2006年VOA标准英语-Gaming Industry Discounts Effect of Law Against

By Steve Mort
Las Vegas, Nevada
16 November 2006
 
watch Internet Gambling¹

Gaming industry leaders say Internet gambling will thrive despite a recent law effectively barring online betting in the United States. In October, President Bush signed legislation making it illegal for U.S. banks and credit card companies to process payments to gambling Websites But some traditional U.S. casino operators view the rules as temporary and say a shift away from online gaming is unlikely over the long-term.

 
Internet gambling has become illegal in the U.S.
In 2005, Americans bet $8 million at Websites. But legislation passed by the U.S. Congress has made it harder to gamble online -- at least for now.

Industry leaders, like Frank Fahrenkopf from the American Gaming Association, doubt it will be enough to stop U.S. gamblers. "I think what's going to happen is, number one, they will continue to bet. They'll find other means to get their money to these offshore² sites".

In Las Vegas, the home of American gambling, there's a different view of the 'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act' from the one in Washington.

While lawmakers aim to curb³ online gaming, Vegas is skeptical⁴. Casino operators believe demand will force Congress to permit online gambling -- under strict government supervision⁵.

 
Rob Stillwell
Rob Stillwell, from Boyd Gaming, predicts American companies will eventually be allowed to enter the market. "I think what it comes down to is a matter of licensing⁶ and a matter of regulation. So to the extent that we can create the mechanism⁷ by which to fairly regulate this business then I could see the more traditional, commercial gaming companies getting involved".

As U.S. officials work toward a June 2007 deadline to find ways to enforce the new rules - other countries are easing restrictions⁸. The U.K. is looking to regulate rather than restrict online gaming, bolstering⁹ the hopes of Internet gambling businesses. Britain has warned that the U.S. legislation could drive the industry underground.

 
Frank Fahrenkopf
Fahrenkopf adds, "Money always has a way of finding its way to where it wants to go, so that's why I'm hopeful that the legislators, even those legislators who are opposed to all forms of gambling, will realize, number one, they're not going to stop it. Prohibition¹⁰ has never worked in this country. It's better to regulate it. It's better to control it, it's better to tax it".

The casino industry, fearing competition, has not always supported online gambling but now it sees the Internet as a way to attract new gamblers

Rob Stillwell hopes lawmakers reverse course and permit U.S. companies to get a slice of the action. "I think what the government may come to realize is that people are gambling on the Internet anyway. And just because there's this legislation that maybe prevents U.S.-born companies from profiting from that type of activity, it's already happening".

For now the U.S. government is pressing ahead -- first it must find out how to distinguish Internet gambling payments from other transactions in order to block them. But the American Gaming Association estimates $5 billion is still being bet online by U.S. residents -- a number it believes is unlikely to go down, whatever action Congress decides to take next.

1 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

2 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

5 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

6 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

7 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

9 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

10 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。