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SCOTT JAGOW: Click the mouse, lose your house. That’s how some people describe the addiction of Internet gambling. This morning, the House of Representatives starts debating a bill that would declare online gambling illegal. Of course, saying it and enforcing it are two different things. More now from Hillary Wicai in Washington.

HILLARY WICAI: The bill goes after the financing. It would make it illegal to use credit and debit cards and electronic money transfers to pay for Internet gambling.

That could take a serious bite out of the rapidly growing $12 billion a year worldwide industry.

Frank Fahrenkopf heads the American Gaming Association. That’s the trade association for the big commercial industry, not Internet sites. He says there are no Internet gambling sites in the US — they’re all located off shore, outside of US jurisdiction.

FRANK FAHRENKOPF: “You know prohibition of things people want to do have never worked in this country’s history. We think a better approach from our standpoint is the federal government ought to step back for a moment and let’s do a year and a half or two year study of Internet gambling.”

The House is expected to vote on the measure tomorrow.

In Washington, I’m Hillary Wicai for Marketplace.