Slots players may be able to play their favorite online slots games legally in the U.S.
Recently the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 made it the US Congress. Of course it is just sitting there. But the fact that it was co-authored by a Republican and a Democrat can give us hope.
One of the points is making sure everyone knows that this bill was written by members of both parties. Michael Waxman, a member of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said, “With so much media focus on the differences between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, this bipartisan initiative highlights the growing support on both ends of Capitol Hill for replacing the failed prohibition on Internet gambling with a system to regulate the industry, protect consumers and generate billions in new revenue.”
I like that part about the failed prohibition. I believe that there is a phrase about learning from one’s mistakes. And this country should have learned that prohibiting something only makes people more likely to do it. Think 1920’s. Think of the prohibition on alcohol.
Most of this bipartisan bill is proposing simplifying tax codes and tax brackets. However it does contain that joyful tidbit of taxing online gambling.
That portion of the bill contains this statement: “Internet gambling in the United States should be controlled by a strict Federal licensing and regulatory framework to protect underage and otherwise vulnerable individuals, to ensure the games are fair, to address the concerns of law enforcement and to enforce any limitations on the activity establishes by the States and Indian tribes.”
I think that perhaps those in Congress are seeing more and more states either expanding their gambling offerings or legalizing some forms of online gambling within their own states. Due to loopholes in the ‘failed prohibition’ states can control what forms of gambling are legal within their borders. And that loophole only shows just how failed the current prohibition is.
It is also a good sign that the government is looking to taxing and regulating Internet gambling as a source of revenue.
But for now we must sit back and wait to see how the bipartisan bill fairs.
Tags: Bipartisan Tax Bill, Legalize Gambling, Online Casinos, online slots, Safe and SEcure Internet Gambling Initiative, United States