The "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006", as included in HR 4954, the "Port Security Improvement Act of 2006", which was approved by the House and Senate on September 29, 2006.


TITLE VIII--UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the `Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006'.

SEC. 802. PROHIBITION ON ACCEPTANCE OF ANY PAYMENT INSTRUMENT FOR UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING.

(a) In General- Chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SUBCHAPTER IV--PROHIBITION ON FUNDING OF UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING

`Sec. 5361. Congressional findings and purpose

`(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

`(b) Rule of Construction- No provision of this subchapter shall be construed as altering, limiting, or extending any Federal or State law or Tribal-State compact prohibiting, permitting, or regulating gambling within the United States.

`Sec. 5362. Definitions

`In this subchapter:

`Sec. 5363. Prohibition on acceptance of any financial instrument for unlawful Internet gambling

`No person engaged in the business of betting or wagering may knowingly accept, in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful Internet gambling--

`Sec. 5364. Policies and procedures to identify and prevent restricted transactions

`(a) Regulations- Before the end of the 270-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subchapter, the Secretary and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall prescribe regulations (which the Secretary and the Board jointly determine to be appropriate) requiring each designated payment system, and all participants therein, to identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit restricted transactions through the establishment of policies and procedures reasonably designed to identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit the acceptance of restricted transactions in any of the following ways:

`(b) Requirements for Policies and Procedures- In prescribing regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall--

`(c) Compliance With Payment System Policies and Procedures- A financial transaction provider shall be considered to be in compliance with the regulations prescribed under subsection (a) if--

`(d) No Liability for Blocking or Refusing To Honor Restricted Transactions- A person that identifies and blocks a transaction, prevents or prohibits the acceptance of its products or services in connection with a transaction, or otherwise refuses to honor a transaction--

shall not be liable to any party for such action.

`(e) Regulatory Enforcement- The requirements under this section shall be enforced exclusively by--

`Sec. 5365. Civil remedies

`(a) Jurisdiction- In addition to any other remedy under current law, the district courts of the United States shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to prevent and restrain restricted transactions by issuing appropriate orders in accordance with this section, regardless of whether a prosecution has been initiated under this subchapter.

`(b) Proceedings-

`(c) Limitation Relating to Interactive Computer Services-

`(d) Limitation on Injunctions Against Regulated Persons- Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, and subject to section 5367, no provision of this subchapter shall be construed as authorizing the Attorney General of the United States, or the attorney general (or other appropriate State official) of any State to institute proceedings to prevent or restrain a restricted transaction against any financial transaction provider, to the extent that the person is acting as a financial transaction provider.

`Sec. 5366. Criminal penalties

`(a) In General- Any person who violates section 5363 shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

`(b) Permanent Injunction- Upon conviction of a person under this section, the court may enter a permanent injunction enjoining such person from placing, receiving, or otherwise making bets or wagers or sending, receiving, or inviting information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers.

`Sec. 5367. Circumventions prohibited

`Notwithstanding section 5362(2), a financial transaction provider, or any interactive computer service or telecommunications service, may be liable under this subchapter if such person has actual knowledge and control of bets and wagers, and--

(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SUBCHAPTER IV--PROHIBITION ON FUNDING OF UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING

`5361. Congressional findings and purpose.
`5362. Definitions.
`5363. Prohibition on acceptance of any financial instrument for unlawful Internet gambling.
`5364. Policies and procedures to identify and prevent restricted transactions.
`5365. Civil remedies.
`5366. Criminal penalties.
`5367. Circumventions prohibited.'.

SEC. 803. INTERNET GAMBLING IN OR THROUGH FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS.

(a) In General- In deliberations between the United States Government and any foreign country on money laundering, corruption, and crime issues, the United States Government should--

(b) Report Required- The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit an annual report to the Congress on any deliberations between the United States and other countries on issues relating to Internet gambling.