The Online Gambling Ban: A Futile Attempt that Americans will Circumvent
Apr 18, 2007 by Tom Bonanno | Business
Six months ago when President Bush signed the Port Security Bill he mentioned it as being an effort to strengthen the nation’s borders from being vulnerable to terrorist attacks. What he failed to touch on was a particular clause in it that would bludgeon a multi-billion dollar industry. How is it possible that a business which was earning $12 billion annually can plummet almost 50% in one-half year? Welcome to the American world of online gambling.
In case you didn’t know, the law bans Internet gambling. It prohibits online poker sites and other betting companies from “knowingly accepting” money from U.S.-based customers. Credit card companies and other payment providers are now prohibited from processing online gambling transactions.
Fans of the law declare it as a victory for family values. Jim Leach, the Iowa Republican who sponsored the bill, said it will prevent further corruption. “Religious leaders of all denominations and faiths are seeing gambling problems erode family values,” Leach said in a statement. “If Congress had not acted, gamblers would soon be able to place bets not just from home computers, but from their cell phones while they drive home from work or their BlackBerries as they wait in line at the movies.”
Right-wing and left-wing morals aside, the citizens of the United States are shrewd and there’s an excellent possibility that U.S. gamblers will still find a way to bet on these sites. Rather than using credit cards people will in all likelihood become more creative than ever before. Apparently there are other e-wallet payment services based outside the U.S., such as NetTeller and FirePay. In America when there’s a will there’s a way.
The 18th Amendment to the constitution went a long way, no? The prohibition of alcohol that our forefathers endured led them to attempt to consume more alcohol than ever. The War on Drugs that our country has harped on for years has been so successful that over 12% of the current prisoner population is booked on marijuana-related crimes.
When you disallow something the inclination is to try even harder to obtain it; that’s always been an American vantage point. So whether it is alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, prostitution, or any other type of insubordination, Americans are going to want it and attempt to attain it at all costs.
In my opinion this is a futile attempt by our government to prevent the inevitable.
Does anyone ever tell you the web won’t work for their business?
Mar 9, 2007 by Tom Bonanno | Business
It never ceases to amaze me when someone tells me that they don’t need a website for their business. The next time someone says that to you, mention these 4 things:
1. The Internet is the first place a person will go to get information on your company. People are online daily for tasks such as banking, shopping, emailing and so on. Many people prefer to read websites at work – it looks like they’re working when in fact they may be researching a product and/or service that they require. This is the face of your business and the first impression your company conveys. If a user doesn’t like what they see, they’re onto the next site.
2. Your competitors are online (and making money). You don’t want to get lost in the shuffle. In order to obtain new customers, generate new sales leads, and promote marketing campaigns there is no more effective tool than a company’s website. People in China aren’t going to know anything about you except for what your website has to say. It is essential to distinguish your company from your competitors.
3. A well designed website will give you added visibility and credibility. The new site will bring new interest in and establish creditability for your company over time. It can serve as a central building block for your branding, marketing and accordant sales support strategy for years to come.
4. Do you find you answer the same question over and over again? If so that should be on the homepage of your website. A website should tell people what you do and how good you are. If your customers know what you do before they call, the conversation will be shorter and more productive.
Besides its 2007; who doesn’t have a website?
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“If winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?”Â- Vince Lombardi
“If you’re keeping score, win.”Â- Red Auerbach
Teamwork and Success. The two terms truly go hand in hand. It’s important to realize that these two qualities are just as important in the work world as they are on the playing field. When Red Auerbach recently passed away, it got me thinking about the legend behind the man. What made him so successful in comparison to his peers? How was he able to be involved in 16 championships in his first 30 years? Why was he so sharp in orchestrating trades that by the 1980s other NBA teams didn’t want to ever make a deal with the Celtics in fear that Red saw something no one else did?
When thinking about Auerbach the other mastermind coach in sports that automatically comes to mind is Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. Lombardi has had more memorable quotes and motivational tactics than perhaps anyone in sports including the following:
Individual commitment to a group effort. That’s what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
It seems pretty obvious but if one part of the equation is out of synch, the whole operation can fall apart. Having a cohesive unit allows the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. Both Lombardi and Auerbach were geniuses in their respective sports. Their fundamental understanding of the game was critical but recognizing teamwork as being essential in all walks of life was truly brilliant.
As we embark on a New Year of opportunities and challenges remember: efficient teamwork will ultimately lead to enormous success. So the next time you’re at your job, no matter what you do, stop for a second and think how you can make a co-worker’s life easier. It’ll likely go a long way in bringing you personal success.
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