We won’t be among the mourners when and if President Bush signs a bill to
ban Internet gambling that passed Congress in the early hours of Sept. 30.
The Web has opened up many marvelous horizons: easy, affordable global
communication, fingertip access to a virtually infinite storehouse of
knowledge, and the ability to shop for merchandise in the world’s biggest
department store. But there’s also a downside to the Internet, as Rep. Jim
Leach, R-Iowa, one of the sponsors of the legislation noted. The problem is
particularly acute for young people who tend to be on the Internet
frequently. “Never before has it been so easy to lose so much money so
quickly at such a young age,” he said. The ban, attached to a port security
bill that Bush is expected to sign today, bans most forms of Internet
gambling and makes it illegal for credit card companies and banks to make
payments to those who operate online gambling sites. The legislation exempts
state-run lotteries and the horse-racing industry.