The Hill: Sheldon Adelson’s Futile War on Internet Gambling

TheHill.com released a compelling op-ed piece this week on Nevada gaming tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s attempt to quash legalized Internet gambling in the US, calling it “futile”. Michael Minton of TheHill.com writes: Adelson, who said his “moral standards” compelled him to act, is launching an advocacy group, the Coalition To Stop Internet Gambling, to portray the activity as a threat to vulnerable populations such as low-income players and minors. Not only is he wrong, but his proposed ban would cause harm to the very groups he claims to want to protect. Adelson has gone beyond simply taking the “moral high ground”, he’s called online gambling everything from a toxic cancer to apocalyptic. Minton added: Online gambling reduces other risks, mainly robbery and drunk driving. When they gamble at home, players are not plied with free drinks and don’t have to worry about walking through a parking lot with cash or driving home.  It’s also worth noting that playing the lottery is more popular among Americans by far, especially poor Americans. In a legalized and regulated environment, reputable operators have a strong incentive to comply with the law to maintain their reputations and licensing. Already, a wealth of technological and other solutions offer operators reliable ways to verify the age, location and identity of potential players. Operators can ask for a credit card or bank account upon registration, as well as follow-up verification through phone calls, hard copies of identification cards, or use of third-party verification sites such as Experian or Verify Me.  In fact, the ability to check a player’s identification and age instantly against multiple databases could make online gambling safer than brick-and-mortar casinos. - Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com