Tech Challenges Brought Up by Illinois' Online Gaming Debate
Illinois is one of several states that in the process of hammering out the details of legalizing online gaming. This is very good news for online gaming institutions as well as for online gamers, but the process has unearthed some technical problems that have not been dealt with previously.
Illinois state senator Terry Link has spearheaded a plan to legally allow traditional race tracks and brick-and-mortar casinos to operate gambling websites. Of course, as is typical in these debates, there are numerous arguments presented, both in favor of and decrying the legalization.
Those in favor of the legalization insist that it is needed in order to keep gambling revenues at home rather than sending what may amount to vast sums of money offshore. As far as support in the State of Illinois goes, they point out that it was the first state to authorize the sales of lottery tickets via the internet.
Those opposed to it bring up the specters of problem gambling and gambling by those not of legal age as an ever widening selection of games become available to an ever widening body of potential players.
Fortunately, there are some compelling answers to the arguments against online gaming in the form of 21st century tech! An aspect of technology that has generally been overlooked by both sides is the simple fact that mobile software is a two-way street. Not only does it provide great quality gaming experiences to players wherever they may be, but it also provides a means of monitoring who is using it. In fact, it is potentially possible to keep a closer eye on players than it is in a traditional, physical casino.
The big difference between a physical, brick-and-mortar casino and playing online is twofold: ease of access for the player and ease of access to the player.
In the case of a brick-and-mortar casino, a security person may observe a player sitting in front of a slot game or at a table, and if that person appears to be of legal age, they will not be disturbed. Online gambling, on the other hand, can have detailed requirements for play that determine each player’s eligibility in specific terms.
In the same vein, the information that is gathered on a particular player may be collected online in order to provide easy screening of play habits, giving early alerts to inappropriate or addictive play habits.
In reviewing the progress that online gaming technology has made in the past ten years, with a modicum of common sense, it is easy to see a time when online gaming will be the safest way to play. We look forward to the full legalization of online gaming in the State of Illinois and the rest of the USA.
Read more: Illinois gambling expansion bill