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9,000 Americans sign petition against poker ban

2006-10-13 17:58:17

As the United States moves to ban online poker, thousands of angry American fans have signed a petition against the new legislation.

According to reports up to 9,000 online poker players from around the US have put their names to the paper and are urging the government to tax and regulate online gaming instead of trying to outlaw it.

Jim Perkins, a corporate/finance attorney in Santa Monica, California, set up the petition to help fans take a stand against the government's decision.

He warns: "People who want to gamble online will gamble online. By passing a bill that attempts to prohibit people from engaging in an activity that many millions of people clearly want to engage in, the government is driving the activity underground and creating the likelihood of greater harm."

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle online gaming transactions in the US, is to be signed into law by President George Bush today.

Several internet gambling companies have already announced their intention to pull out of the US, but some poker firms are insisting they will continue to operate in the country. They argue that since poker is a game of skill, not of luck, it is not affected by the new laws.

Indeed PokerStars stated yesterday that it believes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act does not alter the US legal situation with respect to online poker and as a result its business would continue as normal.

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