House Panel Votes to Crack Down on Internet Gambling
A House panel voted Thursday to crack down on the $12 billion Internet gambling industry by applying federal prohibitions to games like online poker, blackjack and roulette. The legislation would amend the 1961 Federal Wire Wager Act to explicitly prohibit online gambling.
It also would outlaw electronic transmission of funds to pay for gambling bets, give law enforcement agencies authority to block such money transfers, and increase penalties for violation of the law. Although the Justice Department has taken the position that the Wire Act already prohibits online gambling in the U. S. , there is disagreement about that.
Most of as many as 2,300 online gambling sites in existence are overseas. The bill approved by the Judiciary Committee would "prevent offshore fly-by-night gambling businesses from violating the laws of all states," said sponsor Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.
May 26, 2006
Posted By Skip Davis
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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