Several New Jersey lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum, wrote a letter to the US Justice Department urging the office to keep internet gambling legal in the country. The letter, penned last Thursday and sent to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, was signed by New Jersey’s two Democratic senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, as well as Republican Reps. Frank LoBiondo, Leonard Lance, and Tom MacArthur, and Democrats Josh Gottheimer, Albio Sires, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bill Pascrell Jr. and Donald Payne Jr.
The lawmakers urged the Deputy Attorney General to keep in place the Department’s 2011 decision where it was noted that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting.
The Wire Act states that “whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting the pacing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”
In their letter, the lawmakers point out that when the Department issued their decision, critics predicted scenarios which included turning every smartphone and personal computer into a casino that was available 24/7.
“These doomsday scenarios have not come to pass,” write the lawmakers.
Turning to New Jersey, the authors of the letter point out that strict registration procedures, along with rigorous regulations and constant monitoring have proved effective at preventing underage gambling in the Garden State. They also point to studies which state that online gambling may be more effective at verifying identification and preventing underage gambling than land casinos.
“Placing a blanket prohibition for online gambling would be an antiquated approach to a 21st century issue, punishing states like New Jersey – which have invested in creating a safe and secure online gaming structure – while also permitting black market operators to put millions of Americans at risk,” they write. “Given the statutory language, legislative history and clear evidence that online gaming has shown clear benefits, we respectfully request that you uphold the 2011 decision that the Wire Act does not prohibit online gambling.”
