The bills that seek to cripple and ban the online gambling industry
in the United States remained unheard as the Senate adjourned for
the 4 week autumn break last Friday.
To become law, Bill HR 4411 has to pass a Senate debate and vote,
and be signed into law by the President before the current Congressional
season ends.
A further Bill, HR 4777 is expected to be under committee review until
approximately September 15 and could also come onto the floor.
Prior to the adjournment Senate Majority leader Bill Frist outlined
his agenda for the reconvened September session, which will include
port security legislation, completion of the annual budget for the
Defense Department, and the bill banning selected types of Internet
gambling.
So far, the influential horse racing and lotteries industries have
been exempted, but the undesirability of "carve-outs" has
been the downfall of similar bills in previous years. The contentious
issue of state rights to control regional gambling legislation has
also been carefully skirted by Reps Goodlatte and Leach in drafting
the bill.
This year, too there have already been objections from the banking
and commercial sectors of US business regarding fears of being over-burdened
by the provisions of the bill should it be approved, and at least
47 sponsors have already signed up for a proposal by Rep. Jon Porter
of Nevada to have a bi-partisan, 18 month Congressional investigation
of online gambling.
Frist has said his target adjournment date, which is flexible and
can be extended is October/November.