Internet has made impacts on all facets of social life. There are both positive and negative effects on the social psyche. The advantages and disadvantages of internet based activities are widely debated subjects. While it is accepted that internet has made substantial contributions to spread education and knowledge, equally disturbing are the concerns about the abuses of the system. Violence, pornography and gambling are pointed out as examples for the phenomena that grow out of the all pervasive internet. But like other ethically sensitive matters like smoking, alcoholism and prostitution the potential hazards cannot be completely eliminated by prohibition alone. At the most the state or authorities can regulate the system, notwithstanding the social and political implications of the emerging scenario. The virtual gambling is harmful. It is addictive and is capable of ruining families. It can corrupt the young and adolescent minds.
The history has many examples to show that moral policing is not an effective weapon to eradicate social evils. The United States of America made a futile attempt to enforce prohibition in the 1920s. Even today, many countries are making valiant efforts to prohibit many socially unacceptable practices without success.
When the world is debating this issue, the online gambling industry has grown to a multimillion pound enterprise. Many transnational and multinational companies are operating world over with the involvement of millions of investors. In UK there are restrictions enforced as far as advertisements and publicity are concerned. But online gambling in the privacy of homes cannot be strictly controlled. Even though e-Gaming is regulated in the country, offshore service providers are able to operate through remote control. However, restricted versions of e-Gaming are allowed in some countries and online gambling companies are allowed to sponsor television programmes.
Those who argue in favour of online gambling point out that many games based on chances are permitted in different countries including UK. Horse racing, lotteries and scratch cards based on poker are a few examples in this context. Legal experts invariably question the effectiveness of the laws framed and point out several loop holes in the statutes. In the midst of debates, the Gambling Act came into effect in 2007 and operators licensed under the law are permitted to establish casinos, subject to the conditions stipulated therein.
No doubt, gambling is not a healthy practice or entertainment to be adopted by the civilized society. But it is booming as an entertainment industry attracting large investments from all parts of the world. The lucrative business obviously attracts investors in large numbers. Efforts are to be intensified to control and regulate the habit of gambling through education and awareness programmes. Those who work for social causes should accelerate their efforts in the best interests of the society and the country. |