In recent months as the U.S. attorneys office has began prosecuting online gamblers trafficking their bets through ‘offshore’ casinos they have also taken aim at ‘inhouse’ publishers who earn revenue from those illegal casinos. The online gambling world has become a $12 billion industry and can afford to pay handsome fees for loyal customers that know how to lose.
Many small publishing firms earn a substantial amount of their revenues from illegal casinos and cannot afford to lose the legal ability to advertise. The only casinos that are legal to advertise are those that do not take bets for real money and places within the U.S. where gambling is legal.
Why should U.S. companies be penalized for advertising illegal casinos? The Attorney’s office argues that by advertising illegal casinos it creates the illusion that placing offshore bets are acceptable when they are in fact ‘frowned upon.’ I am not sure what to think. Is the US government placing envy-laden restriction because they are upset they are not getting to stick their fingers into the cookie jar? What a bind, to tax or not to tax illegal revenue? Who knows! What I do favor is freedom of advertising. If HIGH TIMES can put out a legal monthly publication then online publishers should be able to advertise what ever they want. It is not fair that the New York Times is allowed to earn revenue from Ceaser’s and smaller publications can’t eat off others casinos that aren’t ‘ours.’
Let’s be realistic, larger companies will find ways to disburse a legion of servers within other countries where they will continue to earn that ‘paper.’ By allowing advertising for online casinos the U.S. could, at least, add transparency to the process and earn huge tax revenues. Perhaps 50% would be acceptable! I know I wouldn’t mind giving the government 75% of a $4 million annual advertising revenue earned from offshore casinos! The money could be used to create a fund for gambler’s support groups, better yet actual healthcare. I am thinking the US government could earn $50 million plus in revenue. But, then again I am not in the place to make that statement, I still get excited when I win my dollar playing Cee-lo with my friends. “Triple sixes, Daddy, needs food off the dollar menu!”
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