Internet gambling ban wins support in Senate

Senate lawmakers say they will try again to outlaw internet gambling, despite the concerns of some experts, who said US states should instead try to regulate the $US4 billion ($7.3 billion) industry.

Top lawmakers on the senate banking and finance committee said they supported a bill that would require credit-card companies and payment services such as PayPal to block money transfers to internet gambling sites.

"This legislation represents a measured and appropriate response to a demonstrated social evil that grows worse every day," said Alabama Republican Senator Richard Shelby, who chairs the committee.

Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, the committee's top Democrat, said he also supported the bill.

A similar bill was approved by a House of Representatives committee last week.