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The ongoing debate about the legality of online poker is not likely to die out anytime soon. Those who oppose the proposed regulations are fighting with everything they have to convince those with the power to make changes. The resistance took place in the form of a mass phone-in, with many players telling their elected officials exactly how they feel. Members from a number of online poker sites were encouraged to use a special 800 number that would automatically connect them to their local official's office.
A preliminary version of an online-gaming ban was passed by the House of Representatives in July. It would make it illegal for banks and credit card issuers from the U.S. to deal with gambling sites from around the world. The mass phone-in opposes any further progression of this legislation.
A great deal of the online poker player's argument revolves around the money that the U.S. Government could make from regulating the $15 Billion industry. Industry experts project that the gambling industry is likely to generate up to $25 billion by 2010. Half of that money would be from the U.S. alone. There is plenty of money to be made. A key point brought up is that the money could be used to help the problematic social security network, or even toward helping problems related to immigration.
Studies indicate that the government stands to make $3.3 billion every year, if they decided to institute taxes and fees from online poker. The study, paid for by the Poker Players Alliance, also indicated that most players are small-timers with $100 to blow on entertainment. They learn the game online, before heading to a live casino to try their hands - hardly in line with the belief that all gamblers are problem gamblers.
The opportunity is most certainly there. The only question is whether the Senate will choose to make the right bet.
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