PROHIBITION destroyed America’s once-robust brewing industry, made smugglers rich and did nothing to curb drinking. Outlawing drugs has been a similarly spectacular failure. There is little reason to suppose that the latest line in American prohibition—an effort to ban online gambling—will fare any better.
The Economist: "You Bet"
Whilst I don't agree that America's brewing industry is still destroyed - the vast number of amazing microbrews (mmmm IPA anyone?) is testament to the recovery that is possible post prohibition. Those who doubt the veracity of claims that legalisation or removal of restrictions in America would lead to a mini poker boom are borderline deranged.
Of course that's hardly the whole story. As defenders of online gaming we face allegations that the whole system itself is an attack on the weak and somehow it's the state's responsibility to protect us all from our weakness. What happened to free will and I'll drink if I want to? Ah well...
The ridiculous situation in France where the Tax on poker has led to strikes on PokerStars is unfortunately likely to follow regulation. Hopes of returning to true free worldwide poker become slimmer by the day and we can only hope that the market in our countries is strong enough to survive as eventually I fear we all face segregation from the 'world' of online poker. It's probably not a case of if but when unless we make a stand now. Write to your politician. Especially if you're in a free country like England with a big gaming lobby. Let's encourage our government and big gaming organisations to stand up against protectionism and anti-competitive moves by countries like France.
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