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Join the Discussion
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"What Do you think?"
Bill
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In another attempt to ban
Internet gambling, The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on October 1st
that would block all payment mechanisms for it. The Bill was introduced by Rep
James Leach of Iowa. The bill, HR 556, the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, outlaws the use of credit cards,
electronic fund transfer and any other bank instrument to pay for
Internet gambling. By taking away any methods of funding online gaming it will
make it difficult for players in the US to gamble
online.
The
1961 Interstate Wire Act prohibits the transmitting gambling information over
the phone or wire. When the police bust an illegal gambling operation they
usually charge the bookies with violating this law. The Leach bill also updates
the 1961 Interstate Wire Act to make it illegal to use the Internet to transmit
a bet or wager across state lines.
The bill, if it is made into law, would also affect service providers and webmasters by
forcing them to remove all ads and links for Internet Gambling Sites.
Several
members of the House with ties to the bill spoke on its behalf, and most
mentioned the social problems associated with problem gambling as justification
for passing it. Leach noted that gambling addiction causes divorce and suicide,
among other social and family problems.
Rep. John LaFalce of
New York said, “Thanks to the Internet,
gambling can be found anywhere, and any student or child with computer access
can gamble online. This poses a significant risk to our nation's youth."
Even
without the law, it is getting more difficult to fund online gaming activities Many
credit card companies have already stopped allowing the use of credit cards to
fund online gambling. A few years ago, two credit card companies were sued by
gamblers who ran up online debts and refused to pay them because online
gambling was illegal. I personally know
of one individual who tried to use his Visa card to send money to an offshore
Sports book site.
The
transaction was denied and he received a call from the credit card company
asking if he had tried to use his card for that purpose. They had placed an
immediate “HOLD” on his card suspending any further transactions, until they
contacted him. When he told them it was him who tired to make the transaction
they took the hold off his card but told him they do not support that activity.
The
bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President
Bush before it goes into effect. The Bush Administration has already gone on
record as saying that it considered Internet Gambling a violation of the 1961
wire act. It is certain that the President will sign it into law if the Senate
agrees with the House.
This
is not the first bill to be passed aimed at stopping Internet gambling but only
time will tell if this is the one that actually becomes law.
Until next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever."
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