Bob Goodlatte (R-VA06): Hypocrite On The Take

(crossposted from Cobalt6 and Raising Kaine)

Unsurprising:

Racing industry generous to anti-online gambling politician

One of online gambling’s most passionate detractors apparently enjoys almost $40 000 in encouragement and support from an industry that benefits increasingly from his attacks on Internet gambling.

According to an article on Gambling Web this week the wannabe nemesis of online gambling, Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, has accepted almost $40 000 in campaign funds from the horse racing industry…Goodlatte has been frequently quoted as supporting the view that online gambling, an industry that is growing at a rapid rate as exemplified by sites like https://funfair.io/bitcoin-casino/ which now trade in cryptocurrency, is immoral, somewhat out of balance with his support for the carve outs, which have contributed to the invidious (and potentially expensive) situation that the United Stated currently finds itself in vis-à-vis the World Trade Organisation; facing billions in claims from other nations…

But wait! There’s more…..below the fold….

Representative congressman from Roanoke, Virginia, Bob Goodlatte, who is responsible for writing the details of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) – which bans illegal forms of Internet gambling and has an exception for online horse race betting – has accepted more than $35,000 in lobbying money from the horse race betting industry, it was revealed today by Perspectives Weekly. It seems a strange claim, especially when sites like Best-casino.net exist allowing people to bet safely online. There are even sites that share gambling and betting news, as well as help those who are interested in gambling keep up to date with any changing regulations. These sites even talk about the best paying slots online and a whole host of other games.

Congressman Goodlatte has pushed his UIGEA in Congress over the past several years citing that it must be passed because gambling is immoral. As immoral as it is, he believes horse race betting is the exception to the immoral rule he lives and preaches by. While the stance of immorality isn’t something new when it comes to gambling, other countries have taken a more proactive approach when it comes to their citizens and their local gambling market. For instance, along with its taxes on gambling, Sweden has opted to create a healthy environment around its gambling market. You can read more about it here- https://esportare.se/ovrigt/information-om-spelpaus/. However, it seems the Congressman isn’t interested in ensuring the safety of the American people by creating a healthy environment for them but instead opts to call it immoral unless he deems it otherwise.

Sort of puts his Big Tobacco bed-buddy votes against SCHIP in a whole new light, doesn’t it?

Just another corrupt Republican, and another reason to vote SurgeBob SquareHead OUT.