AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
TITLE: Has Congress Crashed the Online Poker Party?
DATE: 6:40 AM
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BODY:
<p class="mobile-post">This past weekend, Congress passed a law that would make it illegal for
banks and credit card companies to deposit money to online gambling sites
like "Party Poker." While debating the issue, Republicans have called
Internet poker and gambling "evil," equating it with terrorism and drug
lords. 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." What Republicans did not say is that most
gambling sites already don't take credit cards anymore and online money
managers limit how much players can deposit each month. One popular site
sets that limit at $3,000. Also, the government has made some exceptions.
They're not getting rid of Internet gambling on horse racing or interstate
lotteries. Addiction counselor Joyce Barrett wonders why the government has
made these exceptions. Barrett, a counselor for the New York Council On
Problem Gambling, said, "I just feel that if they're going to do some, they
need to do it all, because horses and lotteries--it's gambling." Barrett
said Internet poker has brought waves of new addicts to her office, but few
of them are minors. This new law brings her some relief. "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. Sites like "Party Poker" are already planning to cut ties with U.S.
players. Online Web sites are filled with poker players' angry comments.</p>
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