[ABANDONED] Betting House Advertisements Restrictions Act

[Eothasia]

Betting House Advertisements Restrictions Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Consumer Protection | Proposed By: Eothasia

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RECOGNIZING the inherent right of citizens around the world to make their own decisions;

ALSO RECOGNIZING the right of each World Assembly member state or legislate over the regulations and restrictions applied to betting houses and other centers for gambling;

HOWEVER UNDERSTANDING that betting houses pose a serious risk to the general well-being of a population, in particular to those of a younger age, and understanding that the societal impact of their presence is not always properly analyzed and valued;

BELIEVING that proper regulation is required in order to ensure that betting houses conform to societal norms and are not manipulative, harmful or destructive to the population;

The World Assembly HEREBY,

DEFINES a betting house as a business where individuals can bet for different competitive sporting events, with methods and style of bets often varying between different sports;

DECLARES that World Assembly member states must implement obligatory restrictions on betting houses present and operating within their jurisdictional boundaries. These restrictions must include, but are not limited to:

1. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to promote themselves —in all forms, including physical ads, promotional posters, radio and television commercials, advertisements presented via the internet, or others—, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the advertising window does not appear during:

a. Prime time emissions;
b. Interim periods of heavy-audience events, such as sports, political debates, contests, and others;
2. Betting houses must properly inform via informational posters on the entrances of all storefronts of the dangers of betting and gambling addictions;
3. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational institution;

TASKS governments with carrying out a series of reforms in order to ensure the widespread education of the population with regards to the dangers of betting and gambling addictions, which can include but are not limited to:

1. The preparation, production, and publication of anti-gambling advertising explaining the dangers of betting houses;
2. The establishment of government-sponsored programs to help individuals afflicted with gambling addictions overcome them, such as:

a. Support groups;
b. Subsidization of individual therapy sessions;
3. The creation of social centers for underage persons in neighborhoods with high concentration of betting houses and gambling addictions to foment other activities of social benefit;

ESTABLISHES the World Assembly Committee for Betting Control —henceforth referred to as the CBC— which shall be tasked with (a) forming advisory committees to assist in the formulation of measures to ensure the objectives set by this resolution are met, and (b) forming observation groups to study the implementation and effects of such measures on the population;

TASKS the World Assembly CBC with compiling annual reports in order to determine whether member states are adhering to this resolution;

FORBIDS any World Assembly member state from establishing restrictions that directly contradict those set forth by this resolution;

GRANTS member states a period of eighteen months upon ratification of this bill or upon admission into the World Assembly to bring these measures into place in their respective jurisdictions.

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Betting House Restrictions Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Consumer Protection | Proposed By: Eothasia

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Recognizing the inherent right of citizens around the world to make their own decisions;

Also Recognizing the right of each World Assembly member state or legislate over the regulations and restrictions applied to betting houses and other centers for gambling;

However Understanding that betting houses pose a serious risk to the general well-being of a population, in particular to those of a younger age, and understanding that the societal impact of their presence is not always properly analyzed and valued;

Believing that proper regulation is required in order to ensure that betting houses conform to societal norms and are not manipulative, harmful or destructive to the population;

The World Assembly Hereby,

Declares that World Assembly member states must implement obligatory restrictions on betting houses present and operating within their jurisdictional boundaries. These restrictions must include, but are not limited to:

1. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to open, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the window of opening hours falls within 21:00h and 23:00h;

a. These restrictions must also apply to betting houses that have commercialized the ability to participate in betting options using online services;
2. Setting a limited period of the workday by which betting houses must close, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the window of closing hours falls within 05:00h and 06:30h;

a. These restrictions must also apply to betting houses that have commercialized the ability to participate in betting options using online services;
3. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to promote themselves—in all forms, including physical ads, promotional posters, radio and television commercials, or others—, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the advertising window coincides with their individually set opening and closing hours;
4. Betting houses must properly inform via informational posters on the entrances of all storefronts of the dangers of betting and gambling addictions;

a. This must be supported by a government initiative to improve public awareness on gambling addictions through educational advertising and workshops;
b. This must be supported by a government initiative to provide citizens suffering from gambling addictions with support groups in order to overcome them;
5. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational center;

Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Betting Control—henceforth referred to as the CBC—which shall be tasked with (a) forming advisory committees to assist in the formulation of measures to ensure the objectives set by this resolution are met, and (b) forming observation groups to study the implementation and effects of such measures on the population;

Tasks the World Assembly CBC with compiling annual reports in order to determine whether member states are adhering to this resolution;

Forbids any World Assembly member state from establishing restrictions that directly contradict those set forth by this resolution;

Grants member states a period of eighteen months to bring these measures into place in their respective jurisdictions.

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Betting House Restrictions Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Consumer Protection | Proposed By: Eothasia

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Recognizing the inherent right of citizens around the world to make their own decisions;

Also Recognizing the right of each World Assembly member state or legislate over the regulations and restrictions applied to betting houses and other centers for gambling;

However Understanding that betting houses pose a serious risk to the general well-being of a population, in particular to those of a younger age, and understanding that the societal impact of their presence is not always properly analyzed and valued;

Believing that proper regulation is required in order to ensure that betting houses conform to societal norms and are not manipulative, harmful or destructive to the population;

The World Assembly Hereby,

Declares that World Assembly member states must implement obligatory restrictions on betting houses present and operating within their jurisdictional boundaries. These restrictions must include, but are not limited to:

1. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to open, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the window of opening hours falls within 21:00h and 23:00h;

a. These restrictions must also apply to betting houses that have commercialized the ability to participate in betting options using online services;
b. A betting house establishment cannot be open for more than eight hours within this time frame;
2. Setting a limited period of the workday by which betting houses must close, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the window of closing hours falls within 05:00h and 07:00h;

a. These restrictions must also apply to betting houses that have commercialized the ability to participate in betting options using online services;
b. A betting house establishment cannot be open for more than eight hours within this time frame;
3. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to promote themselves—in all forms, including physical ads, promotional posters, radio and television commercials, or others—, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the advertising window coincides with their individually set opening and closing hours;
4. Betting houses must properly inform via informational posters on the entrances of all storefronts of the dangers of betting and gambling addictions;

a. This must be supported by a government initiative to improve public awareness on gambling addictions through educational advertising and workshops;
b. This must be supported by a government initiative to provide citizens suffering from gambling addictions with support groups or subsidized therapy support in order to overcome them;
5. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational center;

Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Betting Control—henceforth referred to as the CBC—which shall be tasked with (a) forming advisory committees to assist in the formulation of measures to ensure the objectives set by this resolution are met, and (b) forming observation groups to study the implementation and effects of such measures on the population;

Tasks the World Assembly CBC with compiling annual reports in order to determine whether member states are adhering to this resolution;

Forbids any World Assembly member state from establishing restrictions that directly contradict those set forth by this resolution;

Grants member states a period of eighteen months to bring these measures into place in their respective jurisdictions.

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Betting House Advertisements Restrictions Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Consumer Protection | Proposed By: Eothasia

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Recognizing the inherent right of citizens around the world to make their own decisions;

Also Recognizing the right of each World Assembly member state or legislate over the regulations and restrictions applied to betting houses and other centers for gambling;

However Understanding that betting houses pose a serious risk to the general well-being of a population, in particular to those of a younger age, and understanding that the societal impact of their presence is not always properly analyzed and valued;

Believing that proper regulation is required in order to ensure that betting houses conform to societal norms and are not manipulative, harmful or destructive to the population;

The World Assembly Hereby,

Declares that World Assembly member states must implement obligatory restrictions on betting houses present and operating within their jurisdictional boundaries. These restrictions must include, but are not limited to:

1. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to promote themselves —in all forms, including physical ads, promotional posters, radio and television commercials, or others—, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the advertising window does not appear during:

a. Prime time emissions;
b. Interim periods of heavy-audience events, such as sports, political debates, contests, and others;

2. Betting houses must properly inform via informational posters on the entrances of all storefronts of the dangers of betting and gambling addictions;
3. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational institution;

Tasks governments with carrying out a series of reforms in order to ensure the widespread education of the population with regards to the dangers of betting and gambling addictions, which can include but are not limited to:

1. The preparation, production, and publication of anti-gambling advertising explaining the dangers of betting houses;
2. The establishment of government-sponsored programs to help individuals afflicted with gambling addictions overcome them, such as:

a. Support groups;
b. Subsidization of individual therapy sessions;
3. The creation of social centers for underage persons in neighborhoods with high concentration of betting houses and gambling addictions to foment other activities of social benefit;

Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Betting Control —henceforth referred to as the CBC— which shall be tasked with (a) forming advisory committees to assist in the formulation of measures to ensure the objectives set by this resolution are met, and (b) forming observation groups to study the implementation and effects of such measures on the population;

Tasks the World Assembly CBC with compiling annual reports in order to determine whether member states are adhering to this resolution;

Forbids any World Assembly member state from establishing restrictions that directly contradict those set forth by this resolution;

Grants member states a period of eighteen months upon ratification of this bill or upon admission into the World Assembly to bring these measures into place in their respective jurisdictions.

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Betting House Advertisements Restrictions Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Consumer Protection | Proposed By: Eothasia

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---

RECOGNIZING the inherent right of citizens around the world to make their own decisions;

ALSO RECOGNIZING the right of each World Assembly member state or legislate over the regulations and restrictions applied to betting houses and other centers for gambling;

HOWEVER UNDERSTANDING that betting houses pose a serious risk to the general well-being of a population, in particular to those of a younger age, and understanding that the societal impact of their presence is not always properly analyzed and valued;

BELIEVING that proper regulation is required in order to ensure that betting houses conform to societal norms and are not manipulative, harmful or destructive to the population;

The World Assembly HEREBY,

DEFINES a betting house as a business where individuals can bet for different competitive sporting events, with methods and style of bets often varying between different sports;

DECLARES that World Assembly member states must implement obligatory restrictions on betting houses present and operating within their jurisdictional boundaries. These restrictions must include, but are not limited to:

1. Setting a limited period of the workday in which betting houses are allowed to promote themselves —in all forms, including physical ads, promotional posters, radio and television commercials, advertisements presented via the internet, or others—, to be determined by the member state individually insofar as the advertising window does not appear during:

a. Prime time emissions;
b. Interim periods of heavy-audience events, such as sports, political debates, contests, and others;
2. Betting houses must properly inform via informational posters on the entrances of all storefronts of the dangers of betting and gambling addictions;
3. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational institution;

TASKS governments with carrying out a series of reforms in order to ensure the widespread education of the population with regards to the dangers of betting and gambling addictions, which can include but are not limited to:

1. The preparation, production, and publication of anti-gambling advertising explaining the dangers of betting houses;
2. The establishment of government-sponsored programs to help individuals afflicted with gambling addictions overcome them, such as:

a. Support groups;
b. Subsidization of individual therapy sessions;
3. The creation of social centers for underage persons in neighborhoods with high concentration of betting houses and gambling addictions to foment other activities of social benefit;

ESTABLISHES the World Assembly Committee for Betting Control —henceforth referred to as the CBC— which shall be tasked with (a) forming advisory committees to assist in the formulation of measures to ensure the objectives set by this resolution are met, and (b) forming observation groups to study the implementation and effects of such measures on the population;

TASKS the World Assembly CBC with compiling annual reports in order to determine whether member states are adhering to this resolution;

FORBIDS any World Assembly member state from establishing restrictions that directly contradict those set forth by this resolution;

GRANTS member states a period of eighteen months upon ratification of this bill or upon admission into the World Assembly to bring these measures into place in their respective jurisdictions.

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[Youssath]

This resolution will devastate member nations whose economies are solely dependent on gambling and related industries. Gambling is literally quite outlawed here in Youssath, but in respect for other member nations who rely on them, do you have any remedies that can even help them recover their economies? Their tourism and service industry will take a major hit since you are effectively cutting out a vital part of tourism.

[Marxist Germany]

OOC: Regulation does not have strengths, only areas of effect.

[Eothasia]

--snip--

The tourism and service industry with regards to large-scale gambling in casinos are activities that, habitually, take place during the night-time, well within the periods established as accessible in the proposed bills. Even before such restrictions were implemented in the Eothasi Republic, maximum frequency was recorded as between 22:00h and 03:00h.

--snip--

OoC: Thanks! Wasn't aware of that, modifications made!!

[Youssath]

The tourism and service industry with regards to large-scale gambling in casinos are activities that, habitually, take place during the night-time, well within the periods established as accessible in the proposed bills. Even before such restrictions were implemented in the Eothasi Republic, maximum frequency was recorded as between 22:00h and 03:00h.

The Youssathian Ambassador sighs, lamenting how he has to explain the consequential effects of proposing a General Assembly resolution, "Ambassador, for your information, a General Assembly resolution mandates all member nations, part of the World Assembly, to comply with this proposed resolution that you may submit here. What I am trying to tell you is that this resolution should not be looked within your own nation, but rather the international community as a whole. I don't wish to call you selfish for not protecting nations reliant on gambling industries, but please don't go down this path. It will involve flying forks and chairs within this very chamber."

[Eothasia]

--snip--

The Eothasi ambassador squints and shakes his head. "You misunderstand, Ambassador. I am quite aware of the implications of the World Assembly and its resolutions, for we are not green to the matter of international law. I use the Eothasi Republic only as a statistical example. In generalized cases, even nations or regions that are heavily reliant on gambling industries do not entertain tourists that consistently enjoy these services. As you well know, citizens partaking in gambling activities in these regions of high concentration are habitually not exclusively employing their time in these endeavours, and thus, also undertake other various activities. As such, statistically, it has been proven that gambling itself is not an economic activity exercised at all times, but rather, are concentrated in the night-time. In most cases, those that participate in gambling throughout the day are those that suffer from a gambling addiction. These are precisely the people we seek to protect with this bill." The Eothasi ambassador lowers the microphone that extends from his table and again takes a seat, taking a deep breath as he does so.

[Araraukar]

even nations or regions that are heavily reliant on gambling industries do not entertain tourists that consistently enjoy these services.

OOC: Are you aware of Las Vegas, Monaco and Singapore?

[Eothasia]

--snip--

OoC: I am. And there are examples in each of those regions that show that there are timeframes with more frequency than others.

[Bananaistan]

OOC: See GAR#302.

[Eothasia]

--snip--

OoC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that resolution from the standpoint of the workforce. I understand that point 4 ("Reserves the right of all nations to choose whether to set specific regulations on workweeks and working time in the general public interest") is in reference to the actual labor workweeks that can be implemented in a member state, not specifically the working hours that a certain industry can be open or not. Or am I overlooking something more important that you were trying to point out?

[Bananaistan]

--snip--

OoC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that resolution from the standpoint of the workforce. I understand that point 4 ("Reserves the right of all nations to choose whether to set specific regulations on workweeks and working time in the general public interest") is in reference to the actual labor workweeks that can be implemented in a member state, not specifically the working hours that a certain industry can be open or not. Or am I overlooking something more important that you were trying to point out?

OOC: But what you're doing is saying that these specific workplaces can only open within X hours. That appears to be a specific regulation on working time to me.

There's also GAR#123. Effectively what isn't working time regulation is already covered there.

Leaving aside that. I don't mean to cause offence. But this is bonkers. The tradition is for bookmakers to open while there's racing going on in the jurisdiction. This type of regulation would drive a stake through the heart of betting. Just because some people can't just have the craic and enjoy some bets without going all in all the time is no reason to ruin it for everyone else.

Also NS=/=RL. But even if it was, it's always some time somewhere on the planet. So all you'd do here is drive problem gambling online.

[Eothasia]

--snip--

OoC

But they're focused on different standpoints. GAR#302 is focused more on what working time the worker can be employed under. Essentially that it's a right of the country to determine whether or not it permits employees to work through the night or before 10:00h. It's a more blanket statement, whereas I'm not addressing the workers, but the industry. I don't think these two cause any overlap or conflict. As for GAR #123, it limits more how they're able to promote themselves -- meaning they're not able to say that you will surely win a million dollars if you bet one or something -- but it doesn't regulate anything regarding the times they're able to advertise or information that has to be displayed on the storefront regarding the dangers of gambling or the restrictions regarding location and proximity to schools.

I completely disagree with you here. For starters, I think if there's an industry that is gravely harming people, then it's something that we need to take a look at not as "oh, they don't know how to limit themselves" but rather "we need to take serious action to make sure that people are safe". It's the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens, and while this doesn't permit the government to impede on the freedoms of the citizenry, it does allow it to intervene in certain circumstances where it is deemed necessary. Gambling and betting houses is one of those circumstances, in the same manner that tobacco and alcohol are. Furthermore, this is something that affects not only adults but also children. I don't know what it's like in other places around the world -- although I don't imagine it's very different -- but drinks and food inside gambling establishments where I live are set to extremely low prices, and they often have sports (which, mind you, are locked behind a paywall) on display for free for people to come and watch. That entices young people with limited budgets to come drink alcohol or eat for next to nothing and watch football matches, for instance, comfortably. And of course, if the operator is constantly telling you that you can bet this or bet that or that with a certain combination you're able to take away a million dollars by betting just one, then odds are people will be manipulated into playing. That creates a problem, and that's a problem at a societal level that needs to be addressed as such. And frankly, I think the health and wellbeing of the people is more important than the traditions in betting houses.

As for online betting, yes, that's very true. I suppose there could be a system where you only have access if your IP address is within a given country's jurisdiction, but with VPNs this is kind of moot (although it does act as a disincentive). Anyone care to submit solutions to this problem? In any case, unless a person is already addicted to gambling (in which case they need to go to a support group), there's a reduced probability of generating addiction; that said, a solution to this could certainly be included in the bill.

[Kenmoria]

“If a sports game occurs at nine in the morning, then how does it make any sort of sense for betting houses to be opened twelve hours after it has finished. Any games which take more than two hours, which do exist in some casinos, have now been either banned or forced to agonisingly take place over multiple days. Your advertising restrictions don’t work when advertising is played on catchup television, and are just generally restrictive. No support from this delegation.”

(OOC: Also, clauses 1 and 2 don’t make sense to me. If betting houses can only be open from nine to eleven, surely they would be closed by default between five and half-six?)

[Bears Armed]

5. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational center;

If somebody is being home-schooled, does their home count as "an educational centre"? If so, then this would provide anti-gambling campaigners with an easy way of shutting many casinos...
Also, would this make it impossible for any cruise liner registered in a member nation to provide both educational lectures (for example, about the places that will be visited) and gambling facilities to its passengers?

[Bananaistan]

--snip--

OoC

But they're focused on different standpoints. GAR#302 is focused more on what working time the worker can be employed under. Essentially that it's a right of the country to determine whether or not it permits employees to work through the night or before 10:00h. It's a more blanket statement, whereas I'm not addressing the workers, but the industry. I don't think these two cause any overlap or conflict. As for GAR #123, it limits more how they're able to promote themselves -- meaning they're not able to say that you will surely win a million dollars if you bet one or something -- but it doesn't regulate anything regarding the times they're able to advertise or information that has to be displayed on the storefront regarding the dangers of gambling or the restrictions regarding location and proximity to schools.

I completely disagree with you here. For starters, I think if there's an industry that is gravely harming people, then it's something that we need to take a look at not as "oh, they don't know how to limit themselves" but rather "we need to take serious action to make sure that people are safe". It's the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens, and while this doesn't permit the government to impede on the freedoms of the citizenry, it does allow it to intervene in certain circumstances where it is deemed necessary. Gambling and betting houses is one of those circumstances, in the same manner that tobacco and alcohol are. Furthermore, this is something that affects not only adults but also children. I don't know what it's like in other places around the world -- although I don't imagine it's very different -- but drinks and food inside gambling establishments where I live are set to extremely low prices, and they often have sports (which, mind you, are locked behind a paywall) on display for free for people to come and watch. That entices young people with limited budgets to come drink alcohol or eat for next to nothing and watch football matches, for instance, comfortably. And of course, if the operator is constantly telling you that you can bet this or bet that or that with a certain combination you're able to take away a million dollars by betting just one, then odds are people will be manipulated into playing. That creates a problem, and that's a problem at a societal level that needs to be addressed as such. And frankly, I think the health and wellbeing of the people is more important than the traditions in betting houses.

As for online betting, yes, that's very true. I suppose there could be a system where you only have access if your IP address is within a given country's jurisdiction, but with VPNs this is kind of moot (although it does act as a disincentive). Anyone care to submit solutions to this problem? In any case, unless a person is already addicted to gambling (in which case they need to go to a support group), there's a reduced probability of generating addiction; that said, a solution to this could certainly be included in the bill.

OOC: You appear to be lumping casinos and bookmakers in together. They offer significantly different services.

Re: GAR#302. Whether the law is aimed at X or Y makes no difference. The law does what the law says. We have law that says member states are responsible for specific regulations on working time. Your proposed law now tries to say "well actually these specific workers can only work at these specific times".

Leaving aside that, what you have here is micromanagement in the extreme. Such proposals rarely succeed at vote. Because opening hours of any establishment is not an international issue. Why should the WA step in to say these establishments can only open at whatever time? Wouldn't it better to let member nations regulate as they see fit in accordance with these societal norms you quote in your preamble? Or perhaps you could address state owned gambling operations? Or if you're that concerned about children, why not prohibit advertising aimed at children? Effectively, all I see here is "gambling = bad" so lets just make it harder for the casual gambler to have a bet but let problem gamblers bet away for the duration of every night.

Although I caution care be taken regarding children if you amend the proposal. See GAR#299 which leaves age limits for anything entirely within the remit of member states' own discretion.

Also, why support groups? What's so great about them? One on one therapy is likely to be far better than 12 step cults.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Whatabout fruit machines? We have them in regular grocery stores. (EDIT: No pun intended.) They're a form of gambling.

[Eothasia]

“If a sports game occurs at nine in the morning, then how does it make any sort of sense for betting houses to be opened twelve hours after it has finished. Any games which take more than two hours, which do exist in some casinos, have now been either banned or forced to agonisingly take place over multiple days. Your advertising restrictions don’t work when advertising is played on catchup television, and are just generally restrictive. No support from this delegation.”

(OOC: Also, clauses 1 and 2 don’t make sense to me. If betting houses can only be open from nine to eleven, surely they would be closed by default between five and half-six?)

"You misunderstand, Ambassador. The bill does not state that the casino can only open within the timeframe indicated, but rather, that the opening hour would be within that window, and then the closing hour would be within the second window indicated in the bill. Our delegation will study whether the wording for the aforementioned clauses is unclear moving forward."

5. Betting houses must not be situated within a perimeter of three hundred [300] standardized meters of an educational center;

If somebody is being home-schooled, does their home count as "an educational centre"? If so, then this would provide anti-gambling campaigners with an easy way of shutting many casinos...
Also, would this make it impossible for any cruise liner registered in a member nation to provide both educational lectures (for example, about the places that will be visited) and gambling facilities to its passengers?

This is a matter that is still up for debate. Clearly any input on wording would be beneficial to the improvement of the bill; that said, my intention was on institutionalized education, i.e. actual schools themselves, not any center that imparts any kind of education. As said initially, the wording for educational center is unsatisfactory and a change is clearly necessary.

OoC

But they're focused on different standpoints. GAR#302 is focused more on what working time the worker can be employed under. Essentially that it's a right of the country to determine whether or not it permits employees to work through the night or before 10:00h. It's a more blanket statement, whereas I'm not addressing the workers, but the industry. I don't think these two cause any overlap or conflict. As for GAR #123, it limits more how they're able to promote themselves -- meaning they're not able to say that you will surely win a million dollars if you bet one or something -- but it doesn't regulate anything regarding the times they're able to advertise or information that has to be displayed on the storefront regarding the dangers of gambling or the restrictions regarding location and proximity to schools.

I completely disagree with you here. For starters, I think if there's an industry that is gravely harming people, then it's something that we need to take a look at not as "oh, they don't know how to limit themselves" but rather "we need to take serious action to make sure that people are safe". It's the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens, and while this doesn't permit the government to impede on the freedoms of the citizenry, it does allow it to intervene in certain circumstances where it is deemed necessary. Gambling and betting houses is one of those circumstances, in the same manner that tobacco and alcohol are. Furthermore, this is something that affects not only adults but also children. I don't know what it's like in other places around the world -- although I don't imagine it's very different -- but drinks and food inside gambling establishments where I live are set to extremely low prices, and they often have sports (which, mind you, are locked behind a paywall) on display for free for people to come and watch. That entices young people with limited budgets to come drink alcohol or eat for next to nothing and watch football matches, for instance, comfortably. And of course, if the operator is constantly telling you that you can bet this or bet that or that with a certain combination you're able to take away a million dollars by betting just one, then odds are people will be manipulated into playing. That creates a problem, and that's a problem at a societal level that needs to be addressed as such. And frankly, I think the health and wellbeing of the people is more important than the traditions in betting houses.

As for online betting, yes, that's very true. I suppose there could be a system where you only have access if your IP address is within a given country's jurisdiction, but with VPNs this is kind of moot (although it does act as a disincentive). Anyone care to submit solutions to this problem? In any case, unless a person is already addicted to gambling (in which case they need to go to a support group), there's a reduced probability of generating addiction; that said, a solution to this could certainly be included in the bill.

OOC: You appear to be lumping casinos and bookmakers in together. They offer significantly different services.

Re: GAR#302. Whether the law is aimed at X or Y makes no difference. The law does what the law says. We have law that says member states are responsible for specific regulations on working time. Your proposed law now tries to say "well actually these specific workers can only work at these specific times".

Leaving aside that, what you have here is micromanagement in the extreme. Such proposals rarely succeed at vote. Because opening hours of any establishment is not an international issue. Why should the WA step in to say these establishments can only open at whatever time? Wouldn't it better to let member nations regulate as they see fit in accordance with these societal norms you quote in your preamble? Or perhaps you could address state owned gambling operations? Or if you're that concerned about children, why not prohibit advertising aimed at children? Effectively, all I see here is "gambling = bad" so lets just make it harder for the casual gambler to have a bet but let problem gamblers bet away for the duration of every night.

Although I caution care be taken regarding children if you amend the proposal. See GAR#299 which leaves age limits for anything entirely within the remit of member states' own discretion.

Also, why support groups? What's so great about them? One on one therapy is likely to be far better than 12 step cults.

The bill doesn't say "these workers can't work at this hour," it's "these businesses cannot be open at these hours." They're functionally different and I don't believe there is any legal overlap between them.

The reason I believe the bill is necessary is because of non-political entities applying pressure to avoid measures that economically restrict businesses from performing their activity at the expense of the people. While this can still apply to delegations at the World Assembly, if there is enough international support than these sort of barriers can be surpassed and the well-being of the citizens (in this aspect) can be secured. This is the way I believe it is best to carry out this reform, but if we could address it in another way to ensure more support -- at least limiting the activity of state-owned betting houses -- then perhaps that should become the primary objective of the bill. The casual gambler can still go out to a betting house at night or hop on their laptop or desktop and have a quick bet online or spend a night out with friends at a casino, this isn't being restricted to them. Also, I have plans (still drafting that, trying to find the right wording) that would encourage workers in betting houses from refusing admittance to people they believe to be addicted to their gambling. Again, trying to find the right wording for this, since this is a bit tricky, and I'm not sure how to write it exactly.

And sure, an amendment that aimed it more towards children could simply indicate that the definition of what is a child is defined by each individual member state, I have no qualms there.

As for support groups, I did have a mind to change it from support groups to include more methods of help for addicted individuals, but I don't currently have access to my laptop so my editing ability is limited to my phone's restricted view. I'll draft a change and perhaps announce it some time tomorrow.

OOC: Whatabout fruit machines? We have them in regular grocery stores. (EDIT: No pun intended.) They're a form of gambling.

The idea of the bill is more for storefronts specifically dedicated to gambling and betting. I'm currently unsure of how to institutionally approach gambling machines present elsewhere.

[Kenmoria]

“If a sports game occurs at nine in the morning, then how does it make any sort of sense for betting houses to be opened twelve hours after it has finished. Any games which take more than two hours, which do exist in some casinos, have now been either banned or forced to agonisingly take place over multiple days. Your advertising restrictions don’t work when advertising is played on catchup television, and are just generally restrictive. No support from this delegation.”

(OOC: Also, clauses 1 and 2 don’t make sense to me. If betting houses can only be open from nine to eleven, surely they would be closed by default between five and half-six?)

"You misunderstand, Ambassador. The bill does not state that the casino can only open within the timeframe indicated, but rather, that the opening hour would be within that window, and then the closing hour would be within the second window indicated in the bill. Our delegation will study whether the wording for the aforementioned clauses is unclear moving forward."

“That’s better, but still silly. Sports gambling still can’t take place when the sport is, and casinos still can’t open for the majority of their hours. If somebody doesn’t want to go out late at night, for example if they enjoy sleeping, then they are now essentially banned from going to casinos.”

[Liberimery]

All this does is injure casino employees at the expense of online gambling website employees, who can run their bets as an algorithm code when they need to close down. It also runs into problems with casinos specifically designed for tourism markets as they usually offer other services such as hotel accommodations and show’s featuring live animals. This proposal could threatens disproportionately land locked nations as nations with a Coast can run a cruise line that opens gambling establishments while at sea. Finally this might conflict with GAR#68 which blocks the WA from regulating intrastate commerce.

[Kenmoria]

All this does is injure casino employees at the expense of online gambling website employees, who can run their bets as an algorithm code when they need to close down. It also runs into problems with casinos specifically designed for tourism markets as they usually offer other services such as hotel accommodations and show’s featuring live animals. This proposal could threatens disproportionately land locked nations as nations with a Coast can run a cruise line that opens gambling establishments while at sea. Finally this might conflict with GAR#68 which blocks the WA from regulating intrastate commerce.

(OOC: Since the proposal states that betting houses pose serious risks to the populace, it falls through the exception in GA #068. Your other points are all good through.)

[Youssath]

All this does is injure casino employees at the expense of online gambling website employees, who can run their bets as an algorithm code when they need to close down. It also runs into problems with casinos specifically designed for tourism markets as they usually offer other services such as hotel accommodations and show’s featuring live animals. This proposal could threatens disproportionately land locked nations as nations with a Coast can run a cruise line that opens gambling establishments while at sea. Finally this might conflict with GAR#68 which blocks the WA from regulating intrastate commerce.

"I'm sorry, ambassador, but is GAR #68 the Bible to your nation and its laws? It seems that you have been preaching that every single time..."

[Sierra Lyricalia]

"Ambassador, if gambling establishments are only permitted to be open for a maximum of nine and a half hours in the middle of the night and wee hours, when are people who have to work night shifts and weekends supposed to blow off steam? You're blatantly discriminating against a particular class of workers. I point of fact you put me in mind of the ancient British aristocrat: 'What do the poor want with holidays? They ought to work!' Your proposal says instead, 'What does the night shift want with gambling? They ought to stay at home!' And why on earth should an online gambling outfit have to differentially enforce working hours for IP addresses all over the world? This is a terrible idea, ambassador."

OOC: This is so restrictive that I see a potential category problem, too. Is it consumer protection to only permit people to buy cars during a typical nine-to-five workday? After all, misuse of a car can be extremely dangerous, and they can be quite expensive - one might well ruin one's life buying the wrong car. But that doesn't make restricting sales hours a rational response. If you insist on advancing this, it really works best under Moral Decency, unless you drop the hours requirement entirely and focus on the aspects that actually protect consumers.

That, by the way, is only if Bananaistan and I are overruled by the rest of GenSec that GAR #302 doesn't apply here (that is, if the rest of our colleagues find an actual serious benefit to reducing casino hours in this way, depriving their workers of the ability to earn pay during almost two thirds of the day for no imaginable benefit to prospective gamblers).

The best thing one could say is that this requires a lot of work.

[Grays Harbor]

That, by the way, is only if Bananaistan and I are overruled by the rest of GenSec that GAR #302 doesn't apply here (that is, if the rest of our colleagues find an actual serious benefit to reducing casino hours in this way, depriving their workers of the ability to earn pay during almost two thirds of the day for no imaginable benefit to prospective gamblers).

No overruling from this corner. I concur with your assessment. I just hadn’t said anything as the argument put forth by you and The Banana was sufficient.

[Araraukar]

--snip--

OoC: I am. And there are examples in each of those regions that show that there are timeframes with more frequency than others.

OOC: You missed the point I made. Let's see what you snipped:

even nations or regions that are heavily reliant on gambling industries do not entertain tourists that consistently enjoy these services.

OOC: Are you aware of Las Vegas, Monaco and Singapore?

I underlined the bit in yours that you're kinda missing the point here. You're talking consistency. That doesn't meant constantly. And all those three are tourist attractions in their own right, gambling aside. And all their casinos offer other services as well. There are hotels and restaurants and all kinds of attractions (heck, I'm fairly sure at least one of the Las Vegas casinos has an amusement park or roller coaster or something like that), that are part of the casino. You can go to Vegas and never once gamble a single cent, and can still enjoy what the casino has to offer. Las Vegas Strip itself is a tourist attraction. Gambling is just part of it. Same goes for Monaco and Singapore.

Also, if you're trying to keep people from developing gambling problems and losing their houses and whatnot, you should be working _with_ the casinos, because they keep better track of people than you'd believe. And they network with one another. If you get in trouble with one in Vegas, then fly to Singapore, they'll know you got in trouble in Vegas, and if it was bad enough trouble, they'll politely make sure you leave the premises asap.

[Eothasia]

New draft submitted.

---

--snip--

“Ambassador,” the Eothasi ambassador said, correcting his shirt’s slight wrinkles as he did so, “I believe, firstly, that we can all concur that the culture of participating in night-long activities — especially on the eve of non-working days, whichever those might be for different countries across the globe — are fairly common. As such, the concept that those that, as you put it, ‘like sleeping’, would never be able to participate in these activities excludes common cultural norms which we have no reason to believe wouldn’t be followed with this bill in place.”

--snip--

Shifting his attention to continue, he says, “With regards to the elements of online gambling: as we have stated, the draft presented in this chamber is merely a rough draft to display the intent of our delegation in present a bill of this stature to the World Assembly. It is still a work in progress and its presentation for delegation approval and, should it achieve it, posterior vote is still not perceived as the next course of action.

“Furthermore, casinos offering other types of services — such as live shows, restaurants, or others — can still offer these services to the populace at any given time of the day, with the exception that their gambling section be closed off until the times specified by individual countries in accordance with the window presented in this bill. No part of this text implies, directly or indirectly, that businesses offering other services would see themselves restricted because of this bill.

“For cruise lines, it is understood — as is norm currently — that any cruise ships that fly flags of member states of the World Assembly have to abide by the laws and regulations implemented by that country, among which we would find regulations for areas meant for gambling and betting. As such, these areas on cruise ships would also be closed off during the times indicated in the bill.

“Lastly, we believe that this bill fits under the second exception as indicated by GAR #068, which states, ‘REQUIRES that no commerce be generally restricted by the WA unless: The enterprise causes an extreme hazard to national populations’.”

--snip--

“Ambassador, firstly, we have to analyze what has been stated from a social point of view. We are considering gambling — a method that is commonly used to actively lose money and that has been proven to lead to addiction and harm to a population. What we’re doing is trying, precisely, to eliminate the dependence that people will have on utilizing gambling and betting as a way to blow off steam to reduce the probability of citizens becoming addicted to this behavior. There are plenty of other activities that can help blow off steam — exercising, sports, and other hobbies — that would not prove addictive and would in general be healthier for the people to undertake.”

OoC

Purchasing a car is not documented as an addiction by any association of any kind. Yes, it can be a dangerous move -- which is why informing oneself is so important -- but it is not addictive. The analogy is not comparable; it would be more akin to the restriction of locations where people are allowed to smoke cigarettes, or when and how tobacco companies are allowed to advertise their products, or the warnings that are obligatorily displayed on the covers of cigarette boxes. This is also an example of the government intervening in an attempt to reduce consumption of a product deemed harmful and they are restrictions that are in place for the health and well-being of a population. I don't see how this would be any different.

Also, no one is being deprived of any pay whatsoever. It is a job being done in the nighttime, much like many other jobs, and the fact that there is a nine-and-a-half hour window in which they can be open is enough for a worker to accumulate 40 hours in a work week, just like any other job in regular work hours. I find it important to note that this is a measure that is also being discussed in the real world and is, for instance, in political programs in Spain, mainly with the intent of avoiding adolescents and other youths from going in and participating.

--snip--

OoC

Aah, I see what you mean. My apologies, I misunderstood. Yes, fair enough, but what the bill is going for is the gambling section of businesses. If a casino is integrated into a hotel that also has a restaurant and a mini-golf course, the other services are still perfectly acceptable at all hours. It's the gambling section itself that need be cut off; perhaps this something I can introduce in the following drafts to clarify.

And quite frankly, I'm not inclined to believe that someone that is making a business off of people becoming addicted to their games will help me avoid them becoming addicted to their game. They don't want people making a ruckus, but if you calmly come in every day, lose a thousand dollars you don't have, and then leave, I don't believe they'd say anything. "Not their problem", and all.