The US House of Representatives yesterday voted in favour of a bill to ban the use of credit cards or any other form of electronic payment for offshore internet gambling sites in the latest move to clamp-down on the multi-billion dollar industry.

The bill would make it an offence for gambling businesses to accept payments by credit cards, checks or fund transfers. It would also require banks and other credit card issuers to block payments to gambling sites. Finally, the bill would oblige internet providers to remove relevant links or advertisements.

Internet gambling is illegal in all US states except Nevada. However, people have still access to approximately 1,500 gambling sites operating offshore. Most of them are based in the Caribbean. According to the Wall Street Journal, the revenues from internet gambling are expected to exceed $4.2 billion in 2003.

Many major credit card issuers including American Express and Citygroup have already blocked payments to gambling sites.

The bill must now be approved by the Senate, although there are only a few weeks left until the end of the legislative session.

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