Florida Internet Casino Report Lacking Objectivity
The study commissioned by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to examine the potential effects of online poker rooms and Internet casino gambling in the state has been finished. Unfortunately, some of the writing has led readers to question what sources the gaming survey employed.In looking at the possibility of a law allowing intrastate online poker or online casinos, the committee noted that some gambling opponents "argue that prevalence of gambling addiction is three to four times higher with Internet gambling than with non-Internet gambling."
No sources are footnoted, leaving the reader the impression that such an argument can be substantiated by objective scientific research. But Online Casino Advisory gambling analyst Sherman Bradley says the overwhelming evidence points to the contrary.
"Studies done from Harvard Medical School to the government of South Africa have found online gambling to be significantly less addictive than land-based gaming. Only a recent UK survey, which has been debunked for its questionable scientific conditions and interpretations, has suggested otherwise."
Further, as noted by EGRmagazine, when examining the possible benefits of a Florida intrastate law, the committee refuses to acknowledge data from the Poker Voters of America saying almost $100 million a year would be available in revenue from regulated online gambling. Instead, the committee pushed aside the question of how many millions Florida could make, asserting that "no objective estimates exist to assess potential state revenues."
"For an objective report, the committee sure decides who to take at their word, and who to discard empirical data from," says Bradley.
