July 9, 2007 06:30 PM
Washington - No one's ready to say you can bet on it, but Congress may change its mind and make gambling over the internet legal again.
Online poker was dealt a losing hand last year when Congress effectively banned most types of internet gambling.
Poker lovers like Michael Bolcerek complained that was unfair.
"We think it's certainly more closely aligned with a sport than gambling," said Michael Bolcerek of the Poker Players Alliance.
Did Congress make a mistake? Indianapolis Democrat Julia Carson says yes.
"I'm going to vote to repeal it, because it doesn't make any sense to me," Carson said.
It still makes a lot of sense to those who argue the internet has made gambling too easy and put financial ruin only one mouse-click away.
A Baptist minister told lawmakers about the addiction to online poker that led his son to rob a bank.
"This time next year instead of watching my son receive his diploma from Lehigh University as president of his class, I'll be waiting proudly outside the gates of prison to see my son released," said gambling opponent Rev. Gregory Hogan.
While the current law prohibits online casinos, it still allows betting on horse races.
That discrepancy is what appeared to sway Carson. "What's the difference between internet gambling and being able to gamble on the horses?" Carson asked. "I don't think there is a difference, that's why I'm confused."
A year ago, the gambling ban passed easily when Republicans attached it to a homeland security bill.
Now that democrats are in charge, those who fought the ban then, are vowing to undo it.
The stakes in this battle are huge for entertainment companies who stand to make billions from online betting if it's legalized.
http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=6763931
Washington - No one's ready to say you can bet on it, but Congress may change its mind and make gambling over the internet legal again.
Online poker was dealt a losing hand last year when Congress effectively banned most types of internet gambling.
Poker lovers like Michael Bolcerek complained that was unfair.
"We think it's certainly more closely aligned with a sport than gambling," said Michael Bolcerek of the Poker Players Alliance.
Did Congress make a mistake? Indianapolis Democrat Julia Carson says yes.
"I'm going to vote to repeal it, because it doesn't make any sense to me," Carson said.
It still makes a lot of sense to those who argue the internet has made gambling too easy and put financial ruin only one mouse-click away.
A Baptist minister told lawmakers about the addiction to online poker that led his son to rob a bank.
"This time next year instead of watching my son receive his diploma from Lehigh University as president of his class, I'll be waiting proudly outside the gates of prison to see my son released," said gambling opponent Rev. Gregory Hogan.
While the current law prohibits online casinos, it still allows betting on horse races.
That discrepancy is what appeared to sway Carson. "What's the difference between internet gambling and being able to gamble on the horses?" Carson asked. "I don't think there is a difference, that's why I'm confused."
A year ago, the gambling ban passed easily when Republicans attached it to a homeland security bill.
Now that democrats are in charge, those who fought the ban then, are vowing to undo it.
The stakes in this battle are huge for entertainment companies who stand to make billions from online betting if it's legalized.
http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=6763931
