The enemies mistake? (WTO sorry)

[Richas]

[ QUOTE ]
is this what disturbed you?

They do have a spin but so does our side. Looking at it objectively, what things are disturbing? What is our rebuttal?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's disturbing that research can be commissioned and disseminated by a body that only wants to look at the downside and trawls for information to prove what they believe rather than do research to find out the facts.

The rebuttal is essentially the case for proper regulation that can protect the addicted, prevent children gambling, fund treatment for addicts, protect punters and fund real research. Regulation allows control to protect the gambler from fraud and force sites to monitor for problem gamblers. For example IG Index in the UK (a spread betting firm) is regulated by the FSA and to get an account you get not just the normal commercial credit check to protect them but also you have to show you have accessible cash/shares. It protects people who can't afford the open ended nature of spread bets.

The Mafia wasn't built on alcohol, it was built on illegal gambling the lending associated with it (and prostitution). Today the ban on drugs really does not work well. The ban they want on all gambling would just push punters into the hands of criminals. Even the World Series was fixed by them to fleece the punter. A regulated industry that monitors betting patterns and so prevents/catches match fixing and corruption is a good thing.

This bunch say gambling bad but what they don't show is that banned gambling is worse. You ban credit cards now, if gambling is next there will be a lender willing to take your bets .....and your legs.

[Skallagrim]

I agree wholeheartedly with Richas post above. I wanted to add one thing, however. After reviewing the "enemy's" site I noticed something that adds a fair bit to understanding their way of thinking. They say that "unless your state has authorized internet gambling it is illegal." This is absolutely backwards and shows a mindset totally at odds with centuries of anglo-american legal tradition and principles of ordered liberty. We live in a country where UNLESS SOMETHING IS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED IT IS LEGAL, not the other way around.

[MiltonFriedman]

"We live in a country where UNLESS SOMETHING IS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED IT IS LEGAL, not the other way around."

It bears repeating as a political statement, but it is not practical legal advice.

[MLSchaff]

The suicides list (http://www.ncalg.org/Library/Facts%2...s/suicides.mht) is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read.

There is not even any attempt to link most of these items to gambling. For instance:

CT - The body of 28-year-old John Diakos was found in a casino parking lot after he committed suicide by ingesting a mixture of drugs and cutting his arms.
The Day Publishing Online 9/9/00

Guess we should ban parking lots.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A 24-year-old Utah man scaled two security barriers and jumped to his death from the observation deck of the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower hotel-casino late Wednesday, police said.
Las Vegas Sun 1/6/00

And tall buildings. Must ban the tall buildings.

LA - After a night of drinking at a Kenner casino Saturday night, a Ponchatoula man, 21, apparently shot himself to death in his car outside the gambling boat, police said.
Times Picayune 11/8/99

Ever consider that it might have had more to do with the drinking?!

Miss - In May 1996, Bay St. Louis, Miss., resident James Shamburger, a casino regular, hanged himself with a dog leash.

Maybe going to the casino was the one good thing that he enjoyed in life, but that wasn't enough to keep him from doing this.

Atlantic City - A bloodied body was found at the entrance to the Sands Casino Hotel parking garage just before 8 a.m. Investigators believe he fell two stories to his death but don't know much more than that.
South Jersey Publishing 7/30/00

Well it seems that parking garages are out, too. Not sure where we're going to park now. At least this one admits that investigators don't know anything about the case.

ATLANTIC CITY -- A 50-year-old Ventnor man apparently committed suicide Tuesday afternoon by jumping off the parking garage of a casino, police said.
LAS VEGAS SUN 4/5/00

Oh yeah, parking garages are definitely out.

[Skallagrim]

Sorry Milton, much as I enjoy your posts snd the work of the real MF, it is GOOD legal advice and a basic legal prinicple. The only warning being: watch out for broad phrases in laws. For Example - unless there is a specific law against it, firing your gun in your house is legal. However, if your gun is a high powered rifle and the bullet may travel to other houses, or if you live in an apartment building, you may have "reckelssly placed others in danger of bodily injury by means of a dangerous weapon," a definite crime in most states.