Back when this bill (HR 2140) was being written, Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance, had this to say about it:
“Creating a federally commissioned study is a logical step in examining the true impact of online gambling. … Opponents of online gambling fail to realize that sweeping it under the rug will only serve to exacerbate any issues with problem gambling. Turning the wildly popular Internet poker from a common pastime to an illegal activity, banned by Congress, will ultimately ensure that problem gamblers do not confront their issues with gambling and drive them further underground. Regulation and taxation, however, would provide billions in revenue for federal and state governments. These funds could be used to treat problem gamblers and to educate adults and youths alike on the dangers of gambling addictions.”
You can check the progress of the bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2140.