The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Leach, that would prohibit the use of credit cards, checks, wire transfers and electronic funds transfers, to pay for internet gambling at offshore online casinos, sports books and poker rooms.
According to Leach, Americans this year are projected to send about $6 billion to offshore gambling operators, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act “will create strong tools to help federal and state governments enforce existing gambling prohibitions.”
“Unlike in brick-and-mortar casinos in the United States where legal protections for bettors exist and where there are some compensatory social benefit in jobs and tax revenues, Internet gambling sites principally yield only liabilities to Americans,” said Leach.
Rep. Barney Frank was the only member of the House Financial Services Committee that opposed Leach\’s bill.
“I do not myself gamble, but I do not see it as my job, as a member of the Congress of the United States, to interfere with the freedom to gamble of other adults,” Frank said.
“Adults are entitled to do with their money what they want to do,” he added.
The legislation, which includes exceptions for horse racing, fantasy sports and remote gambling in Nevada, now goes to the whole House for a floor vote. While attention turns to the House Judiciary Committee where Rep. Bob Goodlatte has a similar bill pending. The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (HR 4777) would amend the Wire Act to make it illegal to gamble online.
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