Free Market Groups Urge Reform of Internet Gambling Law
Washington, D.C., July 26, 2010—Today a coalition of free market organizations, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute, released a joint letter to Congress regarding upcoming legislation on the future of Internet gambling. The text of the letter follows.
Dear Member:
On July 27, House Financial Services Committee will consider legislation that could alter the regulation of Internet gambling in the United States. We, a coalition of consumer protection and free market groups, believe the best way to protect against fraud, victimization, underage use, and problem gambling is for an Internet gambling industry to allow consumers to play on legal platforms and to be protected by the laws of the United States.
Over the last 15 years, online casinos have evolved effective ways to ensure that players’ finances and personal information remain safe. Additionally, age verification technology already exists for other online industries (such as alcohol sales) and has been effectively utilized by online casinos.
While we have our individual concerns about how a legalized Internet gambling industry will be regulated, we strongly urge you to consider changes to the current regulation of Internet gambling, particularly to consider measures to overturn the banking regulation known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act and create an environment where players and casinos can operate within the law rather than underground.
Sincerely,
Michelle Minton
Director of Insurance Studies
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform
###
CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest group that studies the intersection of regulation, risk, and markets.
