U.S. Steps Up Push Against Online Casinos by Seizing Cash

U.S. Steps Up Push Against Online Casinos by Seizing Cash

Federal law enforcement officials routinely seize money they suspect is connected to activities like money laundering, terrorism or drug smuggling. But in early April, United States marshals seized $3.2 million from Discovery Communications, the television and media company, in an aggressive effort to crack down on a new target, Internet gambling.

The money initially belonged to Tropical Paradise, a Costa Rica-based Internet casino operation, which in October paid Discovery for television spots to advertise an online poker room, ParadisePoker.com. According to court documents, the government seized the money and told Discovery, which is based in Silver Spring, Md., that it could be party to an illegal activity by broadcasting such advertisements.

Federal prosecutors contend that online gambling sites are illegal, but the offshore casinos fall outside their jurisdiction. So for nearly a year, the government has been trying to curb the sites' activities by investigating and pressuring American companies that provide services to offshore gambling sites on the theory that they are "aiding and abetting" the operations.

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The move has raised strong criticism from First Amendment experts, media industry executives and people involved with offshore casinos. They assert that the federal government is relying on an untested legal theory in taking action against American companies, and using tactics more typically used against organized crime activities.

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http://www.starbanner.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040531/ZNYT01/405310303/1009/BUSINESS

For some reason I have strong libertarian beliefs coupled with strong liberal beliefs (strange marriage is it not?). I don't see the harm first of all of internet gambling. I don't approve of gambling myself but it gives me no right to regulate the rights of others. There is some portion of christian fundimentalism influencing this national decision which is the worst part of it all. Secondly, it is the right of any American, in my opinion, to be able to speak out in favor for anything observed in the international community. Some would say that this does not include wartime situations which I would beg to differ on. The discovery channel is not partaking itself in what is considered an illegal activity domestically, only basically advertising the fact that it is available. Leave it to the citizens to goto the site if they want to, but don't kill the messenger. To me this is sort of along the lines of limiting the press, albeit that the discovery channel was accepting money for its publicity. I wonder how many people throw weight and money around to either see something or not see something on the national news.

sorry for my rant.