Gambling laws

New Labour have altered the laws pertaining to gambling in England & Wales.

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell MP has stated that the UK would possess the most heavily regulated gambling industry in the world.

Why exactly should gambling be regulated? People should be free to gamble and spend their money as they wish. Any regulation should be as a consequence of free market conditions.

As for people being addicted to gambling, so what? Government's only purpose should be to protect citizens' rights to the person and property. It shouldn't exist to protect people from themselves. After all, with freedom comes responsibility; a person should be able to recognise the cognitive link between actions and consequences.