1. IT TREATS AMERICANS AS ADULTS

Adults should have the freedom to decide how they want to spend their time and money, without being watched by the government. This factor alone should be enough to convince players and non-players alike that banning the games is not the best option.

The risk one takes when they gamble is intrinsic to capitalism, and part of the American way of life. We gamble when we invest or buy on credit. Why should we discourage people from taking risks they deem worth taking?

2. TRYING TO BAN THE GAMES SIMPLY WON'T WORK.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act calls for a ban on credit card use for internet gambling. This makes banks responsible for finding and rejecting these purchases.

Banks do not want to do this, and American consumers will be ill served This will raise bank costs, which will be passed on to consumers.

Plus, there are simply too many other ways to fund a poker account, or remain anonymous on the internet through proxy servers. Banks will be spending money to prevent something that will occur anyway!

3. IT WILL GENERATE TAX REVENUE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY.

The games are already happening and the U.S. government is missing out on a significant source of revenue. It is estimated that as much as $3.3 billion dollars a year is lost due to the fact that internet poker is technically illegal, and un taxable.

U.S. corporations are also banned from entering the lucrative online poker market. These corporations are the places where Americans work, and invest and the longer they are forced to sit on the sidelines, the more money our country is losing.

4. IT CAN BE BETTER REGULATED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.

Next, the American government would be able to license site operators and most importantly regulate them to protect consumers. One side affect of the new legislation is that online poker is essentially forced more underground. Previously, public traded companies like Party Poker were in the U.S. market however the recent legislation has scared them away completely! This protection to consumers provided to U.S. consumers is simply one more reason that legalizing the games is the best approach for the future!

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