Internet gambling is addictive, dangerous and should be outlawed, lawmakers argued Tuesday as the House took up a bill (H.R. 4411) to prevent people from using credit cards or other payment forms to settle online wagers.  The legislation would clarify existing law by declaring Internet gambling illegal.  It would cut off payments to betting Web sites and would allow authorities to work with Internet providers to block access to gambling Web sites. Representative Tom Osborne, R-Neb., and other bill supporters contend that it's too easy for online betters to lose money and to become addicted.  Opposers of the bill say policing the Internet is impossible and that it would be better to regulate the industry and collect taxes on it.

The bill would allow online lotteries and Internet betting on horse racing to flourish while cracking down on other kinds of sports betting, casino games and card games like poker.  Many conservatives back the bill on moral grounds, arguing that Internet betting is harmful to society.

Rep Tom Osborne, R-Neb., says that online gambling makes it too easy to lose money and to become addicted.  I just don't agree with that at all.  It isn't easier to lose money playing poker online that in a casino, it's all the same.  It certainly is not more addicting. The people who gamble on these sites already gamble in actual casinos.  Banning online gambling isn't going to solve anything unless you ban all forms of gambling altogether, and this will never happen.  I just don't see what conservatives are trying to accomplish by passing this bill.  One of the bill's main faults is that it is very hypocritical.  You can bet online for horse racing or lotteries but not poker or sports betting.  This is the defination of hypocrisy. People aren't going to stop playing poker from this so called resolution.  This is only going to increase play in casinos or at bar sponcored tournaments.  If the conservatives are really worried about the morals of Americans, they could be doing a lot more than debating something so rediculous as this bill.