|
 Legalized
Online Gambling a
Sure Cure for State
Budget Woes
States like
California are
running out of money
and have become
desperate for new
revenue streams.
Some, like Illinois,
have begun to look
at online gambling
as potential cures
for state budget
woes.
Illinois is looking
into legalizing
online horse racing,
which under federal
regulation has
already been
permitted under the
Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement
Act.
It's
actually unclear
whether Internet
betting is illegal
under Illinois law,
but tracks aren't
willing to press
their luck because a
2000 attorney
general opinion
noted state law
doesn't expressly
authorize it,
according to Ryan
Keith of the
Associated Press.
California has been
contemplating the
legalization of
online poker.
That state has been
crippled by a
looming recession.
A proposed
initiative to create
a state-owned
Internet poker game
drew attention last
August.
"It's silly for the
state not to get
into the business,"
said I. Nelson Rose,
a professor and
attorney at Whittier
Law School in Costa
Mesa. "Billions of
dollars are being
spent on the game
here, and the state
isn't getting one
penny."
California is the
world's online poker
capital, analysts
said. The last two
World Series of
Poker champions come
from that state. The
government is
missing out by not
legalizing,
regulating and
taxing it.
"Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger said
Monday that
California faces a
budget gap that
could approach $20
billion through June
2009, a dizzying
projection that adds
further confusion to
the depth of
California's
financial crisis.
"Right now, we have
approximately,
altogether, $20
billion of deficit,"
the Republican
governor told
business leaders in
Orange County. "It's
going to be a big
challenge."
The estimated gap
for the fiscal year
that begins July 1
already has prompted
talk in Sacramento
of tax increases and
spending cuts that
could hit
classrooms, law
enforcement and
health care.
The new figure
essentially doubles
the Republican
governor's deficit
projection from just
days ago.
California's economy
has been hammered by
the slumping housing
market, while
soaring gas prices
have cut into
consumer spending.
Just last week, the
governor said the
state would face a
potential $10
billion deficit in
the next fiscal
year. His spokesman,
Matt David, said
Schwarzenegger
misspoke at that
time.
Schwarzenegger has
yet to discuss the
option of legalized
online gambling,
though a few of his
Republican
colleagues have been
actively promoting
the option in recent
weeks.
Texas Republican
Congressman Ron Paul
wants current
Federal legislature
prohibiting most
forms of Internet
gambling reversed
including online
poker.
Paul spoke at a
fundraising event
for Republican New
Jersey Senatorial
candidate
Murray Sabin.
Both men understand
the amount of funds
that can be
generated from a
legalized online
gambling industry.
Sabin could
introduce state
legislation that
would regulate the
activity in New
Jersey should he be
elected. New
Jersey is yet
another state that
is perilously coming
close to running out
of money and would
benefit enormously
from the billion
dollar i-Gaming
industry.
Dr. Sabin told
Gambling911.com last
week "When I take my
place in the Senate,
I will say NO to
draconian laws that
infringe upon the
freedom of Americans
to spend their own
hard-earned money
where they see fit!
Enjoying a wager and
participating in
online gaming should
not be banned. And
those who provide
sites that entertain
and provide services
to online gamers
should not be
treated as
criminals."
-----
Christopher
Costigan,
Gambling911.com
Publisher
CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com
Originally published
April 29, 2008 11:38
am EST
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