Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is backing a bill to legalize poker playing on the Internet. Nevada casino companies were among the lawmaker's key donors during his recent re-election battle, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Reid staffers are touting that the legislation provides for consumer protection for poker players -- and will generate much-needed tax revenue for federal and state coffers.

But the move is not universally popular.

This week, three Hill Republicans sent a letter to Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R., Ky., aiming to stall any Internet poker legislation coming to a vote during the lame-duck session.

"Congress should not take advantage of the young, the weak and the vulnerable in the name of new revenues to cover more government spending," Rep. Spencer Bachus, R., Ala., and others wrote.