Too little too late. If online poker wants back in, they're going to have to cough up some chips to the Big Dealers in Washington.
They'll ban online gambling, but they won't ban online pornograpny, which is a FAR greater danger.
No Poker - No Vote
This guy needs to learn from the horseracing industry-
"Frist was able to pick up key Senate support after including a carve-out for the politically powerful horse racing industry."
That's right, politically powerful.
That political clout didn't happen accidentally and isn't a result of one or a handful of people who have "connections" in Washington, D.C. The political power the horse racing industry now enjoys in our nation's capital is a result of a strategy planned and executed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and supported by knowledgeable individuals who understand that contributions to the NTRA's Legislative Action Campaign and Political Action Committee are an investment in their future.
Some background.
The Legislative Action Campaign supports lobbyists hired by the NTRA to represent them in discussions with members of Congress and, more importantly, their staff -- which does the real behind-the-scenes work in legislative matters. Funds also help provide an annual payment to the American Horse Council, which often works side-by-side with the NTRA.
Money for the Legislative Action Campaign comes from breeders, consignors, and buyers in the form of a 0.25% checkoff on transactions -- plus various funds from sale companies. "All the money focuses exclusively on Washington, D.C., and legislative activities that improve the economics of the business," said Peggy Hendershot, who as the NTRA's vice president of legislative and corporate planning oversees the program.
Individuals (including foreign nationals) and corporations are free to give to the Legislative Action Campaign, and there is no limit on the amount of the contribution, which may be deductible as an ordinary business expense."
http://opinions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35484
I am an occasional Internet poker player and a smoker. In the past two weeks the Federal government has made my poker playing a criminal offense, and my local County government has made smoking in bars and restaurants a criminal offense. At the same time my State government, which runs a lucrative lottery business, has authorized the establishment of slot machine gambling houses where there will be an exception to the smoking ban. My only hope is that once we have thrown the Taliban out of Afghanistan we make an effort to throw them out of our Federal, State, and Local governments. And, I look forward with great interest to see how this unconstitutional Federal Internet gambling law is subverted. Government seems determined to turn every one of us into criminals by enacting laws from which they exempt themselves.
I hate politicians