A new federal law is expected to impede a move by certain sectors to allow Internet gambling in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.
The House Speaker Oscar Babauta said that pending legislation may face some setbacks after President George Bush signed a bill that effectively criminalized placing online bets.
Mr Babauta says the CNMI bill, authored by Floor Leader Florencio Deleon Guerrero, has been pending in the House of Representatives for months.
The Saipan Tribune reports the intent of the House bill is to allow and regulate Internet gambling in the CNMI with Asia as the primary market, which has the potential to generate around 6 million US dollars in annual revenue.