Anti Goverment Gambling Act

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My Views

The Federal Government receives income from payroll taxes, corporate income taxes paid by businesses and by income taxes paid by individuals. The government is a greedy entity, which is proven by the amount that lobbyist throw around congress to ensure laws are passed and enforced. The office of Management and Budget estimate that in the 2015 fiscal year the total federal revenue is expected to be $1.18 trillion.(nationalpriorities.org) The more profits corporations make, the more taxes they need to pay out. It is my perspective that this act did not become a law because they are concerned with the American public. I believe that the lobbyists are looking to protect their profits. Corporations that involve gambling in some form are looking at stiff competition with overseas casinos and sports books who offer bonuses for depositing funds for gambling purposes. If a bill did not pass, it is my opinion, would cripple the market of cities that are known for their gambling entertainment atmosphere, more specifically the Las Vegas market. People go to these places with the rare opportunity to win, and win big. The cheap food and free drinks adds to the atmosphere, but it is just added incentive to go to a place like Las Vegas in Nevada or the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. The United States Government cannot guarantee that casino winnings someone receives would be reported to the IRS. Without that guarantee it would hurt income that federal government brings in. The only income that the Federal Government can guarantee is from the corporation themselves. So with the lobbyist throwing their money around Washington to help keep money in their pockets long term, the powers that be will listen.

Conclusion

There is a famous saying in the world of gamblers and casinos which is “The house always wins”. In the case of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, the house did win. The United States casinos were able to eliminate competition of internet casinos and sports books. The government was able to protect the integrity of tax payer dollars. The losers in regards to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, is the American public. The purpose of the United States Constitution was to limit the power of the federal government, to protect (not grant) the natural rights of life and the pursuit of happiness. I believe the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act violates everything the constitution was created for. The Unlawful Internet Gambling act gave more power to the federal government by not giving the American public the natural rights of life to pursue their own happiness of being able to have multiple platforms to “beat the house”.

Work Cited

Doyle, Charles “Internet Gambling: Two approaches in the 109th Congress” ipmall. 2 October 2006.Web. 29 August 2015. http://ipmall.info/hosted_resources/crs/RS22418_061002.pdf

Ferris, Robert. “”These 13 states raked in $34B in gaming revenue”. USA Today.27 April 2014. Web. 26August 2015. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/27/top-gambling-states/8168681/

Hills, Chad “Gambling in the United States.” Citizenlink,11 June 2010. Web. 29 August 2015http://www.citizenlink.com/2010/06/14/frequently-asked-questions-gambling-in-the-united-states/

Humphrey, Chuck “Gambling laws in the United States at the state and federal levels are examined in depth” Gambling Law US. Gambling-law-us.com. 12 December 2006. Web. 29 August 2015. http://www.gambling-law-us.com/

Monahan, Alex. “Research and Commentary: Regulation of Online Gambling” The Heartland Institute. 14 April 2014. Web. 28 August 2015. https://www.heartland.org/policy-documents/research-commentary-regulation-online-gambling

Palmer, Anna. “Battling Adelson on Online Gambling”. Politico. Politico.com, 5 February 2015. Web. 26 August 2015. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/sheldon-adelson-internet-gambling-coalition-for-consumer-and-online-protection-103135

Richtel, Matt. "Web’s Poker Winners Face Delays in Collecting". The New York Times. 2009-06-09. Web.28 August 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/business/10poker.html?_r=3

Rose, Nelson “Viewpoint: The Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006 Analyzed.”Liebertonline.com. 6 November 2006.Web. 28 August 2015. http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/glr.2006.10.537

Thompson, William N. “Gambling a Controlling Substance””. WGHB educational foundation, 14 March 1994. Web. 28 August 2015. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gamble/procon/thompson.html

“Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing.”U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. 12 December 2001.Web. 29 August 2015. http://www.state.gov/j/inl/c/crime/c44634.htm

“Federal Revenue: Where Does the Money Come From.” National Priorities Project. Nationalpriorities.com, 20 February 2014. Web. 30 August 2015. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/revenues/#endnotes

“Internet Gambling Prohibition Act” Report to Congressional Requester. 1 December 2012. Web. 27 August 2015. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0389.pdf

“Poker Face Off”,Online Gambling. The Economist, April 23, 2011. Web. 29 August 2015. http://www.economist.com/node/18586698?story_id=18586698&CFID=162740365&CFTOKEN=4“Unlawful Internet Gambling Act.” Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution.Web. 8 July 2015. 28 August 2015.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006