A bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would ban most types of Internet gambling would likely affect Penn State poker players, who form one of the biggest poker-playing communities among universities across the country, according to Card Player Magazine.

With countless students playing a game of poker while sitting in their dorm rooms or in one of the many computer labs on campus, the bill, if passed by the U.S. Senate, would prohibit an activity that many people have grown to enjoy.

"I think the Internet is nice, the only place where you can find millions of players at all hours of the day," Danny Cherlow (sophomore-physics) said.

Cherlow, who spent an average of 15 hours a week playing online in East Halls last year, said he once took first place in a tournament on the site FullTiltPoker.net, which netted him $1,500.

"Playing with your friends is nice, but not everyone is around all the time. It's nice to find people from all around the world who speak different languages. Poker is one language," said Cherlow, who estimates he wagered more than $10,000 in gambling as a freshman.

The bill has caused poker players from around the world to raise their eyebrows and question the government's motives for it.

"It would make no sense for them to ban it, unless they think it ruins family life," said Scott Horowitz (sophomore-finance), who plays 5/10 no limit on PokerStars.com. "Gambling will go on no matter what. It would just make people want to play more if they ever did [ban it]."

One of the problems the government has expressed with online gaming is that they are unable to regulate and tax the companies and individuals that profit from the sites.

"It doesn't seem like income to win a tourney because you took the money of other people who were risking it," Cherlow said. "I don't know how this is a taxable thing, because you're putting your money against the money of another person."

While there are obvious monetary benefits of online poker for anyone who has grown to love the game, Mitch Turow said he thinks one of the biggest rewards is felt by universities whose students turn to the Internet as a safe form of entertainment while in college.

"I think it's a really good way for kids to stay away from the temptations in college," Turow (sophomore-business management) said. "It's a safe hobby for kids who want to stay out of trouble. It's a good way for kids to bond and have something to do."

Competition over the computer provides players with the ability to see more hands at once through "multi-tabling" -- the practice of having multiple card tables open at the same time. Online gaming also offers players the chance to play for whatever stakes they can afford.

In a live game, "you wouldn't be able to play anytime you want or for the stakes you want," Allen Pao (sophomore-business) said. "Online allows you to play for as much as you want or for as little as you want."

Juggling classes and 20 hours per week on Internet poker sites, Pao, who uses Firepay.com to transfer money from his bank account to the sites, said he once won $2,500 in an online tournament.

Online sites that offer games at all hours of the day truly provide a chance to learn and become better through trial by fire at the tables, Pao said.

"In live games, you have to wait around for players," Pao said. "Online, you have a community of people and it gives you the opportunity to improve your game. It also allows you to play real late at night."

With a sizeable portion of Penn State poker players under the age of 21, some said banning Internet gambling would prevent a player from fine tuning his or her game before legally venturing to a casino.

Other drawbacks of casinos, Penn State poker players said, is that they are far from campus and collect a higher "rake" -- the portion of money the house takes per hand from the pot.

"The Internet takes less money per hand because there are no dealers to pay, just servers," Cherlow said.