This is what I've been saying all along, to anyone who would listen.  All the scurrying about and worrisome posts have been overreactions.  Thanks to eedith for the heads-up on the article.

I agree with you Todd. I still play poker every night at some very reputable sites such as Absolute, Full Tilt, etc. There is nothing wrong with playing the games, it's just that the U.S. has made it difficult to process the financial transactions (withdrawals, deposits, etc). But it can be done. Either do it the old fashioned way through snail mail, or western union or something. Many of these companies will credit your accounts with whatever fees you incurred to get the deposit to them.

I am wondering when places like YouBet.com who deal exclusively with horse racing will lift the state bans on gambling on horses. That would make the sport more popular, especially to those states (like NC & SC) who do not have professional thoroughbred racing.

And the poker sites...that's a no-brainer. If the government can find a way to regulate these, poker would explode much more than it ever has, because it won't be "frowned upon".

Well, some common sense for a change.  The only person hurt by this was Bill Frist, who has apparently made a lot of enemies on this issue.  The politicians need to wake up and smell the 21st century!

Orangeman                       

Hurt is relative I guess O'man...we all knew Frist was a dope to begin with.

Yeah, now we have to deal with all the dopes who were just put into leadership positions.

of course nothing has changed YET.sometime in the summer of 2007 is when the banks are going to be given the regulations and then we got to hope that we all don't get our transactions blocked.i'm being positive about the whole thing hoping the regs might get watered down.i overreacted.you want to know why?  i'm probably in the top 5 as far as money made online.the money i won online was thousands and kept me from working extra days,bought diapers,clothes,food,goodies,etc. so yes can you blame me for overreacting when i see this law passed? 

Yeah, new dopes. But we don't have the old dopes. And one day, much like the infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters, we will get it right.

LottoMike:

Know where you're coming from.  Used to work two jobs until online gambling came along.  Now I just work three part-time jobs that I enjoy.  I do software beta testing, screen writing and sell advertising for a small weekly newspaper for an excuse to leave the house every day.  Get up at 8 a.m. and if it is cold and windy, I stay home.  All thanks to online gambling on Pick 3.  Like you, Frist and his ilk really upset me.  Neither political party gives a damn about the American people.  They are only out for themselves. 

Orangeman                                           

Mike, im in the same boat...It feels great to know you have the option to work less days (or work no more). I'm in that position, It it's been hella fun for me...I thank God for this opportunity to make money doing what I love to do instead of workign some deadbeat job because i felt i had no choict... I haven't quite yet hit your mark of thousands, but I know I will be4 the end of this month.

Keep your head up Mike, I think your missing the point on all of this...but if you wish to wait till 2007 to see how this "full effect" is really going to effect us then by all means do it, if it's what makes you happy (which I know it don't). All this hoopla and over what? some law that means absolutely jack?

To each his own, lets keep making paper online players!