WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most forms of Internet gambling would be banned under a bill that received final U.S. congressional approval early Saturday.( O8 e* E3 Q$ _# ~/ P( h6 O
3 [9 f0 {; S$ u* Z+ w) Y/ U: r k+ m& eThe House of Representatives and Senate approved the measure and sent it to President George W. Bush to sign into law.
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2 O* E8 t. o/ G" VThe bill, a compromise between earlier versions passed by the two chambers, would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. 6 O) E( } i, l4 m. }
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Democrats had accused Republicans of pushing the bill to placate its conservative base, particularly the religious right, before the November 7 congressional elections. ! O9 I7 J! s' O8 c+ Q/ m# M9 _
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"It's been over 10 years in the making. The enforcement provisions provided by this bill will go a long way to stop these illegal online operations," said Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican and a chief sponsor of the measure.
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# \6 j& }- [/ U6 X- aNegotiators from the Republican-led House and Senate reached a deal on the legislation Friday and attached it to unrelated legislation to bolster port security, which the Congress approved.
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The final bill dropped earlier provisions opposed by some gaming interests that would have clarified that a 1961 federal law banning interstate telephone betting also covers an array of online gambling. 8 S" W% h+ q9 Q
8 o# }) \: w- [. F( FInvestors in British-based gaming companies such as BETonSPORTS Plc, Partygaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc have tracked the legislation. % {- q/ D/ y2 @2 E+ T1 y
& D7 ~* c; ?% `' R, GSenate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican and potential 2008 presidential candidate, recently appeared at a hearing in Iowa -- the state that holds the first presidential nominating contest for the 2008 election -- to listen to concerns about Internet gambling. |
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