As the fallout concerning the effective outlawing of internet poker continues to blow across the gambling landscape, new voices are being heard piping up in protest in the US.

The backlash is growing and emanates from various and varied places. The offending legislation, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act [UIGE], has its roots in religious conservative politics, but other right-leaning factions are up-in-arms about the developments.

It has been suggested the move could bring about a split in conservative politics in the US, between religious and economic conservatives. Economic conservatives see the change as a direct affront to free market forces, and suggest gambling is American as the Gold Rush or indeed Wall Street.

Added to these voices in Washington (a city which was built, at least partly, with lottery funding…) are the voices of ordinary poker players, registering and organising their displeasure all over the country.

The Poker Patriots, headed up by Hank Tamerlane & Doug Savoy have joined the good fight.

Their mandate which has been sent in to PokerPlayer states:

“We love poker almost as much as we love freedom and the right to make our own choices.