The Poker Player’s Alliance, a United states-based online poker advocacy group, said it plans to spend $3million this year lobbying the U.S. government to legalize poker online. According to the Associated Press, The alliance, chaired by former United States Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, says it plans to spend that much on lobbying in this session of Congress. The group gets its money from the Interactive Gaming Council, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based trade association for online casinos, as well as from its poker online player members.

At issue is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which Congress passed at the end of 2006. The law aimed to curb online gambling by prohibiting financial institutions from accepting payments from credit cards, checks or electronic fund transfers to settle online wagers.

At least half the $16 billion Internet gambling industry, which is largely hosted on overseas sites, is estimated to be fueled by bettors in the United States, the AP reports. As I have long argued, why wouldn’t the U.S., or any country that makes online poker illegal, just legalize it and reap the financial benefits by taxing it? That way everybody wins. Law abiding online poker players can play without fear of legal reprisal and governments can have an extra revenue stream in these tough economic times. It makes perfect sense.

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