The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee recently approved a bill designed to ban Internet gambling. The bill, also known as the "Internet Gambling Prohibition Act," was introduced by Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte and is expected to adapt the 1961 Federal Wire Wager Act to the modern world of online gaming. If the bill ultimately passes, online games, such as blackjack, poker, and roulette, would be prohibited under federal law.
Goodlatte's bill would also outlaw electronic transmission of funds used to pay for players' bets and empower law enforcement bodies to obstruct all such financial transactions.
However, the bill has yet a long way to go before its final approval. It must first be considered by the full House of Representatives and, then, by the Senate. In the meantime, the American Gambling Association, the casino industry's most prominent supporter, reportedly plans to conduct a study on the potential impact of online gambling legalization.
| 
