Online Casino Arrests Could be Watershed

With the arrest of online casino executives in the United States, the online gambling world has been doing some soul-searching regarding the path that it should take. Bet on Sports, the company whose executive was arrested some weeks ago while passing through the US on his way to another location, has already blocked US users from accessing their site and gambling. This is likely an attempt to minimize federal attention spent on the company, though over the course of the American proceedings Bet on Sports will likely come under the microscope anyway.

If the online casino world literally plays its cards right, and restrains its tendency to ignore federal laws while thinking it can get away with it, the investigation into David Carruthers and Bet on Sports could end up being a positive watershed for the future of online casino gambling in the United States. If online casino companies learn to respect the laws of the United States, or learn to work within the law and with lawmakers to inform them about the economic advantages of regulating online casinos instead of banning them. If this happens, Americans may one day be able to freely gamble online.

But if the online casino world doesn't play its cards right, it could be a negative watershed. This could be because the online casinos will not learn anything from the experience of a major executive being arrested, and will continue to operate on the assumption that the way forward is to flout US laws while in pursuit of their bottom lines. In the world of online gambling, online casino companies need to take a cautious path forward to see that their ultimate goals are realized. They should seek online gambling acceptance in the United States gradually, and really learn patience.

2006-08-13