US House Committee Approves Anti-Internet Gambling Bill

There are two anti-internet gambling bills being considered by the United States Congress. Both bills aim to bar Americans from gambling online, which would include playing online poker.

The Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (HR 4411), introduced by James Leach, R-Iowa, seeks to block payments to online gambling sites. Its aim would be to disallow electronic
funds transfers, checks, credit cards, and other banking instruments from being used to fund "illegal" online gambling accounts.

The Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was recently marked up by the House Financial Services Committee and approved by a voice vote. The major dissenter was Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts. Frank objected to the bill because he believes adults should be able to do what they want with their money, so the government has no right stopping people from gambling online.

The bill now heads to the House Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee is already considering another anti-internet gambling bill, The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (HR 4777). Introduced by Bob Goodlatte, R-Va, this bill would update the wire act so that all forms of internet gambling not explicitly legal are declared illegal.

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