Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
November 30, 2009
There are many within the online gambling industry confused today – us among them. They are wondering what country they live in as the United States has never behaved the way that it has been lately in terms of personal freedoms and personal rights. First the Bush Administration took away the right for online gambling enthusiasts to do what they want in the privacy of their own home, with their own money. Taking away personal freedom because someone doesn’t like it is a new thing for us – and we are not pleased.
Then the Obama Administration decides to continue with the crackdowns on online gambling patrons – and starts seizing the funds that they have earned with their own money saying that it is in the protection of the country? Huh? How does your online gambling account affect the safety of the United States?
But now this latest one has many wondering what happened to our country. The United States has determined that when it comes to online gambling you are guilty until proven innocent. What?!! The United States Constitution gives us one important right and that is the presumption of innocence. We are innocent until proven guilty – not the other way around. However, the US Department of Justice seems to be making their own rules.
According to the US Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve, online gambling operators are responsible for proving that they are not guilty and that their funds should not be seized and they should not be prosecuted. It used to be that you had to commit a crime and they had to have proof before you were accused of it. Not anymore.
