Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005 Introduced in House
Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA), one
of the primary supporters of legislation prohibiting Internet gambling, has
introduced a bill to prohibit the use of credit in connection with unlawful Internet
gambling. This is the first bill
introduced on Internet gambling in this Congress.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act of 2005 (H.R. 4411) has been referred to the House Committee on
Financial Services. Congressman Leach is
the former chairman of that committee.
Representative Leach’s bill is
similar to Internet gambling legislation he has introduced in the past, but
includes specific exclusions for horse racing.
The bill also excludes intrastate wagering and some tribal gaming from
its prohibitions.
Like legislation introduced in
past Congresses, the bill prohibits the use of credit for “unlawful Internet
gambling.” Credit is so broadly defined
in the legislation that it would include nearly every means of payment, except
cash. For this reason, it would
effectively prohibit the customary methods used to fund Internet wagering and
thus effectively prohibit it.
“Fortunately, the bill specifically excludes from the definition of ‘unlawful
Internet gambling’ wagering on interstate horseracing, so long as it complies
with the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.
This exclusion should satisfy the racing industry’s concerns with the
overall prohibitions,” said
A Senate bill has not yet been
introduced, but Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is expected to introduce a bill in the
second session of this Congress. Senator
Kyl has introduced legislation prohibiting Internet gambling in the last
several Congresses.