Congressman Bob Goodlatte Pushes for
Online Gambling Prohibition With HR4777

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March 19th, 2006 - Give the secret knock before entering your favorite poker room... prohibition is back! It worked so well with alcohol that the Federal government of the United States is actually considering bringing us the 21st century version in the form on an all-out ban for online gambling.

Now before you laugh... before you think it's not possible... before you say "they have tried and failed before"... listen up. This time it's different. The moral agendas of hypocritical congressmen like Rep Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) have help from the Patriot Act, the far right wing, smoke, mirrors, and a host of half-truths.

The APCW has had an exclusive interview with Rep Goodlatte's Legislative Director, Branden Ritchie. Mr. Ritchie was kind enough to give us several moments of his time and answered some of our pointed questions. The full text of this interview is available in the upcoming edition of APCW Perspectives magazine, which will be distributed at the Casino Affiliate Convention in Amsterdam next month. After the conference, you can find the full interview on this website.

The APCW: In attempting to pass this bill, what do you say to the estimated 30,000,000 Americans currently gambling online? Those millions of tax payers who responsibly enjoy a game of poker or a spin on a slot machine without hurting themselves or their families? The millions of voters who feel your bill infringes upon their personal freedoms?

Ritchie: You'd really need to ask my boss (Rep. Goodlatte) because I can't put words in his mouth. If you go to his web site he has his thoughts on the bills, and he lays out some reasons why… including addictive gamblers and the fraud that can be wrought over the internet, especially with establishments that are not within the United States

The APCW: When you say "fraud" do you mean money laundering with organized crime? Or from credit card fraud and the protection of children?

Ritchie: Well, probably both... The FBI has testified before the committee on the fact that these types of things are sometimes used for money laundering from various criminal organizations, whether it's terrorists or just regular old organized crime. And then, of course, you have the ability for children to go online and use their parent's credit cards.

I know that there are some protections are starting to emerge. Just the mere fact that we have the wire act already, which prohibits people using the telephone wires and, really, any kind of communication device to do sports betting...

The APCW: But you guys know that the wire act is archaic as was never intended for online gaming.

Ritchie: Yes… and that's what our bill does: It updates the Wire Act to make sure that it covers all forms of gambling, not just sports because… the Department of Justice thinks that it (the Wire Act) covers all forms of gambling already… not just sports. To the extent there's any confusion our bill is meant to make clear it indeed does cover all forms of online gambling.

For more of this interview, pick-up APCW Perspectives Spring 2006 issue.
Or visit the APCW Perspectives website.

Bob Goodlatte and Gambling Legislation