House Fails to Ban Internet Gambling
W A S H I N G T O N, July 17 -- A bill to ban “cybercasinos” to curb the proliferation ofInternet sites offering casino games and sports betting to everyonewith a credit card and a computer failed in a vote by the House late today.
Representatives voted 245-159 against the ban which would have curbed such practices regardless of where a person lived.
A total of about 270 votes was needed for passage of the bill.
“One way to promote the Internet is to make sure that the seamyside of life is dealt with on the Internet,” said the bill’ssponsor, Rep. Robert Goodlatte, R-Va. before the vote. “Just like child pornographyhas to be dealt with on the Internet, so does unregulated,out-of-control, illegal gambling.”
Critics, including the Justice Department, said the bill would haveactually helped the pari-mutuel industry reach bettors who could nototherwise wager. Lobbyists for horse racing, dog racing and jaialai got exemptions inserted in the bill.
House leaders brought the bill to the floor under rulesprohibiting amendments, limiting debate to 40 minutes and requiringa two-thirds majority for passage.
Casinos, Sports Leagues Favor Bill
Nearly 700 Internet sites offer online gambling, a businessexpected to grow from $1.1 billion in 1999 to $3 billion in 2002,according to a recent report for the online gambling industry.
The bill would prohibit anyone who runs a gambling business toplace or receive an online wager. Businesses that offer onlinegambling could be fined at least $20,000 and their principals sentto jail for up to four years.
Goodlatte attempted to address critics’ concerns last week byadding language specifying that the bill is not intended to permitactivities that now are illegal.
Other critics said the bill would infringe on states’ rights byprohibiting state lotteries from offering at-home sales of ticketsover the Internet.
The commercial casino industry and major sports leaguessupported the bill, as did the National Association of AttorneysGeneral and some conservative social groups including the ChristianCoalition.
