Former California Lawmaker Still Believes in Legalization of Online Gambling

Lloyd Levine was an Assemblyman a few years back on the Californian online gambling legalization scene; he took a credible run at the legalization of intrastate online poker but, as with others, he failed. Levine is out of politics but still consults in the state. He appeared again over the weekend in an article done by Sacramento Bee, showing us that he hasn't lost his enthusiasm for regulated and taxed online poker. He claims that state sanctions and regulations shouldn't be limited only to Internet horse race wagering. Levine sees this as state failing to recognize the practical realities of the Internet and human behavior. He points out that the nature of the Internet makes enforcement of existing prohibitions on Internet poker virtually impossible. He is raising questions on the safety of players due to no shortages of websites ready and willing to accept U.S.-based players that don't have US regulatory supervision and which California doesn't receive taxes on. "All the current system does is prevent California's legal gambling establishments from competing against the illegal operators," Levine says. He admits that legalizing Internet gaming will not totally eliminate the problems associated with the unregulated, offshore sites but will provide a safer alternative that requires operators and trained staff to use the latest advancements in technology to combat the underage and problem gambler, and deliver safe and fair gambling to Californian consumers. "No system is fool proof," Levine asserts. "If someone is determined to gamble underage or gamble more than is prudent, the best technology in the world can't prohibit that.” "But that holds true in [brick and mortar] casinos as well, and isn't a good argument for doing nothing." By legalizing online gambling California can allow legal gaming establishments to compete with unlicensed and unauthorized offshore operators and provide a safer gaming alternative for US players who are gambling online anyway, Levine concludes.