I thought the US of A was founded on Jack Daniels, Smith & Wesson and poker!?
"Internet gambling threatens our families by bringing addictive behavior right into our living rooms," [Senate Majority Leader] Frist said in floor remarks.
The House of Representatives approved legislation in July updating the 1961 Wire Act that bans sports wagering over the telephone to include all forms of online gambling.
The bill would also force banks and credit card companies to refuse payments to the estimated 2,300 offshore gambling sites located outside of U.S. jurisdiction.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (H.R. 4411) specifically exempts online horse racing and state lotteries from the legislation.
[...]
To make room on the jammed Senate calendar, Weyforth said Frist hopes to bring up the bill for a vote "with very little debate" by limiting the time available for floor discussion of the legislation.
Throughout both the Clinton and Bush administrations, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has contended the Wire Act already covers Internet gambling.
[...]
Momentum for a new Internet gambling ban gained traction in January when former lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials.
Proponents of the ban contend Abramoff used his influence to kill previous anti-gambling bills, pointing to allegations in court documents that he made payments of $50,000 to the wife of a unnamed Capitol Hill staffer for help in stopping at least one Internet gambling bill.
Now, it may (or may not) be true that the Internet have helped more people go bankrupt gambling.
But why exempt horse racing and state lotteries? Well, my personal prejudice is that horse racing is an interest of the upper class and of course state lotteries means big bucks for the governments.
And what does pushing a law through "with very little debate" have to do with democracy?
Indeed, what does one case of a corrupt lobbyist have to do with it? And a few cases of crime done by gambling companies? If a farmer got a speeding ticket would you ban food?
OK, I guess I got my own position through here. Sorry but I don't like this "morality"!