April 28, 2008
Dear Mr. Fletcher:
Thank you for contacting me about Internet gambling. I
appreciate your taking the time to share your views.
In 2006, Congress passed the Internet Gambling
Prohibition Act, which revises the current federal law against
interstate gambling. The bill expands current prohibitions against
the use of wire communications (telephone) for interstate or
international gambling to include Internet gambling operations,
and increases the criminal penalty for violating the law. It bars
financial institutions from processing financial transactions related
to illegal Internet gambling, and prohibits legal gambling
businesses from accepting financial transactions related to
unlawful Internet gambling.
I respect the desire of individuals to play poker and similar
games in a private setting. I voted for the Internet Gambling
Prohibition Act because I believe it is important to stop the
proliferation of illegal offshore Internet gambling operations, some
of which are involved in money laundering, and many of which are
accessible to minors. The bill does not restrict states' ability to
regulate gambling within their borders, as has always been the
case. Therefore, the bill would permit intrastate Internet gambling
if authorized by a state government.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has introduced H.R. 2046, the
Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The bill
would create an exemption to the ban on online gambling for
properly licensed operators, who would be allowed to operate
nationwide Internet gambling sites under a federal regulatory and
enforcement framework. The bill has been referred to the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which I serve, and to the
House Committee on Financial Services, which Rep. Frank chairs.
I will keep your thoughts in mind if the House considers this
legislation.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will
continue to do so on issues important to you.
Sincerely,
Tom Allen
Member of Congress
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