critical_phil
5/26/2006, 11:17 PM
**** Bob Goodlatte (even though such a measure might save me thousands per year.)
House Committee Approves Limits on Online Gambling
May 25 (Bloomberg) -- The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation to toughen U.S. laws against Internet gambling, clearing the way for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
The committee voted 25-11 to approve the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act sponsored by Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, and prepared to support a second measure, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, sponsored by Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican. ``I oppose gambling because I think it causes many, many problems in our society,'' Goodlatte said at today's committee meeting.
The Bush administration Justice Department supports the proposed legislation. Online gambling's legal status in the U.S. is unclear. The Justice Department interprets a 1961 law against using telephone lines to place interstate bets as banning online gambling. Goodlatte said his bill would make that explicit.
Gambling on the Internet is a $12 billion-a-year business that is growing rapidly offshore. Internet-based casinos such as PartyGaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc, operating in locations such as Gibraltar and Antigua, rake in billions from U.S. gamblers.
Shares of Internet gambling companies declined in London trading after the U.S. vote. 888 Holdings Plc, the world's biggest Web casino operator, fell 5 pence to 193.5 pence. Sportingbet Plc, the online bookmaker that owns Paradise Poker, slipped 16.25 pence to 367.5 pence.
Shutting Down Sites
The Goodlatte measure would force U.S. financial institutions to cooperate with federal law enforcement authorities in shutting down illegal gambling sites based outside the U.S. The measure exempts horse racing, fantasy-sports betting and state lotteries in the U.S.
By carving out an exception for horse racing, the bill hurts dog racing and jalai, Representative Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, said. The Judiciary Committee, controlled by Republicans, rejected proposed amendments calling for specific state regulation and for adopting criminal penalties for bettors of fines and up to two years in prison.
Leach's measure would make it unlawful for credit-card companies to collect payments for transactions with online-gaming sites.
The anti-gambling legislation is likely to pass the full House where some Republican lawmakers are uneasy about the damage done by former lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea on corruption charges. Abramoff helped block similar legislation in the past. ``We are anxious to have the opportunity to expunge that smear,'' Goodlatte said.
Senate Battle
The House legislation may face an uphill battle in the Senate. Some states, including Nevada, are seeking to legalize, regulate and tax online gambling, the fastest-growing segment of the industry.
Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican who has proposed a measure seeking to block financial transactions, said he wants to press for approval. ``I am going to wait and see how the House deals with it,'' Kyl said yesterday.
Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said through a spokeswoman that his group, the Washington lobbying arm for Las Vegas-based casinos, is ``neutral'' on the Goodlatte and Leach measures.
The association is asking Congress to fund a federal commission that would study whether online gambling can be regulated and taxed in the U.S. That may eventually let major casino operators such as MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. enter the online business.
Legalized gambling has grown dramatically in the U.S. over the past two decades. In 2005, commercial and Indian tribe casinos and horse-betting operations took in more than $52 billion in gross revenue nationwide, according to a Pew Research Center study citing industry estimates. Lotteries in 41 states sold $52 billion in tickets.
House Committee Approves Limits on Online Gambling
May 25 (Bloomberg) -- The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation to toughen U.S. laws against Internet gambling, clearing the way for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
The committee voted 25-11 to approve the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act sponsored by Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, and prepared to support a second measure, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, sponsored by Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican. ``I oppose gambling because I think it causes many, many problems in our society,'' Goodlatte said at today's committee meeting.
The Bush administration Justice Department supports the proposed legislation. Online gambling's legal status in the U.S. is unclear. The Justice Department interprets a 1961 law against using telephone lines to place interstate bets as banning online gambling. Goodlatte said his bill would make that explicit.
Gambling on the Internet is a $12 billion-a-year business that is growing rapidly offshore. Internet-based casinos such as PartyGaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc, operating in locations such as Gibraltar and Antigua, rake in billions from U.S. gamblers.
Shares of Internet gambling companies declined in London trading after the U.S. vote. 888 Holdings Plc, the world's biggest Web casino operator, fell 5 pence to 193.5 pence. Sportingbet Plc, the online bookmaker that owns Paradise Poker, slipped 16.25 pence to 367.5 pence.
Shutting Down Sites
The Goodlatte measure would force U.S. financial institutions to cooperate with federal law enforcement authorities in shutting down illegal gambling sites based outside the U.S. The measure exempts horse racing, fantasy-sports betting and state lotteries in the U.S.
By carving out an exception for horse racing, the bill hurts dog racing and jalai, Representative Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, said. The Judiciary Committee, controlled by Republicans, rejected proposed amendments calling for specific state regulation and for adopting criminal penalties for bettors of fines and up to two years in prison.
Leach's measure would make it unlawful for credit-card companies to collect payments for transactions with online-gaming sites.
The anti-gambling legislation is likely to pass the full House where some Republican lawmakers are uneasy about the damage done by former lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea on corruption charges. Abramoff helped block similar legislation in the past. ``We are anxious to have the opportunity to expunge that smear,'' Goodlatte said.
Senate Battle
The House legislation may face an uphill battle in the Senate. Some states, including Nevada, are seeking to legalize, regulate and tax online gambling, the fastest-growing segment of the industry.
Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican who has proposed a measure seeking to block financial transactions, said he wants to press for approval. ``I am going to wait and see how the House deals with it,'' Kyl said yesterday.
Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said through a spokeswoman that his group, the Washington lobbying arm for Las Vegas-based casinos, is ``neutral'' on the Goodlatte and Leach measures.
The association is asking Congress to fund a federal commission that would study whether online gambling can be regulated and taxed in the U.S. That may eventually let major casino operators such as MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. enter the online business.
Legalized gambling has grown dramatically in the U.S. over the past two decades. In 2005, commercial and Indian tribe casinos and horse-betting operations took in more than $52 billion in gross revenue nationwide, according to a Pew Research Center study citing industry estimates. Lotteries in 41 states sold $52 billion in tickets.