As reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal: “.On Tuesday, U.S. House members
took a step toward banning online poker and other forms of Internet
gambling. Lawmakers voted 317-93 to approve a measure that would prohibit
banks and credit-card companies from paying off debts incurred on gambling
Web sites. “.Before the House vote Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.,
one of the bill’s chief sponsors, argued on the House floor that the
legislation could help ‘purge the smear on the Congress’ left by disgraced
lobbyist Jack Abramoff. “Abramoff lobbied against the bill in 2000 on behalf
of an online lottery company. “However, this year’s version included an
exception for online lotteries.

“The U.S. Senate would need to pass similar legislation before the bill
could become law.

“.The efforts to ban Internet gambling is a blow to millions of Americans
who go online to bet on poker, casino games and sporting contests each year,
critics say.

“.About 70 million Americans now play poker and about 23 million of those
people play online, according to the Poker Players Alliance.

“The group has lobbied heavily against the House bill. The alliance argues
the measure would infringe on Americans’ personal freedoms by requiring
banks and credit card companies to monitor their cardholders’ online
transactions.”