In a recent article addressing anti-gambling legislation in the United States, CEO of Beton Sports, John Carruthers, spoke out strongly against Senator John Shadegg’s current proposal. Carruthers referred to the bill as “another example of wasted efforts to prohibit the industry rather than regulate it.”
Instead Carruthers urged the government to legalize and regulate the industry in order to halt gambling abuses including under-age gambling and gambling addiction. Carruthers stated that regulation will create and uphold enforceable standards of practice for more than 2000 gambling operators currently operating on the internet.
Carruthers believes that a number of critical issues can be addressed in a regulated environment. Enforcing practices to identify and combat underage gambling would be a major benefit of regulation. Similarly, new ways of targeting compulsive gamblers could be devised, for example, the establishment of strong partnerships with social groups that work with those suffering from gambling addiction.
Carruthers also stated that regulation would improve business practice in general, and make online gaming companies more accessible to partners and customers. Best practice training could be supplied for customer service staff and privacy issues strengthened.
Carruthers states that the U.S. need look no further than the United Kingdom to provide a role model on how to address the phenomenon of internet gambling. The United Kingdom’s Gambling Act 2005 has paved the way for the establishment of the Gambling Commission, a government body responsible for regulating and licensing online casino operators. The Commission also works to address issues such as gambling addiction, criminal activity, and customer complaints.
Yet while the United Kingdom has chosen to recognize the gambling industry to ensure a higher level of player safety for UK gamblers, the U.S. government “wastes time and resources on futile legislative efforts to prohibit our business.” According to Carruthers, seven attempts to ban internet gambling have been presented to the U.S. Congress but no outright ban has ever been supported. Carruthers points out to the lack of decision making and clarity surrounding the issue on behalf of the bills’ sponsors as a major factor in why each bill has failed.
Carruthers believes that the energy and time of lawmakers would be best directed toward protecting consumers by recognizing the gambling industry. Governments at all levels would also stand to gain huge sums in taxation revenue under a legalization scheme.

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