Ed. Note: President Bush signed the bill that bans Internet gaming into law today.

"We won't be among the mourners when and if President Bush signs a bill to ban Internet gambling that passed Congress in the early hours of Sept. 30.

The Web has opened up many marvelous horizons: easy, affordable global communication, fingertip access to a virtually infinite storehouse of knowledge, and the ability to shop for merchandise in the world's biggest department store.

But there's also a downside to the Internet, as Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, one of the sponsors of the legislation noted. The problem is particularly acute for young people who tend to be on the Internet frequently. "Never before has it been so easy to lose so much money so quickly at such a young age," he said.

We've never been much enamored of nanny government, but then again we're not keen on expanding the number of places where people can flush their hard-earned cash down the tubes, either. The sad truth - as sponsors of the ban have rightly pointed out - is that Internet gambling can be very addictive."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Online gambling's losing hand (The Denver Post 10/13)