For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Waxman
(202) 266-9798 or (310) 963-4878
info@safeandsecureig.org

Congressional Hearings Pave Way for Movement on Internet Gambling Regulation

(Washington, D.C. – November 17, 2011) – Michael Waxman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, today issued the following statement in regards to hearings scheduled this week on Internet gambling regulation in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.

“With three congressional hearings on Internet gambling in a matter of weeks, it’s clear that this issue is heating up and momentum is building for Congress to act.

Regulation presents the only opportunity to protect consumers and capture the jobs and economic benefits that are currently lost to offshore gambling operators. The recent indictments of offshore online poker operators clearly demonstrate that the US government’s attempt to prohibit Internet gambling is a failure and a mistake. Americans who continue to gamble online are vulnerable to exploitation, have no guaranteed safeguards over their funds and are left without readily available legal recourse.

Legislation to regulate the industry must include strict requirements for licensed operators to protect against compulsive gambling behavior, underage gambling, fraud, and money laundering, as well as mandate safeguards for consumer funds. This includes adopting the best practices to prevent the use of “bots” and other systems utilized in attempts to rig the game and cheat individual players.

Moreover, any legislation to regulate the industry should respect the rights of Indian sovereignty, reinforce States’ rights and utilize the enforcement expertise of existing regulatory bodies. Indian tribes should be able apply for a license and become an Internet gambling operator or set any restrictions they wish on the activity within their respective geographic borders.

Pending bills introduced by Reps. Campbell and Barton provide solid frameworks for achieving these objectives. They would require licensed operators to put in place practical and enforceable standards to control Internet gambling activity, protect consumers and respect Indian sovereignty. The upside for the Campbell bill is wider protections and opportunities for economic benefits through more jobs and government revenue.

We are hopeful that increased attention from these hearings will pressure Congress to act quickly on this issue.

About Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative

The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions.  For more information on the Initiative, please visit www.safeandsecureig.org.  The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.