Two Senators Write Letter Opposing Online Gambling

This week two prominent U.S. Senators wrote a letter expressing their displeasure with online gambling, urging the Department of Justice to reverse an opinion that allows for online gambling to take place in individual states.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein signed the letter, which calls on the DoJ to reverse the legal opinion signed by then Attorney General Eric Holder. Holder opined that The Wire Act of 1961 didn't cover online gambling (save for sportsbetting), opening individual states for the choice of legalizing online betting. To date, four states have legalized the activity, with more set to follow. Both senators have pushed to ban online gambling, often claiming falsehoods in their attempts to outlaw the activity.

The letter in part read: "Pennsylvania has recently enacted legislation authorizing internet gambling, and other states are lined up to follow suit. Online casinos are already operating across state lines pursuant to compacts, and states are contemplating opening up their online casinos to foreign markets. We fear that unless the DOJ promptly revisits its 2011 opinion, our prediction that online casinos could spread across the country could come to pass."

Both senators are likely to push even harder if the Supreme Court legalizes sportsbetting, as states will likely move to legalize the activity within their borders. This would likely cause an expansion of even more sportsbetting. That case is set to be heard on December 4th.