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House
Approves Online Casino Billing Ban
As Reported
by the Reno Gazette-Journal
WASHINGTON,
DC – "…On Tuesday [July 12, 2006], U.S. House
members took a step toward banning online poker and other forms
of Internet gambling. Lawmakers voted 317-93 to approve a measure
that would prohibit banks and credit-card companies from paying
off debts incurred on gambling Web sites.
"…Before
the House vote Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., one
of the bill's chief sponsors, argued on the House floor that
the legislation could help 'purge the smear on the Congress'
left by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
"Abramoff
lobbied against the bill in 2000 on behalf of an online lottery
company.
"However,
this year's version included an exception for online lotteries.
"The
U.S. Senate would need to pass similar legislation before the
bill could become law.
"…The
efforts to ban Internet gambling is a blow to millions of Americans
who go online to bet on poker, casino games and sporting contests
each year, critics say.
"…About
70 million Americans now play poker and about 23 million of
those people play online, according to the Poker Players Alliance.
"The
group has lobbied heavily against the House bill. The alliance
argues the measure would infringe on Americans' personal freedoms
by requiring banks and credit card companies to monitor their
cardholders' online transactions…"
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