Congressmen Ron Paul of Texas and Barney Frank of Massachusetts have sponsored legislation that would undo a federal ban on Internet gambling — a law that took family groups nearly a decade to put in place.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 gives financial institutions a government go-ahead to block payments to off-shore Internet gambling interests. The Frank-Paul bill, backed by the Poker Players Alliance, would cancel that blockade.
Dr. Valerie Lorenz, president and founder of the Forensic Center on Compulsive Gambling, says the Internet gambling industry feeds on anonymity.
“It is so readily available — in anyone’s home, at school, at work — without any kind of limitations or constraints,” she said. “You can gamble in the middle of the night at home when your family thinks you’re sleeping. Gambling is a profitable, greedy, private industry and government must protect citizens.”
TAKE ACTION
Contact your U.S. representative and ask him or her to oppose H.R. 5767, sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Ron Paul, which would legalize online gambling. You can send an e-mail through our Action Center.
