| | Excellent Online Casinos News Archive| Online gaming: legalization and taxation | | | Publication Date: 14 Sep 2004 | | September 14, 2004 -- The first blog where people can discuss about legalizing (or not legalizing), regulating and taxing online gaming, is online at http://www.associatedplayers.com/blog with new features. Created in January 2004, the blog now switched to the "open blog" format, allowing users to post their opinion in real time.
Franz Winner, AssociatedPlayers.com President, says: "In 2003, we received several emails from players who want to be kept informed on this topic and are supporting the legalization of online gaming. What we need now is to hear the opinion of the American internet community at large. The debate has been around for years, now on http://www.associatedplayers.com/blog gaming legalization supporters and opponents are sharing their points of view and providing a clear sign to the people who legislate, in a presidential election year".
People supporting legalization say that online gaming is an entertaining activity; a natural partner of land based gaming in a Country where people play at casinos, racing tracks, boats; a soft way to provide financial means to school, health care and other public services without raising existing taxes, but just introducing a new taxable income.
People against legalization say that the age of people playing online games can't be verified and minors can take their parents' card to play; the fairness of the game odds is not insured; the honesty of the gaming operators is not guaranteed.
Winner adds: "We can be sure about this. In many countries online gaming is allowed, while US companies cannot run an online casino. This means US are losing everyday a huge amount of taxable profits which are going somewhere else. Imagine to have an online casino operated by leading land based US casinos: players from all around the world would play with them, generating taxable income for US. Instead of rises in tax or cuts in expenses, online gaming revenue would provide a good source of assets to use for the benefit of US citizens". |
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