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Current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is on a crusade against Internet gambling. His state was one of a handful that cracked down hard on the industry in recent years, prior to his election (arrest warrant issued against a board member of Sportingbet – remember this one?)
In the past, Jindal has sought backing from GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson, who is currently on the attack against online gambling in the USA, therefore it might not surprise many people that the Louisiana Governor would right an opt-ed piece condemning the industry.
Jindal’s opt-ed piece referred to online gambling as helping to open “the doors to criminal organizations that can use it to move money and fund their activities” and an activity that “will exploit society's most vulnerable, threatening to saddle the poor and disadvantaged with spiraling debt”.
Jindal went on to echo much of what Adelson’s anti-online gambling coalition has argued in recent televised advertisements and discussion forums. Earlier in the week, Adelson’s group released an ad suggesting Internet gambling was a threat to national security and could lead to several future “9-11 type” attacks.
There is a big difference between having to go to a casino and having a casino come to you. Americans know that betting on an iPhone or a computer or on an iPad is fundamentally different, and much more dangerous than going to a casino where trained staff can prevent kids from playing. It is impossible to implement a responsible gambling protocol in an Internet gambling environment.
It also opens the doors to criminal organizations that can use it to move money and fund their activities. The American law enforcement community knows the dangers that come with Internet gambling. According to the FBI, Internet gambling is often used for fraud and money laundering. The FBI also states the supposed safeguards in place to protect minors from participating, along with other anti-fraud measures, are easily defeated by criminals.
It is impossible for law enforcement to stop an older sibling or friend from handing a smart phone to a minor.
“I will do everything I can to stop Internet gambling from spreading to Louisiana,” insists in his piece, noting that three other states – Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey – have already legalized the activity.
Jindal has long been considered a possible candidate for the GOP in the 2016 US Presidential election.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
