Annie Duke Testifies For Online Poker

Professional poker player Annie Duke testified at a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on the subject of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The UIGEA is a bill passed back in October of 2006 that questions the morality of online gambling and prohibits financial institutions from facilitating transactions with online gambling web sites.

A professional poker player for 13 years now, Annie Duke had a lot to say at the hearing.

"What's at stake here is the right of individual Americans to do what they want in the privacy of their homes without the intrusion of the government. More than any other value, America is supposed to be about freedom," Duke explained fervently. "Except where one's actions directly harm another person's life, liberty or property, our government is supposed to leave citizenry alone. Examples of Congress straying from this principle are legion, but few are as egregious as The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006."

Annie Duke, now in her 30's, has loved the game of poker since she was quite young. As a 13-year veteran of the professional poker circuit, Duke is perhaps best known for being the most successful female poker player in history. Duke has amassed more prize winnings in her professional poker career than any other female.

Another notable happening during the UIGEA hearings was the questioning of Tom McClusky of the Family Research council. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) asked McClusky where he believed the line should be drawn, regarding the regulation of gambling activities in the United States.

Rep. Cohen: "Do you think that horse racing and lotteries should be legal in the United States?"

McClusky: "The Family Research Council does believe that such things should be illegal."

Rep. Cohen: "So, it is really not the Internet you are against. It is gambling in general. Is that right?"

McClusky: "Yes, that would be true, or at least unrestricted gambling such as we have with the Internet or other."

Rep. Cohen: "But the lottery is restricted. You can't play if you are a child. Same thing with horse racing. But you are against that, are you not?"

McClusky: "Yes."

Rep. Cohen: "So restricted or unrestricted, you are against it?"

McClusky: "Yes."