TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Lawmaker Renews Push Against Internet Gambling

Lawmaker Renews Push Against Internet Gambling

Reuters News Wire (reuters@telecom-digest.org)
Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:58:40 -0600

Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte will reintroduce a bill this week that
would prohibit Internet gambling, a fast-growing industry valued at
about $12 billion, a spokeswoman for Goodlatte said on Tuesday.

Goodlatte, a Republican, first introduced legislation to ban online
gambling nearly a decade ago. In 2000, his bill had strong support in
the House but was unexpectedly defeated due in part to efforts by
Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented gambling interests,
according to the spokeswoman.

Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges in early January and is
cooperating with prosecutors in a corruption probe that could
implicate lawmakers and officials across Washington.

The previous version of Goodlatte's bill would make it illegal to use
the Internet for gambling and give law enforcement officials the
authority to stop credit card payments to offshore Internet gambling
sites.

Goodlatte's spokeswoman said details about the new bill would be
released on Thursday. Other sponsors of the bill will be fellow
Virginia Republicans Rick Boucher and Frank Wolf, she said.

Shares in two European gaming companies, PartyGaming Plc and 888
Holdings Plc fell in Tuesday trading due to concerns about new
U.S. legislation, according to traders.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.

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