Online Gambling Faces Another Challenge

The federal government’s recent seizure of millions of dollars from bank accounts used to process online poker transactions is sending shock waves through the Internet gambling community.

But insiders, including gaming giants poised to capitalize on the potential legalization of Internet wagering, disagree on how the action this month by the Justice Department will affect a controversial activity with millions of American participants.

The seizures, which follow other federal efforts to crack down on Internet gambling sites accepting bets from Americans, are among the most aggressive government actions to date involving poker sites.

Critics of the seizure say it won’t stop people from playing poker on the Internet and will fuel state and federal legalization efforts.

“I have not heard one person saying, ‘I am through with online poker,' ” said one industry official in Las Vegas, who declined to be named. “It’s just making people more militant and bitter against the government.”

But others think it will make players think twice about gambling online.

For the complete story, please see Liz Benston, Will Web poker bust spark fight or flight?, Las Vegas Sun, June 15, 2009.