As part of their "American Values Agenda", Republicans want to ban internet gambling. The House has gotten the ball rolling:
From the SF Chronicle:
Online gambling sites are based primarily overseas because most aren't allowed in the United States. But the legislation, which passed 317-93 with the backing of a bipartisan majority, tries to strangle the betting sites by making it illegal for those businesses to accept payments via credit cards, checks or from electronic payment services.
Banks would be required to try to block such transactions, and the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve would have to come up with enforcement rules. Criminal penalties for violations could include up to five years in prison.
more on "the turn":
Because of the 1-5% of American gamblers who have a gambling problem, what 95-99% of American adults do on their own time, with their own money, will suffer "prohibition".
More from the SF Chronicle:
Republican House leaders have made the gambling bill part of their "American Values Agenda," 10 pieces of legislation they want to pass before the election. Analysts say the agenda is an attempt to boost enthusiasm and turnout among conservative voters.
A party that once prided itself on "personal responsibility" and "keeping government out of our lives" will now place it front and center - watching our every move over the Internet. It seems that the "American Values" Republicans believe in require the government to spy on ALL of its citizens. For more proof, consider the NSA wiretaps, the international banking, and the Terri Schiavo affair.
Voters should take note - do we want to live in a repressive society where the most conservative among us dictate the rules we all must live by?
The "River"
As a side note, this legislation could force recreational gamblers (and certainly those WITH a problem) into their local "card clubs"; where the stakes could be much higher. The typical Internet poker site has Texas Hold'em games with stakes as low as 0.10/0.20. The usual minimum for card rooms is $3/$6 (I won't go into specifics of betting, but you could conceivably loose $50+ on ONE HAND). To "walk up to" an Internet site, one may only need $10 as a bankroll to have a good time. At a card room at $3/$6, one needs $200-$500 to weather the variance at the table.
Tournaments are no different. Online one can play in $1-5 tournaments. If you win, this could take about 1 hour. In card rooms, typical tournaments start at $50 dollars.