To put it bluntly, Representatives James Leach and Robert Goodlatte and their cohorts have obviously discovered that the Wire Act is not detailed enough to cover online gambling - despite the fact that the Department of Justice "believes" the Wire Act covers all online gambling activities. The new bill, called the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act", provides for fines and/or imprisonment of up to five years for any violation.

The bill was passed 317-93 by the House, and sent for consideration to the Senate.

Unfortunately, as has been the case in previous years, the Senate looks unlikely to consider the bill before it recesses - which effectively means that the House will have to reconsider the bill all over again in 2007.

Yaaaaaaawn.

I don't know why they put us through all this rigamarole every year. They waste the Government's time, not to mention the taxpayers' money, on trying to recreate the Prohibition on alcohol, also known as the Eighteenth Amendment, which took effect in 1920 and was repealed in 1933 by virtue of the Twenty-First Amendment. Prohibition didn't kill the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages - it just drove it underground. What in the world makes the US Government think that they can drive Internet Gambling out of business? All they're going to accomplish is driving the business underground as far as US residents are concerned, while being perfectly legal and regulated in the United Kingdom.

They think they're going to be able to force ISPs to ban access to online gambling sites? Somehow, I don't even think Al Gore envisioned something this crazy - and this impossible - when he helped to make the Information Superhighway a reality. And I personally find it quite ironic that something like this should even be considered - it makes the government no better than the Chinese government trying to block access to Google, Falungong, and Mickey Mouse on the basis that Chinese citizens should not be exposed to corrupt Western and American influences.

They think they're going to shut down all methods of funding? Mmm hmm. What they're going to do is simply give rise to methods of funding an e-wallet overseas which are perfectly legal - which then in turn legally fund online gambling purchases which they have absolutely no jurisdiction over.

They claim that this is about preventing terrorism? As far as I'm concerned, that's no different than taking Ronald McDonald and claiming he's responsible for obesity in America.

They claim this is about money laundering? Get real. Who the hell is stupid enough to launder money at $1 a spin, or perhaps $5 per hand of blackjack or video poker? Why not SHOW us how money laundering is done through online gambling operations?

While we're on a roll, if preventing the funding of terrorism and money laundering and moral protection are the goals of the US Government, why in the world does the UK Government not seem to be worried about legalising online gambling? Aren't they worried that they could be funding Osama-Ay InLaden-Bay or perhaps afraid Her Majesty's picture might not withstand a little detergent? Sure doesn't look like it.

I'm not saying that the US Government needs to adopt every UK law or regulatory concept - but they sure ought to think about the reasons they use to justify imposing another Prohibition on US citizens.

What about the morality issue? Since when does the US Government have the right to determine what a citizen considers to be moral? They could ban pornography, alcohol (well, actually, they DID try once), sex outside marriage (including deviant sex), lotteries, etc. if they really feel they should play God - but they don't. Lotteries are legal in many states. Bingo is legal in many states. Horse racing, dog racing, poker... the list of activities which are generally considered to be gambling are not banned by federal law either. Instead, they are regulated by the individual states themselves - so what in the world makes online gambling any different, whether it be casinos, poker, bingo, or even sports betting?

Some of you are going to point to the recent detention of the head of a major offshore sportsbook as a sign that the US is serious about cracking down on online gambling. The reality, however, is that this particular sportsbook flaunted the fact that it was breaking US law, by taking phone bets from American citizens which is explicitly barred by the existing Wire Act, not to mention claiming that it could legally do so.

Only one other prosecution has ever been sought under the Wire Act in relation to any form of online gambling - and in that case, another offshore sportsbook was involved, and a former partner voluntarily turned himself in, and served a little time in a federal prison, and then walked away. And that sportsbook also took phone bets from US citizens in violation of the Wire Act.

It seems Mr Goodlatte, Mr Leach, and their Senate colleague Jon Kyl can't find any other way to make a name for themselves - obviously wanting to go down in history as having done something for the nation, they will more likely be remembered one day for infamously trying to revive Prohibition and, rather than protecting the interests of Americans, they will have driven many more to ruin by forcing them to gamble with unlicensed operations, much like those that existed before Las Vegas was cleaned up.

Regulation is clearly the way forward - through this, they can protect the American public from unscrupulous operations by implementing strict regulations which protect against underage and compulsive gambling, ensure that gambling activities are fairly conducted and monitored, and by taxing licensed gambling operations and funding strong gambling information campaigns with these taxes.

Very simple to do. Much easier to regulate. Much better for everyone. But instead, these three stooges choose to do things the hard way - or rather, the impossible way. Cosponsors and backers of the bills might want to rethink their positions - many of these backers are only supporting this bill for a little horse trading - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, we can all go down in history as having accomplished something as a member of the US Government.

To that, I say emphatically: Horseshit. -->