Reply from Las Vegas

From: David Matthews
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 6:08 PM
Subject: Internet Gambling

It's a real shame that our government is so in the dark on this issue.
While our economy struggles, huge business thrive off of Americans who gamble online, most of whom are responsible and some of whom even make money doing it (online poker players, bonus hunters).

Party Poker is just one online poker site and they make $300,000 a day in rake revenue. Pinnacle Sports at www.pinnaclesports.com averages $50,000 a day (more in football season, less in other seasons).

Hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of Americans have gambled online.

If America would allow this business then we would have a huge boost to our economy. Online gambling businesses housed in the United States would immediately take over any competition in other countries. People would feel much safer with their money here, both Americans and non-American gamblers.
The US would be able to tax the businesses and also regulate it so that the IRS can track the players as well for tax revenue.

This aiding and abetting argument is a thin one. There is a 1st Amendment and many people think that you can advertise these because we're supposed to have free speech in our country. I'm no lawyer, so I don't know, but I do know that advertising online gambling is not "clearly" illegal.

The government, incidentally, uses demagoguery and outright unfounded "facts" to deride online gambling. They say that children get hooked on gambling online. There is no substance or fact behind that. They say that terrorists launder money through online gambling. There are no facts that this is the case.

I think it's a travesty that the government has put the heat on Yahoo, Google, and companies like the Howard Stern show to censor them and prevent them from receiving a source of revenue that is (or should be) legitimate.

Prohibition didn't work 80 years ago, and it won't work today. You can allow Internet gambling, tax it, regulate it, provide assistance for people who have gambling problems, or you can try to fight it but you won't succeed. Not with a million Americans doing it. Are you going to put all 1 million in jail. (Knowing Ashcroft he probably would.)

If you ever have any questions about online gambling, I'll be happy to answer them as best I can. I know a bit about it.

David Matthews

Web Site Development Manager
Huntington Press
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com