Something to think about.

As most states have their own offical gambling operations such as lotteries.. are they not themselves violating certain ethical and beyond hypocrisy upon online gambling or any exchange of monies?

not really..those lotteries and gambling venues are regulated; their complaint isn't an ethical one...it's a legal and monetary one

.. even still the natural basis is indeed gambling , managing a gambling resource while prosecuting and charging less powerful individual entities for doing the same

Awww Tim...I know exactly where your question is coming from.
I too am so fed up by what's been happening and I feel that they have taken away my rights.

As dt said, those lotteries and gambling venues are regulated for most paying/charging taxes from the winnings but I still don't think it's about gambling online being illegal.
It's about wiring and transferring money (aka money laundering according to their book).
and the law(UIGEA) they came up with doesn't say about players but it says that banks may not process payments to gambling sites.
It's never about the processors alone either from the way they are accusing banks that allowed those processors to operate.
So technically?  it is not illegal for players to gamble online maybe except those 13 banned states, or promoting the sites as affiliates especially most of the sites being outside USA...
No matter what, any of their acts seems legal and fair to me though.

It is indeed a hypocritical law.  Just because the lotteries etc are regulated, surely it still goes against the basis of the UIGEA?  You can do your lottery online and therefore you must be able to transfer funds into the site by ewallets or whatever.  Therefore, it is against the UIGEA and just because they are regulated, doesn't make it any different. 

blue

Those of us who like online gambling (yes, yes, I am one!) have to be honest.  A big reason for the crack down on online gaming sites has a lot to do with tax evasion and money laundering.  So, part of me is irritated at the crack down, but...another part of me gets it.

I agree about the "get it" bit Doc but at the end of the day, they could have approached this by proper regulation in the first instance rather than dictating how you spend your money and making it illegal.

I know it's been said before but the "land of the free" is not!  And that makes me mad, lord knows how you guys and gals must feel.

blue

Never, never try and keep politicians away from possible revenue..Why they tend to get a tad upset...:P

So true Genenco. (Nice to see you on the forum again - I've been wondering how you are).

blue