Yesterday the U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee on crime voted to update the Wire Act of 1961, which bans interstate wagers, to apply to Internet gambling sites as well. The bill passed unanimously.

The updated bill would allow U.S. law enforcement agents to shut down sites found in violation, or stop credit-card payments to sites operating outside of the country. For example, law enforcement agents could instruct U.S. Internet service providers to take down links to gambling sites, or they could require online advertising firms to stop distributing ads for illegal online casinos.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who sponsored the bill, said this about the bill in a Reuters news article: "This legislation is badly needed because there are a great many offshore sites that are sucking billions of dollars from American households."

The bill now moves to the full Judiciary Committee for consideration.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that the American Gaming Association (AGA) now opposes the Goodlatte bill. "We're still opposed [to Internet gambling], but it doesn't mean we'll put our [approval] on any bill that opposes Internet gambling," said AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf.

The AGA is considering whether to support an alternate bill that specifically bans the use of credit cards, checks or electronic transfers for the purpose of "unlawful Internet gambling."

WINNERonline.com will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they happen.