A division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has instructed 11 ISPs to block access to nearly 200 gambling websites by Minnesota computers. Officials in the Department claim a 1961 law prohibiting phone companies from accepting bets over the telephone can be used in this manner to stop people from placing bets online.

The good news for those of us who enjoy placing bets online, and in general making decisions for ourselves, especially on the Internet, is that:

Twin Cities attorneys specializing in Internet law are skeptical about whether Minnesota could use that law to force the blocking of gambling websites.

"This is an old law put in place before the Internet, and there may be an argument that it doesn't cover Internet service providers," said David Axtell, an attorney at Leonard Street and Deinard in Minneapolis.

I will keep on top of this issue, but for now, everyone can continue placing bets online, even residents of Minnesota. Try Full Tilt for poker and Cherry Red or Golden Casino for casino games.