www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Gentlemen, I have been privy to quite a bit of information lately on bills being passed in the United States regarding online gaming...and indirectly affecting all privacy rights of internet use. While not directly connected to Tica content...I do think it is a relevant issue when it comes to freely viewing and sharing information online in a private forum for any American. That includes most of you all. You might be interested in reading the article on this at http://www.gpwa.net/docs/antigamblingalarm.shtml . Since online gaming and sexual content is discussed on this forum, I would encourage all of you interested in maintaining this freedom to take action in communicating with your government representative on this issue... as recommended in the article.

THoughts?

The so-called "Patriot Act" that was pushed through by the Bush Administration in the backlash after 9/11, has been a major assault on our civil liberties. Attorney General John Ashcroft stands ready to sweep away our basic freedoms in the name of "national security". These are very scary times.

That said, I don't think the GPWA (the same people that bring you those annoying gambling pop-ups) is the most objective source for information on this issue. Gambling Portal Websites make huge unregulated profits over the internet. Saying they are concerned about the rights of the gamblers, is like saying trial lawyers or insurance companies are only concerned about patient's rights. The GPWA argument about it being "a slippery slope" is the same argument used by the anti-abortion and anti-gun control lobbies. It doesn't wash with me. As with most issues, the best answer usually lies in the middle, i.e. some reasonable regulation but not total restriction.

What are the arguments? The government thinks we are too stupid to control our own excesses. Well, for a lot of us this is true. There have been many people who have lost everything because of the ease of gambling over the internet. The government is concerned about lost tax revenue. Well, they should be. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but someone has to if the government is going to pay for all the things the public has demanded (such as this ill-conceived attack on Iraq).

Other examples of reasonable regulation. Casinos in the US, para-mutuels (race-tracks, jai-alai etc), the lottery are all subject to regulation AND taxation. Personally, I'd rather see tax revenue drawn from those activities than increasing the taxation of wages, salaries, investments etc. Reasonable regulation, it was a founding principle of this very board. And how about US Government regulatory control of internet content and use when it comes to SPAM, Ch*ld porn and the publishing of security sensitive materials such as bomb-making instructions?

CR...some good points there. This topic hasnt drawn the interest or commentary I thought it would...but I suppose everyone is here on behalf of their sexual appetites more than intellecual ones:). That said, I still think that from where I see it (living offshore in CR)...the US is in a quiet panic mode of trying to control EVERYTHING. And they are failing miserably while spending BILLIONS of our tax dollars in the effort. Take drug traffic control...billions each year, net result...sometimes the prices go up in the streets, but you can still get the stuff. And no tax revenue coming in...just expenses going up. I say legalize and control just like you do alcohol and spend the billions on treating the abusers in stead of incarcerating the users.

When it comes to gaming...well, the government lotteries, Nevada and Indians are the only ones getting revenue and paying taxes on gaming in the US. The rest is staying offshore until that is rectified...which will probably never happen. It was always interesting to me how governments could justify running lotteries and raffles while prosecuting its citizens for playing poker for nickles in their basements...

Now, when it comes to sex and pornography...while I agree there needs to be protection against marketing to minors or featuring minors in this arena...prostitution and porn will always be with you. Why not like Amsterdam license these professions into zones and areas where tax revenue can go to the municipality instead of to the pimps and syndicates that contol these "illegal" markets?

I know...I sound libertarian and liberal (right on both counts)...but it seems to me the only rational way to control and give the general populace what they want in a safe and taxable way. Then some of you guys wouldnt have to travel all the way to CR to take part in this wild wild west routine...they would be free to come to YOU:).

We seem to agree that some level of regulation is called for in most activities. Deciding on the appropriate level and keeping it there is where there is a problem.

I agree with this statement, but I don't think the current efforts in the area of gambling is comparable to the drug war and if anything your statement supports what I am saying. They are not going after gambling to try and eliminate it like they are with drugs and they are not trying to criminalize the gamblers (unless they fail to pay their taxes) like they do with drug dealers and users. I don't know of anyone having been arrested for playing nickle-ante poker in their basement. They are going after internet gambling because it makes it easier for gamblers to avoid paying taxes and to try and help people from getting ripped off AND because it is drawing revenue away from the regulated sources. Lotteries, casinos and racetracks are all examples of how gambling is legal and controlled just like you argue should be done with drugs. Gambling in the US is regulated so that criminal elements are kept out of it, the gambling is done fairly and honestly (everything is on the up and up, no marked decks, no loaded dice, no players shaving points, etc.) and the winners pay their fair share of taxes. That is what this is really all about.

And because internet gambling is like the home shopping club for gamblers. Many, probably most, use it with reasonable moderation. But for others, with far less self control, it's as easy to run up huge debts as it is to type in your credit card number on to the net. The other part of your drug argument (about treating the abusers) would be that tax on gambling should be earmarked at least in part to support GA programs.

Your discussion of regulation of the sex trade also has parallels. You want to free up activities conducted by consenting adults (amen to that) but you want limited and reasonable regulation to keep out the undesirable elements such as pimps and syndicates (I would add health regulation as another reasonable goal for prostitution). The same would apply to the gambling industry. The government has been very effective at getting the mob out of Las Vegas. How effective can they be at keepig them out of gambling if the activity moves out over the unregulated internet?

Let us keep this discussion NON POLITICAL.... Sorry but thats the policy that is the way it stays.

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