California close to being the first state to legalize online poker
For the past decade, the rate of people who gamble online has increased dramatically. While it has remained very popular, it is in fact illegal to gamble online if you are in the United States. Unfortunately for the US, controlling the rate of online gambling is next to impossible. While the country has avoided making it legal in the past, it now appears that those citizens in California could soon gamble legally online.
Senator Rod Wright is leading a senate committee that is determined to make California the fist state to legalize online poker playing. While this will prove to be a very controversial move, it could be a great way for the state to earn some extra money. Presently, the State of California has a very significant budget shortfall through the end of 2011. While the budget is large, adding excess taxes and revenues from a new gambling site could cut down on the shortfall.
While this appears to be a good way for the state to make some money, the new plan is sure to run into some opposition. Presently, federal law prohibits people from gambling online, but the government does allow states to set up their own legalized games to earn extra money.
Another concern over legalized gambling in California is that it could violate agreements the state has with Native Americans. Presently, agreements in place with casinos located on Indian reservations prevent competition. Others are concerned that legalizing online poker could lead to a domino effect which across the country. 
It is a card game! It should never have been illegal to begin with. The reasons against legalizing it could be used against other things that are already legal. Should we ban casinos, shut down eBay, outlaw liquor???