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The House of Representatives failed to pass a bill Monday that would criminalize most forms of gambling on the Internet. The bill failed to win a two-thirds majority needed for passage under special House rules by short of 25 votes.

The bill would have banned online wagers on sporting events and casino games, as well as the sale of lottery tickets online. Horse racing, greyhound racing and jai alai were exempted from the bill after a deal was reached last Friday with lawmakers and lobbyists concerned that the bill would prohibit the use of closed-circuit TV for off-track betting.

The bill would have required Internet service providers to block access to gambling sites but did not penalized them if they failed to do so.

Businesses that offer Internet gambling could have faced up to $20,000 in fines or fours years in jail. Bettors faced no punishment in the bill.

The Clinton administration opposed to the House bill, arguing that it would encourage more illegal gambling rather than halt it by giving special treatment to certain online gaming interests.

Online gambling is legal in many parts of Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and the Caribbean.

Midnight Gambler
Brings Crowds and Consternation

Provincetown, MA - The 108-foot vessel Midnight Gambler, equipped with slot machines and craps, blackjack and Caribbean poker tables, brings crowds and consternation to Cape Cod this summer.

The Midnight Gambler, which made its way from Fort Pierce, Florida, is under a lease to operator John Ciluzzi until October. Since June 13, the ship has been offering one or two trips daily, taking patrons out for three-hour trips into international waters to try their luck. The boat is exempted from regulation because it operates out of the privately owned Fisherman's Pier.

While some residents and

tourists are greeting the ship with wariness, others are worried that the increased traffic could cause problems. Gambling opponents and local officials are itching for more control, hoping this ship could become a test case for a legal bid to block gambling cruises in the state.

Casino gambling is illegal in Massachusetts, but gambling boats get around the law by sailing into international waters three miles off shore before gambling begins. Other casino boats set sail from Massachusetts' ports include El Dorado Casino Cruises in Gloucester, MA, and Horizon's Edge Casino Cruises in Lynn, MA.

House Rejects Internet Gaming Ban

Midnight Gambler Brings Crowds and Consternation

Midnight Gambler
Brings Crowds and Consternation