Only months after the federal government shut down access to online poker sites come reports that Congress could soon consider a bill that would legalize online gambling.

The New York Post quotes a source close to the potential legislation as saying, “I think there is becoming a feeling in Congress that this is something that needs to be regulated and be done… I believe there is a possibility a bill will pass towards the end of the year.”

The Post points to a change in attitude among political opponents to online gambling. For example, Arizona Senator John Kyl, who had likened online gambling to crack addiction in 2006, has since written on his website that, “Efforts to carve out an exception for games like poker, which many believe is a game of skill, may be considered later this year.”

As part of the recent debt ceiling talks, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia proposed legalizing Internet gambling, saying it could raise about $41.8 billion over 10 years.

Do you think legalized online gambling is a good way to bring in tax revenue? Or is it sliding too far down a slippery slope?

Congress may OK online gambling [NY Post]

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