Backgammon and other skill games may be exempted from US web law

A Florida official is expected to introduce legislation exempting poker and other 'skill' games from the online gambling ban passed by Congress last year.

According to press reports emerging from the US, congressman Robert Wexler plans to unveil a bill which effectively carves out games of skill, such as poker, bridge, chess and mahjong from the online gambling prohibition that President George W. Bush signed into law in October.

The controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made it illegal for banks and credit card companies to process transactions to online gambling sites.

The bill has been welcomed by the Poker Players Alliance, a grassroots advocacy group of nearly 550,000 members.

"Poker and other games of skill have fallen victim to bad public policy," commented PPA chairman Alfonse D'Amato.

"Wexler's plan will give skill games the rightful protection they deserve and it will require the proper safeguards to protect children and those prone to abuse."