Online Gambling Debate and the Business World

Online Gambling Debate and the Business World

In a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, federal officials stated that the laws for online gambling were directed predominately at the major corporations and that online gamblers were basically doing nothing illegal.� This is the first time that I can think of were officials have stated such a thing.

For its part, the Justice Department said it is focused on the online gambling businesses, not individuals. “There is certainly not a law that expressly prohibits a bet by a casual bettor,” said a Justice Department official in a phone interview. “We think that is more for state law to decide.”

Many Americans are confused by the government’s stance on online gambling, and the BetOnSports case has been a hot topic on several Internet discussion sites. After the charges were announced, Ken Weitzner, who runs Eye On Gambling, an online forum, said he received more than 50 emails and phone calls from gamblers concerned they may be prosecuted. “There is a lot of fear and panic, and I think they are afraid of the unknown,” Mr. Weitzner said.

I think this latest development should put more online gamblers at ease and cause the online corporations to be a little more selective in the countries they advertise in.