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House Proposes Legalizing, Taxing Online Gambling
eldavojohn writes "Passed in 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is set to go into effect June 1. New efforts by Democrats in the House of Representatives aim not only to stop that but to legalize and tax Internet gambling. Jim McDermott (D-WA), said, 'This is a huge boon to the state governments. If you look across the country you're seeing programs cut. In Arizona, they just cut out a program for children's health for 40,000 kids. Here's a source of money.' Basically, the bill proposes that for each state, a 6% cut would be taken from all wagers and go to the state in which the bet was made online, while federal would get 2%. They estimate in the next decade this would amount to $30 billion for state and tribal governments and $42 billion for the federal government in new taxes. Banks and casinos appear to be very much on board, while the usual crowd (Republicans, Focus on the Family, Think of the Children) gathered in opposition to the move."
The United States does have legalized gambling.
You've heard of Las Vegas maybe? Thats the big one, gambling is legal there. We have the entire state of Nevada too. There is Atlantic City New Jersey, the Indian Casinos scattered all over, riverboat gambling in a number of states, horse and dog betting and a host of other gambling types, which are legal some places and not legal in others.
Don't forget historical gambling locales like Deadwood South Dakota, Cripple Creek or Blackhawk Colorado.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States#Legal_Issues