How do you feel about online gambling?

[disneysteve]

I've read several articles in various sources recently discussing the growing popularity of online gambling. Even though it remains illegal in the US, the majority of people doing it are Americans. Literally billions of dollars is being wagered but US gaming companies are legally barred from participating in the process so all the profits flow overseas. It is gradually starting to have an effect on US gaming companies.

So do you think the law needs to be changed so that US companies can run online gaming sites and US citizens can legally wager online? It would then be trackable and taxable money. I'm sure many people who avoid it now would participate if it became legal.

 

[MoniqueU]

I already know people that do online gaming. They don't care that it is illegal or what not, it's available to them here. I guess I feel the toothpaste is already out of the tube they may as well give people what they want.

 

[hockref]

Like I do about any kind of gambling, I'd rather burn my money than give it to some casino that makes billions off poor suckers that don't have a chance in hell of winning anything.

 

[Hillbeans]

Steve, i've got lots of personal experience with family members with gambling addictions, but I think Online Gambling is just the worst. From what I know, you give them your credit card information, and instead of using the term "100 dollars" you're using 100 "points". The money just gets sucked dry from your credit card. At least if you're at the Racetrack or AC, you actually have to hand the money and wait for the money to be lost faster than a millisecond.

Gambling addiction is by far the fastest growing addiction out there. So many college kids are getting into this as well. It's a terrible thing, and i've seen parts of my own family torn apart from gambling - online gambling also.

 

[LoraJ]

I like party poker!

I think that it should be made legal.

 

[SillyMe]

That's a hard one for me to answer. I love to gamble, but I think it's way too easy for people to become addicted by playing online. It's always there. It's always available. It's always right in front of your face.

Just recently in my area, a college student robbed a bank because he was $5,000 in debt from playing online poker. According to the article he was a good kid, good student from a nice family.

 

[Zandy595]

DH sits at the computer for about 8 hours every day doing it. His parents are into it too and encourage him to play. DH spends zero time with our DS10 because he is always "in a tournament".

 

[wvjules]

Its illegal??????

 

[OhMari]

DH sits at the computer for about 8 hours every day doing it. His parents are into it too and encourage him to play. DH spends zero time with our DS10 because he is always "in a tournament".

That is so sad-does he have a job, or do this after work? This is a serious addiction.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Like I do about any kind of gambling, I'd rather burn my money than give it to some casino that makes billions off poor suckers that don't have a chance in hell of winning anything.

If ya had NO CHANCE it wouldn't be gambling. Some people gamble and win. I know literallyover a dozen people playing online poker and SOME of them are winners.

 

[Zandy595]

That is so sad-does he have a job, or do this after work? This is a serious addiction.

He's a Sheriff's Deputy. He gets home from work around 9am, plays poker for a few hours and then sleeps until dinner time. Then after dinner he plays again until he leaves for work.

DS did actually guilt him into taking him for a short bike ride today. I almost fainted when DH kept his word and took him out.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I with SillyMe on this. I also like to gamble in Vegas and places like that, but really haven't found in interest in gambling online. I can see where some could get in over there head because it might not seem real to them, maybe like a video game.

 

[Michie]

That's a hard one for me to answer. I love to gamble, but I think it's way too easy for people to become addicted by playing online. It's always there. It's always available. It's always right in front of your face.

Just recently in my area, a college student robbed a bank because he was $5,000 in debt from playing online poker. According to the article he was a good kid, good student from a nice family.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it, no different than going to Bingo everynight.

 

[janette]

A couple of my brother's play but they have some kind of method. I quess most of the places offer bonus $$ after you play so many hands. They play until they get the bonus and then move on, said the key is to not really try to win just not lose anything and with the bonus come out ahead.

 

[disneysteve]

I love to gamble, but I think it's way too easy for people to become addicted by playing online. It's always there. It's always available. It's always right in front of your face.

I think you're right, but since online gambling already exists and is rapidly growing in popularity despite its illegal status in this country, does it make sense for the US to continue to have it be illegal. The only people that suffer are the US gaming companies. People who want to gamble online have a slew of choices of where to do it right now, but all of them are foreign.

Some Vegas casinos are now offering hand-held wireless devices for playing casino games from anywhere around the hotel property. I think this is the entry step to offering the ability to play from offsite. Once they get people comfortable with this technology, I think they'll be lobbying to legalize online gaming in this country (if they aren't already doing so).

 

[Grand Canyon]

Its a bad idea. Say no to gambling!