Turning a blind eye is costing our kids
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By Eric WootenEveryday, millions of responsible Americans sit down, log on and break the law.
Despite being banned by federal law, online poker is an immensely popular American pastime that shows no signs of waning. It is estimated that up to 15 million Americans play internet poker with some regularity.
Our country’s schizophrenic approach to online gaming has created a virtual Wild West boomtown, where a handful of crooks and thieves can easily hide among the many reputable gambling establishments.
Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) is carrying legislation that would heavily regulate and tax online gaming. But most importantly, his legislation would provide vital safeguards to prevent underage gambling and help those with self-destructive gambling habits.
With these regulations, each and every bet made online could be tracked and analyzed. That means federal authorities could shutdown online establishments catering to minors with a flick of a switch.
If you really want to stop stores from illegally selling cigarettes to kids, require the store owners to produce a valid name, address and credit card number for every pack of cigarettes they sold. That’s the level of scrutiny online poker establishments will be
