Peter Dick, director of British company Sportingbet was arrested in Louisiana last Thursday (7 September) for “gambling by computer”. He was granted bail on Friday for $50,000, but has had to give authorities his passport and is not allowed to leave New York. Shares in Sportingbet have lost 40% of their value, and shares in other internet gambling companies have also tumbled.

The “crime” of “gambling by computer” can bring a jail sentence of twelve months in the United States. Does that sound extreme? We think so. But then we’re privileged to live in the United Kingdom – a country which actually practices civil liberty rather than simply talking about it.

In this supposedly enlightened age where the internet has created a virtual global village, it seems strange that a country as large as the US wants to police it with such vigour. The online gambling industry generates billions of dollars each year by providing end users with the kind of entertainment they could enjoy in any licensed casino. Why end users shouldn’t also be allowed to play a game of poker or blackjack in their own living room is beyond us.

And why does it appear that the US authorities are directing their focus on the bosses of British companies? Peter Dicks is the most recent name to hit the headlines, but two months ago it was David Carruthers, another Brit and CEO of BetOnSports, who was arrested in Texas on fraud charges.

Why don’t the authorities take a look in their own back yard and start arresting any of the tens of thousands of US citizens who regularly play online on a daily basis? Could it be that they aren’t really interested in the “crime” of “gambling by computer”, and are merely using this as an excuse to put British online gambling companies out of business or severely restrict their activities?

The victims in this “war on fun” are honest, hard working people who have put a lot of effort into building substantial global businesses. They provide a product which is enjoyable and entertaining. Online gambling doesn’t give you lung cancer or kill your liver, but for some reason it has been made public enemy number one.

Where will it all end, we wonder? Will individuals who have shares in online gambling companies be arrested for aiding and abetting (no pun intended)? Even if they aren’t, the damage that this crusade against free will has done will surely have put them off investing any more of their money – for the time being at least.

Some argue that this is a moral issue, and that the Christian Right is putting its foot down in states such as Louisiana and Texas. But if that’s the case, why specifically pick on internet gambling? The online porn industry is even bigger, but how many online porn magnates have been arrested? Oh, does it have anything to do with America being the largest exporter of porn? Does the Christian Right think that paying to see Jenna Jameson’s impressive sexual skills is somehow more moral than playing a game of bingo? Forgive us for being British, but we doubt the Church of England would be likely to take that view.

We are of the opinion that if bigots in Louisiana, Texas or anywhere else want to ban online gambling, they should start by arresting the long term residents of those states that break local laws. They should not – and must not be allowed to – use strong-arm tactics to inflict their narrow-minded and archaic views on the rest of the World.

If we do make the mistake of allowing the US to tear down our industry on a fundamentalist whim, we should all hold our breath. Because although the US authorities are focusing on online betting today, it could be something even more innocuous tomorrow.

And that makes us all a potential target.

The contents of this article are those of the author and not neccessarily those of Take That Ltd. or gamble.co.uk

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