The House Judiciary Committee voted 25-11 to approve the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte. The legislation aims to update the 1961 Federal Wire Wager Act to prohibit select forms of internet gambling, including sports betting, casino and poker games, but excluding wagering on fantasy sports and horse racing.
An amendment proposed by Rep. Robert Wexler to ban all online gambling was defeated and the Goodlatte\’s bill leaves the issue about the legality of remote horse race betting to the Department of Justice. Another amendment by Rep. Robert Scott to impose a criminal fine on anyone who places an illegal bet over the internet was also defeated.
“This legislation is badly needed,” said Goodlatte, whose office distributed a press release almost immediately after the bill\’s passage. According to the statement: “The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act allows states to continue to regulate gambling within their borders with tight controls to be sure that it does not extend beyond their borders or to minors. It also prohibits a gambling business from accepting certain forms of payment, including credit cards, checks, wire and Internet transfers, in illegal gambling transactions. The legislation also allows federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials to seek injunctions to prevent and restrain violations of this Act and obtain cooperation in the fight against illegal gambling.”
The House Judiciary Committee also approved on voice vote the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act sponsored by Rep. Jim Leach. The measure makes unlawful for credit card companies to collect payments for transactions connected with internet gambling.
Both bills will now proceed to the full House of Representatives for further consideration. While the Judiciary and Banking Committees may work to integrate the two bills, it remains uncertain whether they will reach the Senate this year as Congress has only a small number of work days left due to the elections in November.
In separate news, Las Vegas Sands announced a long-term agreement with Cantor Gaming to provide mobile gaming services to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the currently under-construction Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. Las Vegas Sands becomes the first Nevada casino operator to announce the use of mobile gaming technology, while Cantor, which was instrumental in the legalization in Nevada of the wireless gambling devices, became the first company licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission as a manufacturer, distributor and operator of a mobile gaming system. “Mobile gaming will add a new dimension to the player experience and provide increased revenues to casino operators,” commented Cantor Gaming President Lee Amaitis.
Elsewhere, Bodog.com has received the Hitwise award for the most visited site for the quarter, ending March 2006. Bodog ranked #1 by visits in the “Gambling – Sports Betting” category against other US facing websites. This award marks the first time the online gaming giant has been publicly recognized for this achievement by Hitwise. “We\’ve worked hard to magnify our Internet presence over the last few years, so it is quite an honor to be recognized by a credible third party site for this specific achievement,” said Calvin Ayre, Founder and CEO of Bodog.com.
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