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And while the U.S. Federal Government will require financial institutions to watch transactions closely, there won’t be sanctions for non-compliance, provided that you're not in cahoots with an online gambling company of course. If there are no sanctions, what would be the motivation to establish procedures for something that is nearly impossible to implement in the first place?

Although the legislation limits payment options for poker players, it doesn’t seem to explicitly prohibit players from playing online poker. As Poker Players Alliance President Michael Bolcerek said in an analysis of the new law, “First the bill does not make poker playing illegal on the Internet at a Federal Level, although it will make it much more difficult to enjoy ‘your game’ on-line.”

Even politicians are voicing their concerns about the aspects of this “online gambling ban.” In an interview with Gambling911.com, Congressperson Shelley Berkley (R-NV.) said that the legislation is flawed.

“This legislation has a loophole big enough to drive a truck through that was designed solely to protect betting on horse racing and lotteries over the Internet,” she said.

“The fact that this bill was included in the GOP’s (Republican National Committee) ‘Values Agenda’ proves it is nothing more than an election-year ploy to satisfy Republicans on the far right who want to outlaw adults from gambling in Nevada or anywhere else.”

It's in the game

Depending on who you talk to, poker is either gambling or a game of skill. The ambiguity of poker’s actual status could benefit fans of Texas Hold ‘em. Some would have you believe it is gambling no questions asked, but real poker players would take issue with that.

As the PPA says, “Like the game of chess, poker is a game of skill. Poker involves mathematics, psychology, observation, and money management.”

In fact, Phil Gordon made similar arguments when testifying for poker reform in Minnesota back in 2005. If poker is seen by letter of the law as a skill game, then paying to play at an online poker room would not be deemed illegal.

While there was initially doom and gloom about the future of online gambling, punters should take a more Gloria Gaynorian view of things.

“The industry has suffered a setback, but it will survive,” said Lawrence Walters.

“Some prosecutions may be filed, some companies will go out of business, and some banks will block gaming transactions. But the desire to gamble will persevere. The U.S. may just be a few steps behind the rest of the world for a while.”

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