SALT LAKE CITY -- Rep. Chris Cannon is again opposing a bill to ban Internet gambling, contending it could lead to legalizing some online gambling in Utah.

"While I am an ardent opponent of gambling, one of the things I don't want to see is an opportunity for gambling because we pre-empt state law," the Utah Republican said. "I don't want Utah to get bombarded with gambling if it becomes legal."

Utah and Hawaii are the only states that outlaw all forms of gambling.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said opponents' claims that the bill would give special treatment to horse betting or any gambling enterprise, are absurd.

"I strongly disagree with anybody that says this legislation adds a carve-out for the horse racing industry," said Goodlatte, who was quoted by The Salt Lake Tribune.

He said horse racing is already regulated by another federal law, and his bill would not change that.

Goodlatte said that during the five years that various versions of the legislation have been debated, the scope of Internet gambling has quadrupled. Today there are more than 2,300 gambling sites and $12 billion a year bet online, he said.

This year, the debate takes place as Congress deals with fallout from a scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who lobbied for online gambling interests and Indian tribes.

Cannon's former chief of staff, David Safavian, who also lobbied for online gambling interests before joining Cannon's staff, has been charged with misleading investigators probing a trip to Scotland he took with Abramoff after he left Cannon's office and went to work at the General Services Administration.

Cannon has tried several times to amend the legislation to take out the horse-racing language.

Supporters of the legislation said Cannon's change would cost the bill the support it needs to pass.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D2.