Does anyone know what is going on with these bills? Do they have a chance to pass the full House? Wild Bill??
Panel approves ban on Web wagering
Proposal would update 1961 federal statute
By TONY BATT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- One week after Nevada casinos called for a yearlong study of Internet gambling, a House subcommittee on Wednesday passed a bill to prohibit online wagering.
The House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security approved by voice vote a bill by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that would ban Internet gambling by updating a 1961 federal statute so it would apply to online betting and new technologies.
"No matter whether you're pro-gambling ... or anti-gambling, as I am, there's a lot of merit to this legislation because clearly, billions of dollars are being sucked out of our economy -- unregulated and untaxed -- and that's not helpful to the regulated casinos in the United States," Goodlatte said.
Goodlatte has estimated Internet gambling has quadrupled into a $12 billion industry in the last six years.
Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, was the only panel member who talked about Goodlatte's bill during the hearing.
Scott complained the bill lets gamblers off the hook by going after Internet operators. He said it does nothing to prevent rogue nations from continuing to operate gambling Web sites.
"If the bill were serious about prohibiting gambling on the Internet, it would make it clear that it would be illegal for individuals to gamble over the Internet," said Scott, who vowed to offer amendments when the bill comes before the full House Judiciary committee as early as next week.
This is the second anti-Internet gambling bill to pass a House panel this year. On March 15, the House Financial Services Committee approved by voice vote a bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that would prohibit the use of credit cards and checks to pay for online wagers.
The board of directors of the American Gaming Association agreed unanimously last week to seek a one-year study of Internet gambling by a federal commission. AGA, the chief lobbying group for casinos, remains neutral on the Goodlatte and Leach measures.
The idea of a study has drawn little interest from supporters of an Internet gambling ban.
"We've already had a study," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., referring to a two-year probe by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, which recommended an Internet gambling ban in June 1999.
"I'd much rather move one or both of the House bills," Kyl said.
American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf said the National Gambling Impact Study Commission did not thoroughly investigate Internet gambling.
"Technology has changed dramatically since then," Fahrenkopf said.
Unlike the Goodlatte bill, Leach's measure would not amend the U.S. Wire Act of 1961.
"We take the position that the Wire Act already prohibits Internet gambling and the Department of Justice shares our view," said Leach chief of staff Gregory Wierzynski. Goodlatte and Leach have expressed willingness to merge their bills into one piece of legislation.
Panel approves ban on Web wagering
Proposal would update 1961 federal statute
By TONY BATT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- One week after Nevada casinos called for a yearlong study of Internet gambling, a House subcommittee on Wednesday passed a bill to prohibit online wagering.
The House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security approved by voice vote a bill by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that would ban Internet gambling by updating a 1961 federal statute so it would apply to online betting and new technologies.
"No matter whether you're pro-gambling ... or anti-gambling, as I am, there's a lot of merit to this legislation because clearly, billions of dollars are being sucked out of our economy -- unregulated and untaxed -- and that's not helpful to the regulated casinos in the United States," Goodlatte said.
Goodlatte has estimated Internet gambling has quadrupled into a $12 billion industry in the last six years.
Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, was the only panel member who talked about Goodlatte's bill during the hearing.
Scott complained the bill lets gamblers off the hook by going after Internet operators. He said it does nothing to prevent rogue nations from continuing to operate gambling Web sites.
"If the bill were serious about prohibiting gambling on the Internet, it would make it clear that it would be illegal for individuals to gamble over the Internet," said Scott, who vowed to offer amendments when the bill comes before the full House Judiciary committee as early as next week.
This is the second anti-Internet gambling bill to pass a House panel this year. On March 15, the House Financial Services Committee approved by voice vote a bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that would prohibit the use of credit cards and checks to pay for online wagers.
The board of directors of the American Gaming Association agreed unanimously last week to seek a one-year study of Internet gambling by a federal commission. AGA, the chief lobbying group for casinos, remains neutral on the Goodlatte and Leach measures.
The idea of a study has drawn little interest from supporters of an Internet gambling ban.
"We've already had a study," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., referring to a two-year probe by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, which recommended an Internet gambling ban in June 1999.
"I'd much rather move one or both of the House bills," Kyl said.
American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf said the National Gambling Impact Study Commission did not thoroughly investigate Internet gambling.
"Technology has changed dramatically since then," Fahrenkopf said.
Unlike the Goodlatte bill, Leach's measure would not amend the U.S. Wire Act of 1961.
"We take the position that the Wire Act already prohibits Internet gambling and the Department of Justice shares our view," said Leach chief of staff Gregory Wierzynski. Goodlatte and Leach have expressed willingness to merge their bills into one piece of legislation.
