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Gambling Critics Seek Federal Help in Internet Gambling Crackdown10 June 2001WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 10, 2001 –As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Frustrated by a Congress they say is increasingly beholden to the casino industry, gambling critics are appealing to Attorney General John Ashcroft to establish a Justice Department task force to crack down on Internet gambling. "`While legislation in Congress to ban Internet gambling is important, `it is not essential,' the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling said in a letter to the attorney general "`We believe the Justice Department can and should stop the bulk of Internet gambling aimed at Americans by sponsoring a few `sting' operations and following up with highly publicized prosecutions,' the letter said. "…So far, neither Ashcroft nor his deputies have responded to the letter. Justice Department spokeswoman Casey Stavropoulos said she could find no record of the letter, but confirmed the April 5 meeting did occur. "Gambling opponents remain hopeful that Ashcroft will take the lead in the fight against Internet gambling. "…[Bernie Horn, a former lobbyist for the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling] and other gambling foes cite Ashcroft's history as an outspoken critic of casinos. "…But as a Republican senator from Missouri, Ashcroft was not among 23 co-sponsors of a 1999 bill by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to ban Internet gambling. "Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who plans to introduce an Internet gambling ban in the next two weeks, has said he is counting on Ashcroft to help him push the bill through Congress…" |