U.S. deals online gambling industry a bad hand

[RossW]

Shares in global online gaming companies plummeted Monday following the decision by the U.S. Congress to ban the use of credit cards, cheques and electronic fund transfers for Internet gaming.

the rest is here:

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20061002%2fgambling_shares_061002&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True

I've never done an online bet. I don't think I ever would.

[blackjack]

the 'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act' was unexpectedly rushed through by Congress on Saturday.

The legislation -- part of a sustained clampdown on online gambling in the U.S. -- was attached to an unrelated bill aimed at improving port securities.

Umm... ok. :confused2:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist told reporters that gambling was "a serious addiction that undermines the family, dashes dreams, and frays the fabric of society."

Thanks Bill - I had no idea. You da man.

[doctor_al]

I'd seen a bit in the LVRJ where supposedly the banking industry is considering pushing back, because they don't feel the added workload is appropriate to the "threat".

[DonD]

:cry: :cry: :cry:
PokerStars plans on exiting the US market
http://www.gambling911.com/Party-Gaming-Poker-Stars-100206.html

[Ringo]

Figures...as soon as I figure out how to play poker, this happens. I just started on Party Poker two weeks ago. Using "Small Stakes Hold 'Em" as a guide, I've increased my buy-in by 78% by putting in maybe 8 hours of play. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. And since the Ohio Taliban won't allow casino gaming here, I won't have anyplace to hone my game for my upcoming Vegas trip. I guess Frist needs to appease the fundies in his quest for 2008. C'mon, conservatives...online poker is as pure "survival of the fittest" capitalism as you can find.

[skinny malinky]

Gotta love that election year pandering. You know, with the war, terrorism, gas prices, and what could well be an impending housing-market crash, it's internet gambling that deserves attention. Hell, even immigration is more important that internet gambling, and I think immigration is a distraction issue.

At what point does the government stop protecting us from ourselves?