Confessions of an online gambler
by Mike Alian, Outpost staff
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An internet user gambles online, money in hand, ready to win. This is not Ryan, the person profiled in the story. Photo illustration by Brian Vance |
Ryan is a gambling man.
"I have a rule not to spend money that I can't afford to lose," said Ryan, 24. "I still gamble about three times a week."
Online gambling rakes in millions of dollars every year. In 1999, almost 150 Web sites offered some form of Internet wagering.
For people like Ryan, who lives in Reno, placing bets on the Internet is a sport.
"I think the online aspect of gambling is fun," Ryan said. "I don't think I'm addicted to the gambling I do online. People are quick to point out other people's downfalls here in America. Just because you spend five minutes at your computer, doesn't mean that my gambling for two hours makes me an addict."
Estimates show about six percent of all Internet users, including online gamblers, suffer from Internet addiction (IA). Jupiter Communications, a New York-based research firm, reports more than 116 million Americans will be online by 2002. The Center for On-Line Addication estimates five million Internet users are already hooked.
There are a number of specific types of Internet addiction. One is compulsive online gambling.
Ryan may not believe he's addicted to online gambling, but one California woman was.
Cynthia Haines added-up $115,000 in Internet gambling losses. But she didn't have to pay the money because she successfully argued in court the losses weren't her responsibility. Haines claimed she was engaged in a form of gambling that was illegal in her state.
Wagering online is illegal in the state of Nevada. But no one has ever been convicted of placing bets on the information superhighway.
"I'm not sure of the local rules concerning gambling online," Ryan said. "I really don't care if it's illegal or not."
It is.
What Ryan is doing on his home computer is illegal in Nevada, a gambling state.
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"Under the federal statutes, that could be considered racketeering," Hubach said. "Once you hit the Internet, it's out of state and falls into racketeering laws."
There are a number of Internet sites where money isn't changing hands.
"I enjoy Yahoo gaming sites because they are free and always have thousands of people online to play with," Ryan said. "I also frequent sites that are similar to gambling but not in the traditional sense. There are many video game sites that offer gaming tournaments online and people are able to wager points, fake money, and at some sites real money on these contests."
Still, losing money is the name of the game for some online gamblers.
"Too far is losing a car, your house, not paying bills due to gambling," Ryan said. "I think it can be done in a fun way that may seem excessive to some, but if they have the money and are still living comfortably out of debt, then there is no problem."
Even an admitted online gambler like Ryan agrees it's important to evaluate your winnings and losses.
"I think they [online gamblers] should just take a break from the computer altogether," Ryan said. "Just step back for a month or so and see how much you save."
Ryan's also concerned about saving his children from a similar online gambling fate.
"I would not let my children play any online games at all, gambling or otherwise," Ryan said. "There are too many scary people out there who can take advantage of younger children. The Internet should be a gradual process and parents are quickly finding this out. Computers are wonderful tools, but use them wisely."
Posted May 1, 2000
Copyright 2000 Nevada Outpost
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