtain licenses in Australia, the Australian government quickly formed a law preventing any new online gambling operations.
In 2000, Republican Senator Bob Goodlatte of Virginia introduces a further revised Prohibition Act to congress, and it is once more turned down. The following year, two bills that would help cut online gambling are passed in Congress. One was an updated version of the Wire Act, which makes it unlawful for individuals to be involved in the business of betting or gambling. The other bill attempts to prevent online payment to online casinos by prohibiting institutions based in the U. S. from handling such payments, making it more difficult for U. S. residents to engage in online gambling.
A few lawsuits occurred in the years that followed, and in 2006, several arrests of online gambling CEOs were made. At the same time, the U. S imposed sanctions on offshore gambling companies, resulting in Antigua and Barbuda filing a case with the World Trade Organization, which rules that U. S. actions are discriminatory and unlawful.
Nonetheless, in October, 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is approved by congress, although many question the integrity of the means used to pass it. Online casinos continue to operate and attempt to change laws to their favor; meanwhile, most operate offshore, although U. S residents still make up a large part of their clientele.
Online gambling is the newest contribution to America’s debt indiscretions. Now websites make it even more accessible to gamble online, from online slots to tournament blackjack. With these new outlets, chronic gamblers are finding it harder to stay away from the computer. The internet creates a new isolation for online gamblers, and poses a serious threat to your self-awareness and judgment.
Since online gambling offers the convenience of never leaving your home it’s easier to hide a gambling addiction. You can loose yourself for hours in front of a computer, which can have drastic effects on your relationships with others. Another issue with online gambling is that you don’t feel the impact if you lose money right away. You don’t have chips in front of you to keep track of. Now all you have is a number in the corner of your screen to contend with. With this lack of hands on involvement, it’s getting easier to continue clicking the mouse to place a higher bid. However most gambling websites do not allow the use of credit cards, and credit companies do not allow you to use your credit card on gambling either. With this positive step that credit card companies have taken, American’s will gain a better handle on their gambling debt, by not being able to use debt to pay off deb.
With most online gambling casinos you can’t even withdrawal your winnings unless its over a specified amount which is usually around $50. By doing this they keep you hooked and you’ll find it easy to continue placing bets because the money is already in the account. Online gambling is no only restricted to casinos and slots, but tremendous amount of sports betting takes place online. The internet has now made it so that you don’t even have to call up a bookie and place your bet; you can simply login and start betting.
Although gambling is becoming a more recognized sport in the industry, especially when they televise celebrity poker and other tournaments, it is still a dangerous sport. It’s understandable that in retrospect every sport is dangerous. The key is to know how to play and to play well. As with all sports you have to take the proper precaution before you play, make sure you know the rules, and have the right equipment. In online gambling the right equipment is a clear head, a complete understanding of your financial situation, and you have to be willing to lose.
All too often people fall victim to gambling addictions. You have that one great win, but after that you might lose continuously, and the next thing you know your down hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars. By no means is online gambling a safe sport, it comes with it’s own set of responsibilities. Being aware of the risks involved and making sure your priorities are straight is one way to gain control over gambling before you start a problem. Having an addiction is losing control over your own free will, and that is something no American wants.
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