been studying how to develop ways to allow Americans to wager using the Internet or cable television. Currently, it is illegal to gamble on the Internet because it violates the Interstate Wire Act. (Goddu, B5) Americans generally agree with the arguments supporting gambling, many of which are economic. Most Americans agreed that gambling "creates jobs and helps stimulate the local economy". "About 3 out of 5 will gamble anyway so we might as well make it legal and collect the money." said one California mayor. (Siebel, 69) In spite of this a majority opposed gambling. Over half the population agreed that gambling "encourages people who can least afford it to squander their money." Sixty two percent believed it "opened the door for organized crime." Well over half thought gambling "can make compulsive gamblers out of people who would never participate in illegal gambling." (Siebel, 70) This moral argument, however, held little sway since barely one-third would go as far as to say that they believed gambling was immoral. Protestants were more than twice as likely as Catholics to believe gambling was immoral. Among the various Protestant denominations, Southern Baptists were far more likely to believe gambling was immoral than were the other Protestant denominations. (Siebel, 71) An estimated .7% of Americans are addicted to gambling. Observers estimate that with the increased opportunities to gamble, the proportion of compulsive gamblers has increased 2% to 5% of those who gamble. (Siebel, 35) "Almost half of those surveyed by the Gallupp Poll thought betting on professional sports should be banned altogether." (Ortiz, 90) About 12 percent of those interviewed had bet on professional sports at least once in the last year. Men, young people, people living in the city, and those who bet at casinos, and at racetracks were most likely have placed a sports bet in the last year. (Siegel, 96) When asked if they knew anyone who now had, or did h...
