The US House of Representatives yesterday voted in favour of a bill
to ban the use of credit cards or any other form of electronic
payment for offshore internet gambling sites in the latest move to
clamp-down on the multi-billion dollar industry.
The bill would make it an offence for gambling businesses to
accept payments by credit cards, checks or fund transfers. It would
also require banks and other credit card issuers to block payments
to gambling sites. Finally, the bill would oblige internet
providers to remove relevant links or advertisements.
Internet gambling is illegal in all US states except Nevada.
However, people have still access to approximately 1,500 gambling
sites operating offshore. Most of them are based in the Caribbean.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the revenues from internet
gambling are expected to exceed $4.2 billion in 2003.
Many major credit card issuers including American Express and
Citygroup have already blocked payments to gambling sites.
The bill must now be approved by the Senate, although there are
only a few weeks left until the end of the legislative session.
