Internet gambling has long been an establishment controlled by private organizations, yet recent developments may indicate that some governments may be looking at directly getting involved in the online gambling circuit themselves. Canada, for instance, has recently been exploring the possibility of opening up various provincial gambling websites that would be owned and operated by the government and would provide many traditional government gambling games such as the lottery online for local residents to play from the comfort of their own home.
This has come as a major breakthrough in terms of official government participation in the online gambling industry compared to other countries such as even the United States, where online gambling has long been a pastime yet still largely unavailable throughout the nation due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that prevents banking institutions from processing funds both going to and coming from internet gambling websites (except for select gambling sub-industries such as sports and race wagering). While a growing number of people throughout the US have been fighting against the UIGEA ever since its inception in 2006 little progress has been done up till now in terms of repealing the Act and allowing the US to follow in Canada’s wake. Representative Barney Frank, however, has been actively working to repeal the Act in recent years and, if successful, could help pave the way for future government-funded gambling websites.
A large number of gambling addiction support groups have even begun to support government participation in the online gambling industry, citing that government-run sites are more likely to provide people with the help they need should they need it and not work to actively play on people’s emotions like many other gambling websites do – a key factor in maintaining a compulsive gambler’s addiction. To that end a number of groups have even joined the discussion in support of government-run gambling programs in the hopes that they may have some control over what may be portrayed online in the hopes of encouraging healthy playing habits while still allowing the government to reap some rewards from the system.
Should Canada continue to develop its online gambling industry this could provide a positive example for many governments around the world to pursue similar endeavors of their own. Not only is online gambling a popular pastime for millions of people around the world it is also a major potential money generator for some local areas struggling to find ways to boost their budget. This may be especially important to get into now rather than in later years should government-run programs truly wish to compete with other gaming companies due to the fact that online gambling is a fast-growing market and unless they get in to make their name soon players may simply pass them p for more profitable or better known alternatives.
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