Should Online Gambling Be Completely Legalized?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Gambling is like drugs and prostitution in that banning it just doesn't work.

It is a fact that gambling (internet or otherwise) is much more widespread in places where it is legal than where it isn't.

This could be applied to almost anything, though. It's also very likely a fact that prohibition of alcohol reduced overall alcohol consumption. Practically anything would be less common if you criminalized it. The issue is that it doesn't go away regardless of what you do, and creating the black market is substantially worse than what would exist if a broader, but safer market existed instead.

In this case, however, I'm not convinced that argument holds for online gambling. I don't really think the illegal market for online gambling is all that much of a social detriment, or that the consequences wouldn't be any less severe if they were made legal.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Gambling is like drugs and prostitution in that banning it just doesn't work.

It is a fact that gambling (internet or otherwise) is much more widespread in places where it is legal than where it isn't.

That really doesn't matter for online gambling where the sites are just as accessible if you live in the country or do not.

[DemPGH]

Yes (D), and I don't gamble. I'd favor an age restriction, but there are people who seriously study this and make educated bets, and I see no reason why gambling should not be fully legalized and regulated (or even nationalized) along with activities like bookmaking.

[The Mikado]

"Completely" legalized? No, it doesn't make sense to allow gambling in jurisdictions that currently ban it otherwise just because you're doing it over a computer screen rather than in person.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Can any of the "No" voters explain how they'd enforce a ban?

And no banning bank transfers to online gambling sites won't work, the sites just use third party payment processing services based in obscure locations. And then there's Bitcoin.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

No (D/Socialist, muh morals AND nanny statist). Gambling should be heavily restricted, for all the reasons that CrabCake, Torie, DC Al Fine, and to an extent Marokai have outlined or alluded to. The fact that there are ostensibly socialist posters who are in support of this for reasons that I can only assume are, essentially, 'muh freedom' in whole or in part, who don't seem motivated by concern for the depredations with which gambling plagues poor people and poor communities on both individual and social levels, disturbs me. As Harold Wilson said, [leftism] is a moral crusade or it is nothing.

[Thunderbird is the word]

No (D/Socialist, muh morals AND nanny statist). Gambling should be heavily restricted, for all the reasons that CrabCake, Torie, DC Al Fine, and to an extent Marokai have outlined or alluded to. The fact that there are ostensibly socialist posters who are in support of this for reasons that I can only assume are, essentially, 'muh freedom' in whole or in part, who don't seem motivated by concern for the depredations with which gambling plagues poor people and poor communities on both individual and social levels, disturbs me. As Harold Wilson said, [leftism] is a moral crusade or it is nothing.

The moral crusade part of leftism is the part that as a leftist I can't stand though honestly. I'm really not interested in policing anyone's behavior and nanny statism usually ends up falling hardest on the lower classes. Look at the Eric Gardner incident, wouldn't have happened without broken windows policing of loose cigarettes.

Working people should be able to spend there money however the hell they want and having fun shouldn't be restricted to those who can afford it.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Families plunged into penury and communities blighted by organized crime and money laundering. Oh yeah. Real fun.

[they don't love you like i love you]

My problem is you could basically replace "gambling" with "marijuana" in those rants against it and it'd still sound like something someone might say.

But as I said, you got to look at enforceability. Is it feasible to actually shut down any group of friends having a poker night? Now if the point is "But that type of gambling is completely different"...well maybe it is, but how do you effectively enforce bans on online gambling? Any possible approaches seem like things that would at best mildly inconvenience such enterprises.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

The key word is industry, brtd. I don't give two craps about invididuals gambling, it's really their won perogative. It's the business model I find objectionable, as it is one based on exploitation.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

My problem is you could basically replace "gambling" with "marijuana" in those rants against it and it'd still sound like something someone might say.

Yes, someone might, but I don't really understand the point of such an observation.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

My problem is you could basically replace "gambling" with "marijuana" in those rants against it and it'd still sound like something someone might say.

Yes, someone might, but I don't really understand the point of such an observation.

Because banning marijuana is completely pointless, maybe?

'My problem is you could basically replace '[thing that one person thinks is deleterious]' with '[thing that another person thinks is deleterious]' in those rants against it and it'd still sound like something someone might say.' Yes, SOMEONE might.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

All of the issues CrabCake, nathan, and DC laid out are rock solid. You really cannot get more exploitative than the gambling industry without going into literal slavery and the like.

[SATW]

No, it should be banned.

Also, Adelson wants it banned, not legalized, so whoever said No out of spite for him...you be waaay wrong.

[The Other Castro]

Not completely legalized, but with some minor restrictions. 18+, verifiable address/identity, betting limits in markets ($850 for example), etc.