Online Gambling Bill

The anti-online gambling bill, known as H.R. 4777, has moved a step closer to reality this week. Many politicians have been fighting for years to ensure that Americans were not allowed to gamble online—even though other countries allow it. Earlier this year, R-VA Bob Goodlatte introduced H.R. 4777 with many cosponsors in the House of Representatives. While gambling online is technically illegal for Americans, the language is outdated and it has been interpreted as a gray area.

This new legislation would update the language in the 1961 Federal Wire Wager Act to today’s technology and make online gambling illegal officially—better language leaves little to no room for interpretation. Yesterday the Congressional panel voted in 25-11 in favor of moving the bill along. The bill is expected to go to a House vote later in the year. If passed, as expected, it will need to be passed in the Senate and signed by the President to become law.

I personally don’t see this law passing. The route to do so is long and full of potential detours. It is believed that the bill lacks deep political support. Many major companies in Nevada have begun to lobby the Congress the other way. They want online gambling to be legalized, taxed and regulated. This will allow them to setup their own gambling destinations online. It’s quickly becoming obvious to many that online gambling cannot be stopped and the United States does not own nor control the Internet. The only way to do so would be to go against the Constitution, ignore freedom of the people and adopt policies like China.