Although the House Financial Services Committee overwhelmingly passed what looks to be practically the same anti-online gambling bill that was presented to them in June of 2003, some would say there still remains some good sense in that particular governmental body. Only two Representatives - one of which was not in attendance for the vote - do not support the bill.  Not present at the hearing was the libertarian Republican Ron Paul of Texas, who has openly expressed that the American government should not regulate activities such as online casino gambling.  This was lamented by Representative Barney Frank - Massachusetts Democrat - who was the only Rep. to vote against the bill.

Frank made some candid, yet insightful comments after the hearing, which many supporters of online gambling are hoping to be the sentiments on the House Floor.  Even though Frank is not a gambler himself, he does not see the governments place in trying to regulate an activity that every citizen should have the right to choose if they desire to partake in.  He went on to say that if the government sees a role in prohibiting internet betting, what should stop them from prohibiting people to eat unhealthy foods and watch movies and read books with objectionable content.

Frank's most poignant comments were directed to his fellow Representatives, when he said, "It seems to me that the approach of many of my liberal friends to gambling is akin to what of some conservatives to sex-related material...Mainly because they disapprove of it personally, they think we can prohibit other people from doing it."

However, the Republican trio - House Representative Jim Leach of Iowa and Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, seem to think otherwise.  All three men have adamantly made it their mission to ban online casino gambling.  Goodlatte already has introduced a bill that holds Internet Service Provider's and website operators responsible for false or illegal content posted on internet forums.  And considering that there are more online gaming forums on the internet than any other, and that gaming forums are what internet users are searching for, it is obvious that Goodlatte's bill aims to attack the online casino gambling industry.

It is anyone's guess on how the bills will fare in the House, and possibly the Senate.  However, both parties (and the party in support of internet betting is much larger) are very confident they will be the victors in this longstanding battle.