As the question of Internet gambling remains on the table of the United States Congress, experts on problem gambling in the have been called to render their opinions on the harm that Internet gambling could have on the populace.  One of the most outspoken of these experts is Kevin Whyte, who is the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

Whyte maintains that there is a specific percentage of the population that fall into the category of compulsive gamblers.  Of that percentage, about 1% are pathological gamblers.  However, this is no different than the percentage of the population involved in other compusivities equally destructive in nature.  Whyte attests to the fact that various forms of gambling, such as land based or Internet casinos, lotteries, or sports betting with the local bookie, do not sway the levels of compulsion one way or another.

Whyte further asserts that the presence of Internet gambling has not caused any huge surge in the area of problem gambling.  Whyte states that the National Council on Problem Gambling tests people on their predilection to become problem gamblers through a series of questions.  These tests ascertain whether you have ever borrowed money to gamble, whether your gambling keeps you awake at night, or whether you spend money earmarked to pay bills on gambling.  If your answer to any of these questions is affirmative, then there is a chance that you could become a problem gambler.

Online gambling is expected to pass Congress in the fall.  The investment firm of Goldman-Sachs has already projected that the legal online poker and casino market would be worth up to $12 billion, and it has forwarded this memorandum to its investors.  Goldman-Sachs points out that online gambling in the will soon be legalized because of the financial ramifications involved in a tax windfall.

One of the worries with online gambling is the restriction of youngsters and problem gamblers from gaining access.  This week, a program called “Bet Stopper” was introduced by a Canadian company.  This is a novel software program that will allow the blockage of youth and problem gamblers from gaining access to gambling sites on their computers.  The release of this software is further proof that the law banning Internet gambling in the , the UIGEA, is outdated and no longer valid.