Inside Asian Gaming

IAG APR 2022年4月 亞博匯 87 專欄 PROHIBITION I think it is uncontroversial to state that behind the curt media grabs, the efficacy of prohibition is largely illusory, andsuchpolicy often creates or exacerbates unintended policy issues and adverse consequences. Demand doesn’t simply disappear and the marvel of human nature means consumption continues, albeit through creative, circuitous and unlawful routes. Notwithstanding these difficulties, prohibition may be justified to respond to the most severe risks or curb the most offensive behavior. I am just not sure online poker meets this threshold. The sensible alternative is of course regulation. A regulated industry would provide entertainment and recreation for interested players, as well as service the cohort of professional online poker players. Consumer protections and responsible gambling provisions – either unavailable or possibly unreliable under current arrangements – would 禁止 我認為，無可爭議的是，在轟動 的媒體報道下，禁止線上撲克所帶來的 裨益多是虛幻的，而相關政策往往會產 生或加劇意想不到的政策問題和負面後 果。需求不會因禁令而簡單地消失，人 性習慣意味著相關活動將繼續，而且是 通過創意、迂迴和非法的途徑進行。儘 管存在這些困難因素，但為了應對最嚴 重的風險或遏制最令人反感的行為，是 有理由禁止某些活動，但我不確定線上 撲克是達到這種程度的活動。 明智的選擇當然是監管。受監管的 行業將為感興趣的玩家提供休閒娛樂， 並為專業線上撲克玩家群體提供服務。 消費者保護和負責任的賭博規定將是本