USA Online Casino Ban Questioned by UK Politician - 10-29-06

October 29 - It is unusual when politicians comment about the policies of their peers in other countries. It is even more unusual when they are talking about online gambling and online casinos. It is refreshing when they ridicule prohibition...

The Culture Secretary in the UK, Tessa Jowell, became the first non-US politician to speak out against the now widely criticized UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 - yes it now has an acronym!). She spoke of the ban as some sort of a 'modern day form of prohibition'.

Ms Jowell, knows as a politician who pulls no punches when it matters, made her opinion of the signing into law of the UIGEA.

She voiced concern that this law could foster exploitation and fraud, because it could possibly send the industry underground, and likened it to the alcohol ban in the US at the turn of the last century. The law resulted in an entire illegal booze industry being created. Needless to say it was run by organized crime.

Ms Jowell told the Financial Times that the US clearly had not learnt its lesson, and that there were three choices when it comes to online gambling: prohibit it, legalize and control it, or ignore it.

Ms Jowell again reiterated that the UK has proven that legalization and control of the online gambling works. Ms Jowell hopes to kick start a debate on regulating remote gambling worldwide, in order to eliminate crime and protect consumers.

Now THAT is forward thinking. 

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