ON C-span now gambling ban discussion

[GenuineRisk]

Oh my God, I am so tired of elected officials legislating morality. Because gambling is entertainment for the majority of Americans-- an entertainment that some people get addicted to, yes, but if it wasn't gambling it'd be alcohol or eBay or porn or state-run lotteries or collecting doo-dads or whatever.

Though really, I'm sure it's about the money and the states not wanting to get cut out of their pieces of the pie. It's always about the money.

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Oh my God, I am so tired of elected officials legislating morality. Because gambling is entertainment for the majority of Americans-- an entertainment that some people get addicted to, yes, but if it wasn't gambling it'd be alcohol or eBay or porn or state-run lotteries or collecting doo-dads or whatever.

Though really, I'm sure it's about the money and the states not wanting to get cut out of their pieces of the pie. It's always about the money.

This debate has nothing to do with legislating morality. It has everything to do with losing tax dollars. Offshore gambling has hit the business hard. Why bet big money when you have to pay taxes if you can bet without having to pay any? That is what this is about.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by boldruler

This debate has nothing to do with legislating morality. It has everything to do with losing tax dollars. Offshore gambling has hit the business hard. Why bet big money when you have to pay taxes if you can bet without having to pay any? That is what this is about.

Which is exactly where my liberal self runs into a conundrum. I'm not opposed to taxation; taxes pay for lots of useful things, but I do think the states are too greedy when it comes to their take on gambling profits. And they wonder why racetrack attendance drops?

Thanks BR.

While this bill may pass the house. there is no way that it will pass the senate so all they are doing is wasting time and money instead of debating about real topics.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by david1025

While this bill may pass the house. there is no way that it will pass the senate so all they are doing is wasting time and money instead of debating about real topics.

But that's what they do best... debate things that will never pass so they don't have time to address the real issues. Doesn't it seem that way lately?

LOL my whole life it seems....

[SCUDSBROTHER]

That Yenta from Vegas was hilarious.Trying to get the bill beat by pointing out the hypocracy of allowing some internet gambling(horses,and Lotto,)but make all other forms illegal.She put up an ammendment that would outlaw all forms of internet wagering,and get rid of the exemptions for horses and Lotto.See,these guys who say internet gambling needs to be stopped due to people getting addicted,will be shown to be hypocrates if they vote against her amendment(which they are now voting on electronically.)

IN that entire discussion Barney Frank was the only one who made sense to me. And he is not one of my favorites.

Legislation to save people from themselves has shown time and time again not to work. And all the discussion about getting young kids hooked. If they were really worried about the younger generation getting hooked on something, the prohibition of alcohol would be the thing to do. And we see how well that has worked. Alcohol and drugs have broken up so many more families and ruined young peoples lives compared to gambling. Ridiculous trying to legislate behavior at this level.