The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act could cement a federal law to prohibit the processing of financial transactions related to online gambling, and in some cases force Internet service providers to block access to offshore gambling sites. The bill would make exceptions for state-run lotteries and horse racing.
Quantria Strategies economist Judy Xanthopoulos notes in a study published by the Poker Players Alliance on Tuesday the U.S. government would collect more than $3.3 billion annually in new taxes if regulated. That number based on today's online gambling market.
The report states a variety of methods to collect tax revenue. User fees might apply to individual transactions as they pass through financial intermediaries, such as credit card companies or payment services. The amount that passes from the Internet poker site to a payment service would require a fee.
