Curbing Internet gambling

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently reported on proposed regulations to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), Title VIII of the SAFE Port Act, PL 109-347 (pdf, 80pp/228kB), 120 Stat. 1952. The regs identify five payment systems in which to interdict the flow of illegal Internet gambling proceeds: cards systems, money transmission systems, wire transfer systems, check collection systems, and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. The report notes that except for financial institutions that deal directly with illegal Internet gamblers, tracking revenues in wire transfer, check collection, and ACH systems is not currently feasible.

CRS cites three bills introduced in the 110th Congress to augment UIGEA: the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007, HR 2046 (pdf, 26pp), Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2007, HR 2607 (pdf, 4pp), and the Skill Game Protection Act, HR 2610 (pdf, 6pp).

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and Regulations Proposed for Its Implementation, CRS Report RS22749 (pdf, 6pp/72kB, from Open CRS), November 1, 2007