Group marks 1 year since online poker Black Friday

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The American Gaming Association is calling for federal regulation of online gambling on the one-year anniversary of a poker website crackdown dubbed "Black Friday."

The trade group is asking Congress to modernize and strengthen the Wire Act of 1961 to eliminate illegal, offshore gambling sites that are still operating even while major sites are blacked out to Americans.

Last April 15, the FBI shut down the websites of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker. Some company executives were charged with money laundering and bank fraud.

AGA officials say they want lawmakers to establish consistent rules so customers will be able to gamble online securely in states that eventually choose to legalize the practice.