美国准备立法打击网络赌博
这个新闻对网络赌博业相当重要。各大网赌股票应声而跌。从老外的论坛上了解到，不少美国人已经把neteller里的钱取出来了。
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$ p: p7 s! }' k8 A! u4 IPosted on Fri, May. 26, 20060 r7 |/ ]8 q5 T- [+ a
( C0 L4 C9 p, MBill would crack down on Net gambling
0 M6 q, b+ a1 C2 j0 gHOUSE COMMITTEE VOTES TO AMEND WAGERING LAW, t9 k5 z4 J% Y
立法打击网络赌博，众议院委员会投票决定修正赌博法。# }& \& ]$ q5 \+ X! \( a. e
& N$ s4 i4 D- xBy Erica Werner
5 y- Z' }% A; s- S, p$ fAssociated Press# H/ D: [, y+ w! e4 p
% h8 y- r+ P4 f) S1 XWASHINGTON - A House panel voted Thursday to crack down on the $12 billion Internet-gambling industry by applying federal prohibitions to games like online poker, blackjack and roulette.6 M9 D4 B J& f; } Z& {
通过联邦禁令来禁止网络赌博游戏，打击网络赌博。& v% ~( `# j8 X1 }2 R; |. C) z
, B+ p% D6 h5 g9 JThe legislation would amend the 1961 Federal Wire Wager Act to explicitly prohibit online gambling. It also would outlaw electronic transmission of funds to pay for gambling bets, give law-enforcement agencies authority to block such money transfers, and increase penalties for violation of the law.
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美国本来有一部赌博法1961 Federal Wire Wager Act。立法机构将会修正此部法律，明确说明禁止网络赌博。修正条款也禁止所有赌博资金的电子交易，赋予执法机构权力阻止赌博资金的流动，增加惩罚力度（个人违法从2年增加到5年）。7 R: Y8 a% e* s0 k5 h7 n
! n4 p; R8 F5 z8 V4 hAlthough the Justice Department has taken the position that the Wire Act already prohibits online gambling in the United States, there is disagreement about that. Most of as many as 2,300 online-gambling sites are overseas.! `% U+ q3 v+ |9 _8 L0 i
1 ? o/ l5 o& t+ S7 S% Q5 LThe bill approved by the Judiciary Committee would "prevent offshore fly-by-night gambling businesses from violating the laws of all states,'' said sponsor Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. He said spending on the sites had skyrocketed.
* H2 P$ B2 |6 o9 F; v# H发起人就是他Bob Goodlatte，力推立法禁止网络赌博。; k4 L' v) d, f# W6 Y1 @7 W9 z
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But at least half of the billions of dollars spent on online gambling each year is thought to come from U.S. bettors, and some companies in this country want to get in on the action. The American Gaming Association, the industry's largest lobby, has opposed online gambling in the past but last month backed a study of the feasibility of regulating it.
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"It has to be able to be properly regulated and controlled. If it is, we'd be interested,'' said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., the gaming association's president.
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Nevada's House members introduced a bill this week calling for such a study.6 b' v/ \- z( F0 Z
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The United Kingdom last year passed a law significantly liberalizing Internet gambling.
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Several Internet-gambling bills have advanced in the House and Senate in recent years but have failed to become law.. k+ f: {; P& t1 L5 p9 A
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One previous attempt by Goodlatte fell to a surprise defeat in the House in 2000 after aggressive opposition by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, then working for an online lottery company. Goodlatte alluded to that during heated debate in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
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- G( f; }+ c% f. C, O"This was the poison pill that was supported by Jack Abramoff five years ago -- don't support it today,'' he shouted as Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., sought to attach an amendment related to horse racing.
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9 g- z& p z# j! @( vWexler objects to Goodlatte's bill because it specifically exempts horse racing; groups including the Poker Players Alliance also are opposed for that reason. Goodlatte says horse racing already is covered by the Interstate Horseracing Act.
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% l) f4 X0 t; A2 w/ a# }Wexler didn't comment on the Abramoff reference and his amendment failed.* w8 ^1 r( z! ?, V
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"Unfortunately the gentleman just mentioned by the gentleman from Virginia had some involvement in this issue before,'' remarked Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah. Abramoff has pleaded guilty in a Justice Department corruption probe.
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+ j7 P* g9 v/ ` pGoodlatte's bill passed 25-11. The committee also approved, on voice vote, a similar bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that creates new restrictions on financial transactions.
