As expected, George Bush has signed off the Safe Port Act - complete with that little addition, stuck in at the end, that bans financial transactions for online gambling - effectively banning internet gambing (except for those exemptions such as online horse racing and state lotteries, and any others with big enough purse strings and influence over Frist)

Bush didn't mention the online gambling ban in his speech about the Bill.

You just know he didn't have a clue what he was signing. He was probably told to just sign the dotted line - the online gambling bit was probably covered up by his advisor - who'd been promised a job on Frist's rumoured presidential campaign in 2008.

And so millions of adult Americans, who may have thought they could make their own decision how to spend their money, are denied the chance to play poker or bet online. Instead, prohibition and the distasteful stench of protectionism ruins what could be a great opportunity to start regulating the industry - instead of inviting a bunch of dodgy operators to find ways around the ban.

For all those naysayers that talk about minors accessing online gambling sites- I point to those 6 year olds that know how to buy car on Ebay. I don't remember Ebay asking for proof of age and faxed photos to validate their identity.

For all those naysayers that talk about 24 hour gambling...Vegas anyone?

For all those naysayers that worry about the proliferation of gambling....how many Indian casinos are there now?

For all those naysayers that talk about betting undermining sports (NFL anyone?)...welcome to the return of the organised crime and the bookie on every corner

I'm looking forward to day a Senator realises he can't get into his favourite online poker site.

Or better still, poker players should boycott this year's World Series and WPT - as their favoured method of entrance via online sponsorship, tournaments and prizes, has been taken away so drastically.

Article: Bush signs bill on port security, online gambling