Internet gambling measure delayed

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, June 13, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The House Judiciary Committee today again set aside a bill that would ban most forms of Internet gambling.

But legislation sponsor Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said he is optimistic the panel will approve the bill soon, despite criticism of the bill from members of the panel. The next hearing on the legislation has not been set.

Goodlatte has been fighting to ban cyber casinos for several years. In recent months the legislation has been snagged by concerns voiced by a number of gaming interests and other lawmakers.

Today the panel haggled over an amendment introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., that Wexler said would protect Internet wagers under certain conditions on dog racing and jai alai in his district. Goodlatte opposed the amendment, saying it gave those contests an unfair advantage. The amendment failed on a 15-15 tie.

Goodlatte said the casino industry now generally supports his bill after he agreed to make two changes. One change clarified that the legislation would not ban casinos from taking bets on horse races, which casinos are already allowed to do in Nevada. Another change clarifies that a gaming company could someday offer an Internet gambling website under certain conditions: that the state approves; that minors don't make bets; and that bettors be located in states that also allow Internet gambling.

Goodlatte said the main intent of the bill is to prohibit the use of off-shore gambling websites, although critics say no legislation will be capable of meeting that goal.

After the hearing, Goodlatte said it has been difficult to craft legislation that meets the approval of a wide variety of gaming interests, states and lawmakers.

When asked if he was frustrated with the pace of his effort, he said, "We're moving it along, one step at a time."