FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2014
Coalition Praises State Attorneys General for Taking Stand Against Internet Gambling
Washington, D.C.—The Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling today applauded the fifteen state Attorneys General who urged Congress to restore the long-standing ban on Internet gambling in a just-released letter.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation has weighed in. The American people have weighed in. And now, the chief law enforcement officials from fifteen states have weighed in, saying no to expanded Internet gambling,” said former New York Gov. George Pataki (R-NY), former Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb in a joint statement. “As awareness about the dangers of Internet gambling grows, we are hopeful that more will join this important fight.”
The letter says, in part:
For years, the federal government had consistently deemed the Wire Act to prohibit all forms of gambling involving interstate wire transmissions – including transmissions over the Internet. In late 2011, reversing its own longstanding interpretations, the DOJ’s Office of Legal Council issued a legal opinion stating that the Wire Act only bans sports betting, and that it does not apply to online lottery sales.
The impact of this opinion – which in effect opens the door to the spread of Internet gambling – will have a potentially significant impact on state and local law enforcement. As such, we urge Congress to fully review, assess, understand and debate the significant policy implications entailed in the spread of Internet gambling, including concerns related to money laundering; access by minors; fraud; exploitation of individuals with a gambling addiction; and terrorist financing.
The full letter and list of signers is available here:
The Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling’s mission is to restore the long-standing federal ban on Internet gambling. It will engage the public and policymakers on the threat posed by Internet gambling.
For more information or to arrange interviews with any of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling National Co-Chairs, please contact Dan Wilson at dwilson@mercuryllc.com.
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CONTACT: Dan Wilson/Mercury
202-261-4000