On-Line Gambling in the US

 

So the US Senate has made it illegal for those in the US to use bank accounts and credit cards to gamble on-line. So what! In the twenties they made it illegal to drink alcohol and who benefited? The gangsters.

The Chinese have made it illegal to look at pornographic Internet sites like the BBC and Amnesty International. Do the Chinese look at them? Of course! They just use a proxy web site or some clever software.

So those in the US will continue to gamble on-line. They'll just have to use different methods.

For instance, people will setup bogus transactions to places like the UK, to transfer money to a trusted individual or company, who will then load the money into their account for a fee.

How for instance would you know that a PayPal transaction to me of a $1,000 for software services, was actually a payment for an on-line casino? I'd have no problem, as I'd just declare the payment and the corresponding outgoing one to the Inland Revenue as to what it really was. It's perfectly legal here. There might be a problem delivering significant winnings back to the US, but then I'm a cynic who doesn't think on-line casinos ever pay out.

So just like Canute couldn't stop the tides, the US authorities will not be able to stop on-line gambling. All they'll do is benefit offshore companies and crooks.