WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- Proponents of Internet gambling say a U. S. ban leaves players vulnerable to abuse at poorly regulated offshore Web sites.

The U. S. government would be better off legalizing Internet betting and collecting tax revenue since gambling already is widespread with casinos, race tracks and lotteries in many states, said John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, a lobbying group that claims nearly 1 million members.

"Congress shouldn't be trying to make criminals out of people who have taken the game from the kitchen table to the computer table," Papas told The Washington Post in a story published Monday.

While Internet gambling sites are banned in the United States, tens of thousands of Web sites exist worldwide that accept prepaid debit cards, bank wires and electronic transfers from players in the United States, the Post reported.

Critics, however, say Internet gambling in any form should be banned when ever and where ever possible.

"It's an underworld wrought with scams and schemes," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat who is leading a state effort to ban online betting. (UPI)