The lawmakers believe this is an issue of personal freedom and that the government shouldn’t stop people from playing a game of skill.

“Poker is an all-American game, and it’s a game that requires strategy and skill. Millions of Americans play poker online. Although it’s legal to play for money, it’s illegal to process the transactions that allow players to collect their earnings,” said Rep. Barton. “We want to have an iron-clad system to make sure that those who play for money are playing in an honest, fair system where they can reap the benefits of their winnings. To put it simply, this bill is about having the personal freedom to play a skill-based game you enjoy without fear of breaking the law. ”

Congressman Barton has received bipartisan support for his effort to protect consumers who play poker online.

“This legislation simply says that Americans should be able to play poker legally over the Internet from the privacy of their own homes,” said Congresswoman Berkley. “As we have shown in Nevada, well regulated gaming protects players, operators and the integrity of the game, while also ensuring those who cannot legally bet are denied the ability to participate.”

Rep. Campbell of California stated, “The discussion surrounding the legalization of online gaming in this country needs to move forward. At this moment, we have otherwise law-abiding American citizens committing a crime simply by playing poker online. I don’t happen to gamble myself, but freedom is not about legislating what I like to do and making illegal what I don’t. Freedom is about allowing responsible Americans do what they happen to enjoy. Clearly, Americans want to gamble on the internet, and policymakers need to provide both the freedom to do so and ensure appropriate consumer protections are in place. Regulating online gaming and making certain that these sites are operating legally in America will also create economic growth through generated tax revenue and the possibility of attracting foreign players to U.S. sites.”

“Online poker has been growing for years without the appropriate security measures necessary to protect consumers,” said Congressman Cohen. “Poker players should have the comfort of knowing they are playing poker on legal gaming sites that are fair, safe and credible. Our bill would create a licensing regime so online poker players are assured they are placing bets with reputable gaming groups that are legal and won’t take advantage of them.”

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The company has chosen Massachusetts as its first US business target due to its technical expertise and innovative thinking, said Betware chief executive Stefan Hrafnkelsson, adding that he has met with lottery management and state lawmakers to further the project and introduce a pilot scheme to test the concept.

We believe they are the best fit, Hrafnkelsson said, pointing out that internet gambling would be an effective way for the Lottery to expand its customer base to include a younger generation of gamblers.

Spokesmen for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission confirmed the discussions, which took place in March this year, but cautioned that the Lottery does not have any plans to move forward with the concept at this time.

Hrafnkelsson said he expects that some sort of approval would also be needed from the state Legislature.

Betware, founded 14 years ago, develops software that facilitates online lotteries in a number of countries, including Spain and Canada. The companys technology also can allow bets to be placed via cell phones or Internet TV.

In a statement this week, Betware noted that the US Congress included an online gambling exemption for state lotteries in a 2006 law that bars U.S. banks from allowing credit card payments for online betting. The company emphasised that its technology would ensure that anyone placing a bet in the Massachusetts Lottery would be doing so within the states borders.

Earlier this month New Hampshire state lottery management backed away and postponed a proposal to introduce online lottery games after state lawmakers expressed reservations.

In May this year Isle Of Man-based online gambling software provider Microgaming announced a deal licensing Betware to distribute a suite oif some 85 quality games virtual casino games to international state lotteries.

However, the contract for the internet poker element of the venture has gone to GTechG2 and its International Poker Network, launching on a platform shared by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Launch is planned for the fourth quarter of this year, and the Montreal Gazette reports that Openbet is already gearing up to open an office in the city, creating 15 new jobs.

David Loveday, CEO OpenBet Ltd, said this week: “We are proud to be partnering with Loto Quebec who will be able to utilise our technical infrastructure to successfully launch their online gaming business in a new and exciting market.”

Loto Quebec CEO Alain Cousineau emphasised that his company would work closely on the project with the provincial governments new Online Gaming Monitoring Committee chaired by Université de Montréal Psychology Department professor Louise Nadeau.

“Loto-Québec intends to bring its online games of chance project to fruition with all of its well-known rigour and integrity,” declared Cousineau. Now that the government has given the green light, various measures will be put in motion to ensure that fans of online gaming can access a secure, legal and above-board site this fall.

“We will be offering Québecers a choice of entertaining games like poker, various table games and sports betting within a controlled circuit and in a secure environment whose integrity will be beyond question,” he added.

Poker will be offered on a common platform with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Hosted in Montréal, the platform will be provided by GTechG2.

Loto-Québec will be implementing a series of prevention and control measures that will be among the industry’s best and most innovative, Cousineau promised, adding that the companys online gaming site would deploy international responsible gaming expertise.

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Attorneys for former workers seeking class-action status in their suit asked Judge Gregg Zive in Reno to lift the automatic stay of litigation in bankruptcy cases so their suit could proceed to judgment in Clark County District Court.

The workers are suing Station as well as several of Station’s individual casino properties.

But Zive sided with Station in extending the stay 180 days. Station said it was entitled to breathing room from such litigation so it could focus on its reorganization efforts.

The workers claim they were shorted on pay because of a timeclock system that rounded their hours. Station has said the system evens out the time by rounding both up and down, ensuring workers are paid for all of their work time.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass on Sept. 30 granted the defendant casinos’ motion to stay the proceedings because of Station’s July bankruptcy filing and the automatic stay of litigation.

These days, while you might think it would be even more difficult to use credit cards, considering how long the UIGEA has been in “operation”, it has apparently gone the other way. According to recent reports, no to mention testimonials direct from U.S. facing online casinos, credit card processing has actually become easier. Casinos such as Cherry Red and Golden Casino make no qualms whatsoever about letting the general public know they have the ability to process U.S. credit cards.

Being fully regulated offshore destinations, these online casinos truly make for havens in the eyes of U.S. players, especially those players who know the difference between a sham establishment and one that is truly regulated. In other words, casinos that offer fair odds and can guarantee safety in processing gambling funds.

As for the credit card companies, unless you’re American Express, the business is simply too good to pass up. In many ways, there’s really nothing the credit card companies can do, as evidenced by the American Banking Association’s strong resistance to taking up the slack of the UIGEA and creating ways of identifying “legitimate” online gambling transactions, which is essentially the crutch of the matter. The UIGEA doesn’t ban all forms of online gambling – just some. Many would say the one’s it finds to be a threat to lobbying land-based gambling interests.

The fact of the matter is that “responsible gaming practices” are ultimately the responsibility of the online casino and player. For those players who are prone to addiction and who begin to demonstrate problem gambling behavior, i.e., maxing out credit cards, online casinos should be held accountable first and foremost by putting a block on these players and contacting the appropriate banking bodies, not to mention help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous.

Is it surprising that credit cards are increasingly being accepted at US facing online casinos? Not really. What’s more surprising is that the U.S. government continues trying to fight a battle it will never win. But then again, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?