Clinton Administration Raises Concern Over Internet Gambling Bill (VIIIB)

On March 9, 2000, divergent viewpoints on many issues marked an interesting hearing before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kevin V. DiGregory testified that the exemptions in H.R. 3125, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999, for pari-mutual wagering – could inadvertently result in growth in online gaming and is inimical to the purpose of the bill. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), prime sponsor of H.R. 3125, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999, defended the exemption as for “closed-loop, subscriber-based services” only, such as those available at legal race tracks that pipe in races from other venues. Mr. DiGregory characterized the definition of closed-loop systems as “extremely broad”, and possibly allowing individuals to load software into the home personal computers that would permit them access. DiGregory, who heads the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said the Justice Department does not agree that the parimutuel wagering industry should be permitted to accept bets from people in the homes when other forms of gambling have been forbidden from doing so…[more]