""Are you kidding? It is the casinos who, short-sightedly I'll admit, want this. They think you won't come to the casino if you can play poker at home in your underwear.""
As a matter of fact thats what I am doing right now lol!
The casinos, the Indians, and the state lotteries all lobbied hard for this, they think it will reign in the competition. I specialize in football and blackjack, make a nice side income there. Main reason there is no outcry of opposition is this law is useless. My sports bets are with a local guy, technically illegal, blackjack in person. If I were interested in the online services, it would take about ten minutes to transfer some money and set up an account this law wouldn't touch.
Actually nobody really thinks this bill will do anything except give some Congresscritters a campaign boost on the "values" right. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) thought he needed it, the RNC thinks they need Leach to win to keep the majority, and they are probably right. All in all, a good move tactically, has no real effect on any gambler with more than three brain cells still rattling around.
If this sounds a bit cynical, well it is, but that is how the "great game" of politics is played. Not really that much different from gambling, online or not.