RELIGIOUS GROUPS LOBBY AGAINST ONLINE GAMBLING IN THE U.S.

Monday May 21, 2012 :  RELIGIOUS GROUPS LOBBY AGAINST ONLINE GAMBLING IN THE U.S.
 
12 religious and family groups urge Congress to stop online gambling in its tracks
 
Last December's radical change of US Department of Justice policy on what constitutes online gambling in terms of the Wire Act appears to have created concerns in some religious and family groups, with 12 such bodies writing to Congressional leaders urging them to immediately halt the "…massive expansion of internet gambling enabled by Attorney General Holder's surprise reinterpretation of the Wire Act."
 
The letter recalls that six years ago Congress voted overwhelmingly to protect vulnerable US communities and the "integrity of professional sports" by stopping the expansion of gambling on the internet.
 
It continues: "Unfortunately Congress' clear intent in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is now under assault and we are writing to urge you to work once again to protect those most at risk from the proliferation of illegal internet gambling."
 
The publication The Catholic Advocate reports that the letter was signed by American Values, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council Action, WallBuilders, Religious Freedom Coalition, Christian Coalition, Catholic Advocate, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Let Freedom Ring, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 60 Plus Association, and Concerned Women for America.
 
It was sent Friday to Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, Senate Republican Leader McConnell, and Senate Republican Whip Kyl.
 
The letter concludes: "Congress still has an opportunity to act to reassert its authority and re-establish its intent to prevent the proliferation of online gambling in the U.S. By reinstating the more than 50-year old interpretation of the Wire Act and actually strengthening UIGEA, you can protect our children and families from the erosion of safeguards Congress has previously established."