This week, President Bush turned into law a new legislation that bans televised wagering, including poker shows broadcasted on TV, cable and the Internet. This new measure is part of the American government’s fight against gambling.

“Today is a dark day for the televised game of poker,” Bart Hanson, who is part of the “Live at the Bike” gambling show, said. “Twenty-three million Americans who watch the game on their TVs or computers will effectively be denied the ability to enjoy this popular form of entertainment, even in the privacy of their own homes.”

David Tooshman, co-host of “Live at the Bike”, believes that by choosing prohibition the government has lost the opportunity to create a good policy and license, regulate and tax televised poker. “This decision will prove to be detrimental in the long-run and leaves more than $4 billion in annual advertising revenue on the table,” he said.

ESPN has announced that it will replace its poker shows, like the “World Series of Poker”, with karate tournaments.