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Investigation Exposes Internet Gambling Thriving-In Spite of New US Legislation; US Prohibitions Never Work
The nationally renowned consumer advocacy group Americas Watchdog has just completed a three month investigation of the slimy "off Shore" world of on line gambling and the results are chilling if you have any interest in organized crime, money laundering and or US taxes not being paid. Since President Bush signed regulations out-lawing Internet gaming for US Citizens or transferring money to these "casinos", little has changed. Rather than fight what will turn out to be another federal prohibition failure; Americas Watchdog in the strongest terms possible is encouraging the US Senate & Congress to introduce legislation allowing for licensed and regulated US Casino's to move into on line gaming in order to give US citizens a regulated and transparent gaming environment.
A month after President Bush signed into law the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, the national advocacy group known as Americas Watchdog initiated its own investigation to determine how effective the new legislation had been. Americas Watchdog discovered the new legislation has had little effect with "on-line casino's". With the exception of one indictment, its been business as usual, or the off-shore "casinos" have invented new schemes to circumvent the new US laws.
After the 2006 legislation was signed by the President; many "casino's" in England or other countries moved their "on-line gaming/casino web sites" off shore, and created or fortified business-banking relationships with German banks or other financial institutions that began to, or continued to openly assist in wire transfers of US bets or gambling proceeds to and from the " Internet casino's" ( money laundering). In one specific case a German Bank wiring gambling proceeds & writing checks, is owned by one of the worlds largest financial institutions, and in another case a German based Internet payment service openly talked about "laundering money for thousands of US clients". According to Americas watchdog, "the number of US gamblers using "Internet "casino's" is probably in the millions, involving all ages, genders & races.
In one instance, an off shore Casino operator (England) openly boasted about the fact that his "off-shore casino" was "clean" compared to the "on-line casinos" operated or run by the "Russian Mafia". The same operator made the statement that his "casino" had four US players lose $500,000+ each in December of 2006".
What does all this mean for US citizens? According to Americas Watchdog, "this situation is very, serious and nothing will change unless the US decides to make it legal for individual states like Nevada or Native American Tribal Nations to permit US Citizens to play on line, in a regulated and controlled environment". "Its a war-prohibition that will never succeed unless we change the tactics and regulate the environment". As importantly, legal US Casino's-Sports Books would bring in most international players, because these individuals would see it as safe and a transparent way to gamble on line. Who wants to gamble on line with organized crime?
The American Gaming Association is on record as saying the new Internet Gaming Legislation is "confusing". Americas Watchdog believes that the American Gaming Association or affiliated Associations should begin to lobby Congress & the Bush Administration for immediate amendments to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that will allow for licensed US Casino's to be able to offer their services to US Citizens or International players. This would have three positive affects.
1. US Citizens who go on-line to US licensed casinos would get a regulated gaming or casino environment. A regulated environment is not offered by existing "off shore casinos or sports books". The "off shore gaming" industry would effectively be out of business losing the bulk of even their European or Asian clients to the US.
2. "Off shore-Internet Gambling is a multi billion dollar a year business". Why not tax it and control it? Further by taxing & regulating the US Internet Casino's and effectively shutting down "off-shore gaming"; US law enforcement could pursue other criminal activities, because this particular issue would no longer be a major problem, provided US banks actually comply with anticipated federal banking regulations. This change would also put most illegal US bookmakers out of business because US consumers could actually place a legal wager on a sporting event, or other gambling activity with a licensed US Casino- Sports Book. Illegal bookmaking-sports book (Bookies) in the US is also a multi billion dollar a year business. Why not tax & regulate this activity?
3. The entry of licensed US Casino's-Sports Books into on-line gaming would effectively shut down or cripple all off shore gaming web sites. This could create thousands of new tax paying jobs in the US. Why support some other countries economy, when the US should be able to control & regulate its own?
The United States has a poor at best record on prohibitions. From alcohol in the 1930's to its current "war on drugs". The new US legislation will not stop off-shore-on line "casino's" or gambling. Why not create a sensible regulated environment that will be a win for US Citizens, and for the US Government and individual State Governments that can control the activity, and tax it? Americas Watchdog will give its cooperation to all US Federal Agencies that want information about its investigation, as well as the American Gaming Association or its members. Americas Watchdog would also like to hear from US consumers who feel like they were cheated by a "off-shore-on line casino", or who have information about any third party off shore money transferring/laundering service. Americas Watchdogs web site is at Http://AmericasWatchdog.Com -Corporate Whistleblower Center. Americas Watchdog intends to form a group of US based gaming establishments or concerned parties to better educate the American public and Congress about the risks of unregulated non US based Internet casinos & sports books dominating Internet global gaming.
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