Number: RS20485
Title: INTERNET GAMBLING: A SKETCH OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
Authors: Charles Doyle, American Law Division 
Abstract: S. 692 as passed by the Senate and H.R. 3125 as introduced would have outlawed commercial use of the Internet to gamble and facilitate gambling with fairly broad exceptions for certain forms of legalized gambling. Individual bettors would not have been covered and there were to have been exemptions for fantasy sports leagues, horse racing, dog racing, and state lotteries, among others. Violations would have been subject to criminal penalties and court injunctions. Service providers who cooperate with authorities in good faith enforcement of the Act would have been immunized for their cooperation and for violations occurring through use of their facilities. Although similar in most respects, S. 692 and H.R. 3125 had some differences. For instance, S. 692, but not H.R. 3125, would have exempted certain gambling and gambling-related activities conducted under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The proposals were not enacted during the 106th Congress, but the Justice Department appropriation legislation did include a section subsequently enacted and drafted to clarify the legality of the use of interstate communications in connection with off-track parimutuel gambling.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated January 11, 2001