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Prohibition On Internet Poker Soon To Become Law
Online gambling could soon be a thing of the past for Americans with the passing in the Congress of a law that would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to deposit money to online gambling sites. This includes online poker.
During a heated debate on the issue, Republicans tagged Internet poker as "evil", placing it in the same league as terrorism and drug trafficking.
U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus (R, AL) said, "Addicted to gambling, just like addicted to drugs. So there is a correlation between drug dealers and gambling sites." The Government, however, made exceptions by not prohibiting Internet gambling on horse racing or interstate lotteries. An addiction counselor, Joyce Barrett, wonders why these were exempted. "I just feel that if they're going to do some, they need to do it all, because horses and lotteries--it's gambling," said Barrett, a councilor for the New York Council on Problem Gambling.
But Barrett says that the new law brings some relief to her. "As a person in recovery, I can say that I'm pleased, only because it will be less temptation for me, and less temptation for other compulsive gamblers," she said. Online poker sites like industry leader PartyPoker have already ceased their operations in the U.S.