Wesson Introduces Legislation Banning Internet Gambling

Sacramento - Assembly member Herb J. Wesson, Jr. (D-Culver City/Los Angeles) announced today the introduction of AB 2179, legislation banning Internet gambling.

"The proliferation of offshore Internet gambling sites is staggering," explained Wesson. "The ease with which one can access a cyber-casino over the Internet is alarmingly simple. In a matter of seconds, a person can access any one of the hundreds of gambling sites on the Internet and gamble in virtual anonymity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This form of unregulated gambling preys on two segments of our society that are especially vulnerable: minors and pathological gamblers."

Under AB 2179, a person who knowingly offers, solicits, or facilitates the play of any prohibited online game to a California resident would be guilty of a misdemeanor. Persons who wager at or against any prohibited online game would be guilty of an infraction.

In addition, the bill would authorize the Attorney General to bring criminal and civil actions against violators of this law. The bill would also allow the Attorney General to review advertisements of online gambling businesses for accuracy and require the advertisements to disclose that these online games are illegal in this state.

Finally, the bill would codify over 100 years of legal precedent by clarifying that Internet gambling debts are unenforceable in California. "My goal is to send a clear message that gambling debts incurred online are not enforceable in a California court," Wesson added.

AB 2179 is consistent with the recommendations of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission which called on the President and Congress to enact a prohibition on Internet gambling and to enact legislation stating that any credit card debts incurred while gambling on the Internet are unrecoverable. Federal legislation has been introduced to prohibit Internet gambling. Moreover, at least eight other states have either enacted or are considering legislation prohibiting Internet gambling.

"We have taken great pains to regulate legal forms of gambling in this state. Internet gambling avoids any of the laws we enacted. Even more alarming is the accessibility of these unregulated sites to kids and those with gambling problems. I look forward to working with the law enforcement community, especially the Attorney General, in attacking this problem," Wesson said.