15-11-2007 US Congress hears internet gambling testimony

While the Internet Media Entertainment & Gaming Association called the proposal from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to ban online gambling in the state an unconstitutional infringement of Americans' digital civil rights, the House Judiciary Committee heard a testimony on the need for the United States to change their policy related to internet gambling.

Rep. Shelley Berkley criticized the federal government's decision to ban online gambling before conducting a comprehensive study of the issue. Berkley also said last year's Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made things even more confusing by targeting the financial sector rather than gamblers.

An estimated 10 million Americans continue to bet online on poker alone. A spokeperson for the US Treasury conceded that the UIGEA regulations, expected to come into force in the second half of 2008, would have no way of policing transactions through offshore bank accounts.

US Attorney Catherine Hanaway categorically stated that the Department of Justice considers all forms of internet gambling illegal and will continue prosecutions.

Law Professor Joseph Weiler said there is no question that the US ban on internet gambling is a violation of the WTO trade agreements and that the United States cannot persuasively claim a moral argument for internet gambling as long as they allow online betting on horse and online lotteries.

"At its most basic level, the issue before this committee is personal freedom," commented professional poker player Annie Duke. "More than any other value, America is supposed to be about freedom. Except where one's actions directly and necessarily harm another person's life, liberty or property, government in America is supposed to leave the citizenry alone."

Finally, Michael Collopy of Aristotle dismissed the myth that it is impossible to keep childrens off gambling sites. "Online age and ID verification has matured as a needed solution such that any merchant may do online what is routinely done at stores every day across America. In fact, as ever more efficient technologies and databases have been developed, online transactions have become in many instances faster and less risky than the visual driver's license scans that suffice for alcohol or cigarette purchases in America's neighbourhood convenience stores, restaurants and bars."