It’s done. The bizarre thing to me is that it is being piggybacked on legislation targeting anti-terrorism.

President George W. Bush signed a law designed to bolster security at US ports and prevent terrorists from smuggling in nuclear weapons. The law also included an unrelated provision inserted by lawmakers in Congress to severely restrict Internet gambling, prompting gaming companies abroad to close down their US operations.

2006 has become the year of the fight against online gambling. Whether you oppose or approve of online gambling, it’s clear the government sees this as a campaign issue and it disturbs me to find this being lumped in with anti-terrorism laws. If it’s so strong on its own, why not keep it separate? I was telling a friend of mine the other day that online gambling is a felony here in Washington state and he was shocked. Next time I talk to him, I get to say there’s a federal ban too.

Another friend of mine who lives and works in Sweden for an online poker company told me this morning that his job is still up in the air.

The one thing the terrorists wanted to target — our freedoms — continue to be under siege. The terrorists win when we let the government continue to expand their power under the guise of protection.