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FOX News LA sat down with a number of industry experts on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of legalized online gambling.
The news station first spoke with noted gambling expert I, Nelson Rose who said that, "It's going to happen because we [have] 46 states that have budget deficits right now...Can't raise sales taxes anymore. They [politicians] can't have more furloughs/layoffs. I mean literally you can't cut services more and you can't raise taxes, so they're desperate."
The station then shifted focus to current legislation in California that hopes to legalize online gambling in the state. Myfox reporter Hal Eisner sat down with the Spokesman for the Coalition of California Cards Club and Tribes, Patrick Dorinson, and Executive Director for California Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, Reverend Jim Butler, for a short debate on the issue.
Asked why he supports online gambling legislation Dorinson took the traditional route saying, "There are millions of people across this country playing internet poker right now, illegally, with no consumer protection and they could have their privacy violated. We believe the best way to do this is regulate it, get revenue for the state, and also make it a game for Californians run by Californians for the benefit of California."
Rev. James Bulter responded by spouting out nonfactual statistics on the subject. "Well currently there are already more than 1 million pathological problem gamblers costing the state of California more than $1 billion and putting a virtual casino in every house, office, dorm room, cell phone is just going to make that problem much much worse. It's really something we cannot afford."
Following a brief and rather forgettable response from Dorinson, Eisner showed his obvious bias to the subject by diving deeper into Bulter's argument. He chose that moment to air a clip in which Kathleen Sibelius was asked if legalized online gambling were a hazard to Americans to which she responded, "We're always concerned with anyone who's got addictions and you know I think that behavioral health needs to be taken [care] of. Most programs that have any kind of gaming also have some sort of programs set aside for people who have gambling addictions and additional money invested in that and I think that's very appropriate."
Rev. Butler used the clip to further his argument saying, "Well obviously there is an acknowledgment that gambling creates problems. It creates problems for the individual but it's not in a vacuum it creates a problem for the society and regardless of the fact that we hope to put money in to mitigate the problem may be the best way to mitigate the problem is just not create the problem."
It was at this point that Dorinson made perhaps the most important argument of the entire debate saying, "Well the problem exists. People are playing right now illegally without any protections and that problem gamer is going to keep doing that. If we have a system that's legalized, regulated, overseen by the gaming control commission we're going to have a system that we can look at the problem gambler and we can assist the problem gambler but also make money and revenue for the state."
As the debate appeared to shift in Dorinson's favor, Eisner ended the discussion quickly.
Despite some conservative leaning by the network it was refreshing to see online gambling legislation finally discussed in depth with arguments from both side of the aisle. Hopefully we will see many similar stories as online gambling legislation makes its way to the ballot and as congress continues to push for HR 2267.
As always stay tuned to PokerShark for more news and updates
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