May 17, 2000
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, D.C.
Dear Speaker Hastert:
We urge you to support H.R. 3125, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, and bring it to the House floor for immediate consideration. This legislation would make it illegal for gambling businesses to place a bet or knowingly assist someone in placing a bet over the Internet. H.R. 3125, as written, would clarify existing Federal law and prohibit wagering on the more than 700 current gambling sites that are already available over the Internet.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission, which included several representatives from the gambling industry, overwhelmingly recommended that Internet gambling be banned. Similar legislation has also been supported by the National Association of Attorneys General, which recognizes the
necessity of federal legislation to aid in their own enforcement efforts.
The current version of H.R. 3125 is nearly identical to S. 692, sponsored by Senator Jon Kyl, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Both bills allow minor exemptions regarding horse and dog racing. However, these exemptions merely recognize existing realities; they do not expand gambling
over the Internet.
Let us make it clear that we find state-sponsored lotteries one of the most troublesome forms of gambling in America. Lotteries have proven to be highly addictive, particularly alluring to youth, and overly dependent on a small percentage of citizens who are disproportionately poor, undereducated,
and from minority backgrounds. We know that at-home lottery gambling over the Internet would only grossly compound this injustice.
In the House Judiciary Committee our efforts were successful in removing language that would have permitted state lotteries to offer various forms of gambling to at-home Internet users. The removal of the at-home state lottery exemption -- which would drastically expand gambling over the
Internet--is crucial for the bill to be meaningful.
H.R. 3125 is necessary to stop the rapid growth of gambling over the Internet that families, local government and even the states cannot control. This bill, although not perfect, would be a major step in the right direction.
We encourage you to do everything in your power to ensure that this bill, as reported by the Judiciary Committee, moves quickly to the floor. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D
President
Focus on the Family
Pat Robertson, Ph.D
Founder
Christian Coalition
Charles A. Donovan
Executive President
Acting CEO
Family Research Council
Jerry Falwell, Ph.D
Jerry Falwell Ministries