Sen Richard Burr (NC) response

[scarfire]

Sen. Burr sent me this letter on May 19, 2006 in response to my inquiry about the pending anti-gambling bills.

Dear Todd:

Thank you for contacting me about federal legislation to regulate Internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you.

With the expansion of the world wide web, illegal gambling over the Internet has increased over the past decade. I have many concerns with its recent growth and with its associated problems. I fear the Internet provides an ease and accessibility to gambling sites and on-line casinos that can hurt those already addicted to gambling and create opportunities for others to become addicted as well. Furthermore, the volume and international scope of Internet gambling presents opportunities for criminal activity. The FBI has found that online gambling can be readily used for money laundering by criminal and even terrorist organizations.

Gambling over telecommunications lines is illegal and has been prosecuted under federal law for several decades. Individual states which allow gambling usually establish commissions or licensing agencies to closely watch and regulate all gambling within their borders. Internet gambling provides a way for casinos that are usually located overseas to bypass state laws and provide gambling opportunities to anyone who has Internet access. This not only undermines what state legislatures have decided, but allows gambling to occur outside of state regulation providing increased opportunities for criminal abuse.

Congress has sought in recent years to pass legislation to better combat Internet gambling. Proposals offered in the current 109th Congress seek to combat Internet gambling in a variety of ways. In the House of Representatives, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (H.R. 4777), would enhance current law to ensure the ability to prosecute illegal gambling over all types of interstate communications. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (H.R. 4411) would seek to combat illegal gambling by blocking financial transfers to Internet gambling houses and online gambling providers. This bill would implement methods similar to those already used to block financial transactions with terrorists and drug dealers. During my service in the House of Representatives, I supported legislation similar to the Gambling Enforcement Act and I will be watching both of these bills closely if they are considered in the Senate.

Richard Burr