Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte will reintroduce a bill this week that would prohibit Internet gambling, a fast-growing industry valued at about $12 billion, a spokeswoman for Goodlatte said on Tuesday.
Goodlatte, a Republican, first introduced legislation to ban online gambling nearly a decade ago. In 2000, his bill had strong support in the House but was unexpectedly defeated due in part to efforts by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented gambling interests, according to the spokeswoman.
Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges in early January and is cooperating with prosecutors in a corruption probe that could implicate lawmakers and officials across Washington.
The previous version of Goodlatte's bill would make it illegal to use the Internet for gambling and give law enforcement officials the authority to stop credit card payments to offshore Internet gambling sites.
Goodlatte's spokeswoman said details about the new bill would be released on Thursday. Other sponsors of the bill will be fellow Virginia Republicans Rick Boucher and Frank Wolf, she said.
Shares in two European gaming companies, PartyGaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc fell in Tuesday trading due to concerns about new U.S. legislation, according to traders.
Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.
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