Online Poker Folds For Good

Late Friday evening, Oct. 13, saw US President George W. Bush signing into law the legislation that will force online poker players to stop betting online for good.

The new port security law, in addition to tightening security in the nations ports, aims to ban US banks and credit card companies from allowing transactions related to online wagering. Most online gamblers see the action as an intrusion to their freedom.

"It's our money. I think there is too much interference from the government, and I think online gambling --people want to do it," said John Gurrieri, an online poker player. "I know a lot of friends who made money off online gambling."

Authorities argue that the problem with international poker sites is that the United States has almost no regulations governing the websites. If the winner in an online gambling game never gets their winnings, it could be lost forever.

Lawmakers say that they are likewise concerned about children who access their parents credit cards for gambling.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has previously given his opinion on the matter, saying that the poker sites have become a major problem, "not just in thousands, but in tens of thousands, and they are liable for them and collection agencies are coming after them."