Attempts to legalize online poker in Florida were dealt a serious blow Tuesday when the state's Senate Criminal Justice Committee killed an online poker bill with a 2-2 tie vote.

The bill would have allowed Florida residents to play online poker against fellow residents in a system operated out of the parimutuel card rooms.

From The Bradenton Herald:

“This is really the ultimate convenience gambling,'' said Frank Messersmith, lobbyist for the Florida Sheriff's Association. "It provides anonynmity in your home with no peer pressure, no social interaction." He called it "internet crack" that is particularly enticing to young males and will not stop the offshore gambling.

"This is a form of digital escape to the anti-social people and it just opens all types of doors that we think is too opportune for people to be caught up in gambling," he said.