Illegal online gambling definition sought

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Federal agencies must determine a detailed definition of illegal Internet gambling before bans can be passed, U.S. financial officials say.

The House Financial Services Committee voted 30-19 to require related federal agencies to create a specific definition of illegal instances of online gambling to help the panel create regulations regarding a proposed ban on such activities, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said Wednesday.

The measure now faces a vote on the House floor, but the question remains whether such a vote will take place before the U.S. Congress adjourns during the next few weeks.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said following Tuesday's vote he is still confident his attempts to repeal a 2006 ban on Internet gambling will succeed.

"I still want to change the law. This isn't everything I want," Frank told the Review-Journal.

The bill involved in this week's vote focused on specific definitions and wording of online gambling activities and included proposed measures such as a ban on all sports betting via the Internet, the newspaper reported.