Comments about ‘Banning Internet gambling would keep Indian casinos out of Utah, lawmaker says’

I don't follow how one leads to Indian Casinos. I'm all for maintaining Utah's ban on gambling, but I still wonder at the logic deployed by the state Representative.

It's one of those gateway issues. If we allow online gambling, it could be argued that we should allow Indian Reservations to have casinos, as they do in other states like Idaho. It's the same logic that's kept us from having state sponsored lotteries in the past. I think it's going to be a difficult bill to pass since it place most of the responsibility to block access on ISP's. I think internet gambling is going to be one of those issues that's going to need to be addressed at the Federal level (which means it will never get addressed.) The internet is an entity that is too large for one state, or even one country to regulate or control. I find that most internet laws are difficult to enforce, and in some cases pointless.

By all means, don't let Natives have a productive business going on: Banish them to reservations, say they are lazy, and then squash anything productive that they can do, kind of like when we stole their land in the first place. That way, all the Utah gamblers can give all their money to Nevada.

I thought that reservations were not part of the United States. They have their own police, etc. so who are we to tell them what they can or cannot do on their own land? Oh, wait....we've been doing that for centuries.

xscribe,
please tell me what is "productive" about a casino.

aside from whether they should be allowed or not - different topic - please tell me what type of product a casino produces.

and I see nothing requiring American Indians (as they preder to be called) to stay on the reservations. They have every right to relocate elsewhere.

@Lost: You're right, Natives can leave the reservation; but after years of repression, as you know, not many do. Wonder how you would do if your whole way of life was taken away from you.

As for how a casino is productive, I'll list a few: Jobs, in particular, unless you are against job production. A boost to the local economy, unless you don't like that either. Just because you are against a particular activity that most Utahns participate in, at least in southern Utah, does not mean such a business is not productive. What is the alternative? Like I said, they take their money to Nevada.

@xscribe - If casinos are such a cash-cow, then why has Las Vegas's economy tanked so badly over the last few years? An MSNBC article last may pointed out that 70% of all homes in Vegas are underwater, and the state has a $1.5 billion deficit - the worst in the nation (which is saying a lot given that California is right next to them!) Plus, most reservations are not located in areas that most people are going to flock to; this is especially true in Utah where most of them are far removed anything even resembling a populated area. On could argue the success of the Fort Hall Casino in Idaho, but they have the advantage of being located close to more populated areas, and it's easily accessed by those traveling to other tourist areas such as Yellowstone. I don't think many of Utah's reservations are that strategically located and would be hard-pressed to get substantial crowds. Besides, the gaming industry is usually among the first impacted any time the economy struggles. People with less money tend to gamble less.

@ShawnM: I think you answered your own question as to why Vegas is having difficulty at the moment. Although I would argue that people tend to buy more lottery tickets when the economy is bad. Part of that money, in our state, goes directly to parks and open space here in Colorado.

As for your last paragraph: If that's the case, that no one will go to these casinos, then why does there need to be a bill making sure it doesn't happen? Do we support the government intervening to safe us from our personal responsibility not to gamble or become addicted to gambling? Is this one of those times where government should trump captitalism?

Gambling has nothing to do with capitalism, and further it's a PERFECT instance when government should be involved, seeing as how it is primary responsibility of government in a capitalist society to enforce the law, keep out criminal elements, and enforce fair practices where possible--all of which would enable government jurisdiction in this situation.

Gambling is just another scam, like any other pyramid scheme or get-rich quick sham, and should be run out of town on a rail.

Indian Reseervations are treated by the Federal Government as SOVEREIGN NATIONS and therefore not subject to State Laws (as far as I know). Gambling in California is Illegal but on the Indian Reservations, think San Diego County and on the way to Palm Springs, it is legal. Why? NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY. I would advise the DN readers to consult the Internet as to what American Indians can do on their Reservations