[Washington, DC, June 12, 2003]—Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen announced today that the House of Representatives this week passed legislation to prohibit the use of certain financial instruments to place bets via the Internet but protected the rights of states to license and regulate gambling over the internet. 

H.R. 2143, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, which hopes to curtail illegal offshore online, gambling, passed the House by a margin of 319-104.  “H.R. 2143 would prohibit the use of credit cards, checks and other financial instruments to place bets on the Internet using companies that are not licensed under state, territorial of federal law, “ the Delegate said.

  “Enactment of this bill into law would mean that the Territory could go ahead and license Internet gambling because it protects the rights of states and territorial governments to regulate gambling within their borders,” Christensen also said.

To further make clear that states could allow betting via the internet, New York Representative Sue Kelly was successful in securing passage of an amendment to the bill which stated that nothing in the bill infringes on states rights.  H.R. 2143 now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.