Online Gambling? You Bet! -- By Bryan Wilcutt

 

by Bryan Wilcutt

Online gambling is poised to take the internet and the US by storm.  What has held it back up until now is the arsenal of tools the feds have used to control it.   Those very tools have been chipped away recently thus creating a huge industry of online gambling and identification verification.

 

 

 

 

Okay, a lot of states have gambling and many more states are coming online to the fast-and-easy money.  Just recently casinos opened up for the first time in Ohio and Maryland.   As if Vegas and Reno already didn't have it hard due to the Indian casinos around the nation, now they have to compete with non-Indian casinos.  No matter how you look at it Vegas isn’t going to be the same, it certainly won't be the threat some people think it is.

On Aug 23, 2012, federal judge Jack Weinstein ruled on a case involving poker as an act of gambling.  Recall that gambling is any game or sport where the outcome is largely based on luck.  If you’ve ever played poker, you know it takes a lot more skill than luck and Judge Weinstein agrees.  Since this was a lower court ruling it stands the chance of being overruled but the damage has been done.  You Texas Hold’em fans can rejoice in the fact you can now gamble with real money, not just chips-for-prizes.

Lastly, recall that the federal government has relaxed online gambling a number of years ago, limiting the gambling only to residents of the same state for which the game is found.  Okay, but how do you control this?  How does the casino know you live in the same state?  Ah!  We’re glad you asked!

 

The Identification and Location Industry is Born

In comes another IT industry, invented out of sole necessity.  Identification and Location Companies are on the rise.  Think about it-- using the magic of technology there are companies that can pin point your location and report that information to anyone who will pay for it.   This technology uses many, many sources of information, in real time, to isolate and pin point your location.  For example, your IP address and gateway can be back traced and put you in a “general region” which may cover several states.  Second, you must use another location device such as a cell phone.  The technology can determine the location of the base station tower (BST) that your phone is currently connected and further isolate you.  But wait, that’s not all!  Since most BSTs have a radius range of 20 miles, they can overlap borders.  So now comes triangulation and other “secret spices” employed by the location company. 

Since poker isn’t gambling nor is it now controlled as such by the federal government, and now states can have online gambling, we predict you’ll see online poker “game” (not gambling!) websites popping up by the billions.  By all reason, anyone can play these “games,” not just state residents. The other “gambling” games, however, will be limited.

All of this should raise an eyebrow or two.  First, through just the normal day to day information out there your location can be pin pointed to a few hundred feet!  You won’t have to wait for another Jason Bourne movie to experience this techno-fantasy, it’s here now and it’s here to stay (we heard that one internet radio so it must be true).

Poker + Online Gambling

Curious Internet believes this is just the start.  Eventually the Federal government will open cross-state gambling and now the entire United States will turn into an online, virtual Las Vegas.  Sadly, all those Indian Casinos, Reno, even Las Vegas itself will become obsolete unless some major changes are employed.  These places are going to have to focus less on gambling and more on other forms of entertainment.

Is online gambling legit?

Image this—all those games made for Vegas will be online and provided, quite possibly, by the manufacture of the game.  That’s Williams and Bally in case you don’t know, two of the most respected gaming companies around. 

Conclusion

Either online gambling will become a ubiquitous pass time in our society or become one of the biggest banes we’ve ever seen, opening the doors to doom and gloom for the gambling addict or addict-to-be.  Only time will tell!  Look for our analysis on podcast!

Lucky 7’s, anyone?