The full Senate will vote on a controversial bill
designed to cut the money flow to illegal Internet gambling operations.
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday passed 19-0
legislation that would prohibit businesses from accepting credit card,
electronic fund transfer or other payment methods from gamblers who bet over the
Internet. The bill also would set criminal penalties for online gambling, as
well as modify the federal criminal code to include satellite, microwave and
other communications from fixed or mobile sources.
Some state-sanctioned online betting for horse and dog racing would be exempt
from the law.
"The Internet permits anyone to engage in uncontrolled gambling without ever
leaving home," said Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. "While
gambling has always been subject to state regulation, and should remain so,
there is no way for states to effectively control the reach of the Internet at
this time."
designed to cut the money flow to illegal Internet gambling operations.
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday passed 19-0
legislation that would prohibit businesses from accepting credit card,
electronic fund transfer or other payment methods from gamblers who bet over the
Internet. The bill also would set criminal penalties for online gambling, as
well as modify the federal criminal code to include satellite, microwave and
other communications from fixed or mobile sources.
Some state-sanctioned online betting for horse and dog racing would be exempt
from the law.
"The Internet permits anyone to engage in uncontrolled gambling without ever
leaving home," said Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. "While
gambling has always been subject to state regulation, and should remain so,
there is no way for states to effectively control the reach of the Internet at
this time."
