Annie Duke Testifies Before Congress in Support of Regulation

24/07/2010 15:07
Type Online Report
Theme poker

Renowned professional poker player Annie Duke gave expert testimony on Wednesday, 21 July, before the United States Congress, urging them to legalize and regulate online poker within the USA.

She stated, "This industry is growing and not going away... We should not stick our head in the sand."

While admitting that she was well aware that some people do not like gambling, she stated, "What is harder to respect is the idea that, because someone disapproves of a particular activity, they would seek to have the government prevent others from engaging in it."

Well said.

So who are those that oppose legalization of online poker (and other forms of wagering)? The following are the two main suspects:

1) Those legislators that believe that gambling is morally wrong, and that they should be allowed to force others to conform to their brand of morality.

2) Special interest groups that want "their interests protected." In other words, current land based operators that feel online wagering will cut into their current business, and who are worried that unless the government guarantees them a piece of the industry, they will get crowded out by more competent providers.

If you are in support of online gaming legislation, or at least believe that people should be allowed to engage in whatever entertainment activity that they choose as long as they are not hurting anyone else, you should apprise yourself of the stance of your local and state legislators regarding these issues, and vote them out of office if they are for impinging on people's freedom to gamble online.

If you gamble in land-based establishments, it would also make sense to not give your business to the companies that lobby congress against online gaming. If they need the government's protection in order to assure the success of their business, they are probably not worth trusting with your gambling dollars.

"Q"
Wheretobet.com

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