The Indiana Senate's Economic Development and Technology Committee on Monday voted 10-0 in favor of a bill making it a felony to promote Internet gambling.
Introduced by Sen. David Ford, SB 71 would make it illegal to promote online casinos and sports books. For the casual bettor, gambling at Internet casinos will remain a class B misdemeanor.
The Ford bill is aimed at radio stations and ISPs that run advertisements for online casinos.
Ford, who didn't immediately return phone calls from IGN on Tuesday, told the Indianapolis Star he's confident the bill will pass.
"You can play in the middle of the night, you can max out everything you have and there's no way to regulate it," he said. "I know enforcement may be difficult, but I think it's an effort we need to make."
The unanimous vote came in spite of senators raising issues over the enforceability of the law and the potential for charges brought against ISPs that unknowingly host sites carrying advertising for online gambling sites.
Sen. Frank Mrvan further argued that the bill creates a double standard.
"We can't go after someone who watches pornography in their homes," Mrvan argued, "but we are going to go after someone betting on football games?"
Under the bill, enforcement of the felony charges would be up to local prosecutors.
To help his cause during the committee hearing, Ford played a recording of a radio commercial for an Internet site that urges listeners to log on where they can be guided through the process of owning their own online casino.
"Casinos are like banks, all they do is make money!" the commercial blared. "Now you can tap into that money using your home computer."
The Ford bill is headed for the full sate Senate, where last year a similarly worded bill passed before stalling in the House. Ford said last week upon introducing the legislation that he was hopeful a change in leadership in the House would help the bill's chances.