The Christian Coalition on Monday endorsed the federal U.S. anti-Internet gambling bill put forth by Rep. James Leach, R-Iowa.
Leach's bill, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, would make Internet gambling illegal by banning the use of credit cards, electronic fund transfers and other bank instruments as payment for online gaming. The bill provides for both civil and criminal penalties, including a permanent injunction against wagering.
 |
"Internet gambling has become another avenue for the gambling industry to lure those who are vulnerable to addictions into its web."
- The Christian Coalition
|
|
The bill, H.R. 556, also asks that foreign governments identify I-gaming companies that launder money.
The Christian Coalition is a conservative, grass-roots organization that aims to insert the Christian faith into the political process. The organization, whose Web site says represents nearly 2 million
Americans, issued an action alert on Monday to encourage its members to ask their representatives in Congress to support Leach's bill.
"Internet gambling has become another avenue for the gambling industry to lure those who are vulnerable to addictions into its web," the action alert states. "One of the greatest dangers in this form of gambling is that it is easily accessible to adolescents in the home, a college dorm or wherever the Internet is available."
Specifically, the Christian Coalition would like to see the bill debated on the floor of the House of Republicans. Bill Tate, Leach's spokesman, said the bill's referral to the Judiciary Committee will
expire March 29. Since the Banking Committee has already reported the bill, the next step is for it to be heard by the entire House. House leaders have not yet scheduled the bill for consideration.
"It is Leach's hope that they will do so sometime after the Congress returns from the spring district work period, which we are in now, but we don't have any commitment from the leadership at this point," Tate said.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention also voiced support for the bill this week. Leach released a statement saying both organizations' endorsements are welcome. Tate said the Christian Coalition's action alert could boost support for Leach's bill among House members.
"They have a large membership, which if their endorsement in any way energizes, is likely to result in more members becoming aware of the bill," he said. "When anything of this sort has any impact, it is when individual constituents of members contact their representative and say that they would like them to support the measure. That's what tends to motivate members of Congress."
The American Gaming Association, it was reported today in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is leaning toward supporting Leach's bill over a similar bill proposed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.
Fahrenkopf told IGN Wednesday that if he had to make a decision immediately, he'd be more inclined to lend the AGA's support to the Leach bill. However, the AGA has sent Goodlatte some proposals for his bill that would make it more likely to gain the gaming organization's endorsement. Fahrenkopf said he will meet with Goodlatte sometime in the next week to 10 days to go over those changes. He will also meet with Leach and Rep. Mike Oxley, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, to go over H.R. 556.
"After doing those two things, then we'll be in a position to make a decision," Fahrenkopf said.