The Hill – The national police officers union is telling Congress not to impose a nationwide ban on online gambling. “We cannot ban our way out of this problem as this would simply drive online gaming further and further underground and put more and more people at risk,” Fraternal Order of Police National President Chuck Canterbury wrote to heads of the House Judiciary Committee last week. “Not only does the black market for Internet gaming include no consumer protections, it also operates entirely offshore with unlicensed operators, drastically increasing the threat of identity theft, fraud or other criminal acts.” The…

The Hill – The National Governors Association (NGA) is opposing legislation from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) that would ban online gambling. “The nation’s governors are concerned with legislation introduced in Congress that would ban online Internet gaming and Internet lottery sales because it challenges the federal-state relationship,” the governors wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. Backed by billionaire casino owner and conservative donor Sheldon Adelson, Graham and Chaffetz introduced twin bills in March that would ban online gambling. They argue this practice would be harmful to children who may have access to such sites…

Washington Post – Politicians supporting Sheldon Adelson’s proposed online gambling ban claim to want to protect the poor and children and to prevent crime. But if they truly cared about these issues rather than getting in Mr. Adelson’s good graces, they would reject such a ban. A ban on a good or service for which there is demand simply pushes people into the black market, creating a host of unintended consequences that make consumers less safe. Dozens of other countries have had legal online gambling for decades with few negative consequences. And there are many technological methods for verifying a…

The Internet has changed lives in a number of meaningful ways. It has unleashed a great transformation that has allowed access to information and services through a swipe or a click. Over 85 percent of Americans use the Internet and there are over 900 million users of social media around the world on any given day.  As the Internet continues to fuel innovation for American consumers, Tribal governments are rightly pursuing all online opportunities as instruments for economic growth. When Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988 Federal laws governing gaming on Tribal lands did not exist….

Inside World Football – An English second-tier striker has been has been handed a suspended three-month ban and fined £60,000 in the latest breach of football’s betting rules to hit English football. Dexter Blackstock, of Nottingham Forest, currently recovering from a serious knee injury sustained while on loan at Leeds United, has been charged with multiple breaches of conduct but will only serve the punishment if he offends again. “Nottingham Forest’s Dexter Blackstock has been suspended from all football activity for three months after he admitted multiple breaches of FA Rule E8 for misconduct in relation to betting,” said a…

Card Player – Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that would end online lottery sales and could also basically put a preemptive ban on other forms of online gambling in the state. The state Senate has strongly supported the plan. The House will now look at the bill. Minnesota’s governor told the Associated Press that he wouldn’t veto the bill if the House vote is also lopsided in support of the plan. He does want the lottery to be given a grace period to phase out the online games, though. The lottery began offering online scratch-offs in February, but first…