Rep. Bob Goodlatte on Thursday told the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime that his revised gambling bill was designed to succeed where earlier efforts had failed.
The new piece of legislation, titled H.R. 3215, reaffirms states' control over their own lotteries, in addition to taking a hands-off approach to Indian gaming and the horse racing industry.
The bill is tied in to Rep. Jim Leach's bill (H.R. 556) - which was approved last month - that would prohibit persons or organizations engaged in 'illegal Internet gambling' from accepting credit card, check, or debit card payments.
Financial institutions such as banks and credit card companies would be responsible for monitoring and blocking transactions at illegal gaming sites.
Goodlatte's bill also gives law enforcement agencies the power to move against groups that enable Internet gambling.
Critics and opponents of the bill have suggested that while the legislation is a step in the right direction, it is unlikely to have any real effect on the offshore companies that operate the majority of online gambling sites.
Online gambling advocates, most notably Frank Catania, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, continue to suggest that the U.S. government regulate the industry rather than prohibit it.
They also cited the financial benefits of legalizing and regulating online casinos within the U.S.
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