Internet Gambling

Analyzing the Economic & Ethical Implications of Internet Gambling

October 9, 2006

Analyzing the Economic & Ethical Implications of Internet Gambling

For this paper, the activity was to locate a current event article that relates to government regulations or anti trust activities.   After locating an article to write about we were to analyze the economic and ethical implications of the event.   I will also include the following points: political impact on economic behavior and technological innovation.
The topic that I decided to write about was Internet Gambling, specifically the banning of internet gambling in Washington State.   About 5 months ago the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a local newspaper reported that Washington has passed a law against wagering money on Internet games that will make it Class C felony as of June 7, 2006.   This new law included all online gambling including poker which is now a very popular pastime for many.   In fact there are many professional poker players that whose rise to stardom began in online poker games.   Take the 2003 World Series of Poker Champion Chris Moneymaker, whose WSOP seat was won though an online satellite poker tournament.   Banning this type of gambling in Washington State is limiting opportunities for individuals to play and practice.
"Although the head of the state Gambling Commission says it is unlikely that individual online gamblers will be targeted for arrest, the new law carries stiff penalties: as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine." (Spohn, 2006)
Many people are upset over the new law stating that it is unethical and wrong to pass.   "To say playing poker in card rooms is legal but that it's a felony to play online is insane," said Kerry Welsh, 47, of Bellevue (Skolnik, 2006)
This law can be seen as unethical to online gamblers everywhere and one of the state’s excuses is the law is needed for gamblers to protect themselves.   Others are also thinking that because many of these online...