Contact: Stacey Holliday, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126
WASHINGTON, July 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) celebrates today’s passage of Rep. Jim Leach’s (R-Iowa) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-Virginia) Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, H.R. 4441. This legislation prohibits the use of credit cards, checks, and wire and electronic funds transfers for unlawful Internet gambling, and arms law enforcement and private parties with tools to prevent illegal online gambling transactions both in the U.S. and overseas. Internet gambling is primarily funded through the use of personal payment systems, mostly credit cards, and is a growing contributor of debt.
“Internet gambling must be seen for what it really is—a crime—and must be regulated under current gambling laws,” said Lanier Swann, CWA’s Director of Government Relations. “People try to trivialize the practice as a harmless hobby or pastime. They think they aren’t directly hurting anyone or breaking the law. The truth is they are most certainly breaking the law via a dangerous and addictive behavior.
“A danger of Internet gambling is its normalizing effect on society. Gambling’s stigma disintegrated when it came to the Internet. People feel more comfortable participating when gambling is available 24/7 with the click of a mouse. Internet technology has made gambling easy and anonymous.
“This isn’t just a game. This is a real danger and it is gaining ground. People are increasingly isolating themselves from friends and family while they are locking themselves away in the privacy of their rooms. They are hurting their loved ones by squandering money and time down the Internet drain.
“Gambling is a strong enough addiction without the constant enticement of its availability in one’s home,” stated Swann. “For this, we commend Rep. Leach and Rep. Goodlatte for spearheading and seeing this bill through. We also thank Americans across the country whose support and encouragement helped bring this bill to the forefront—and have helped take casinos out of their homes.”
Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.
