U.S. Congress approved a bill on Wednesday that would legalize online poker and other non-sports betting, in an attempt by the federal government to bring in additional revenue.
The New York Times reports that the bill would allow the Treasury Department to license and regulate Internet gambling web sites. A companion measure is also in the works that would allow the Internal Revenue Service to tax both businesses and winners, bringing in up to $42 billion over 10 years.
The House Financial Services Committee voted 41 to 22 in favor of the bill, showing a big turnaround from 2006 when a federal ban was placed on all Internet gambling.
“We will not pass an Internet gaming bill,” Representative Brad Sherman (D- Calif.) said. “We will pass a bill to do something very important, funded by Internet gaming.”
Those who like to indulge in sports betting however were given no help. Before voting the committee approved multiple amendments to the ban, one of which is online sports betting will still be banned in the United States.
Government officials still want to deter compulsive addiction and prevent criminal and terrorist activities from being funded from a medium that is difficult to monitor, so testing the bill with just online gambling appears the conservative route.