States want Internet gaming left to them

Two state lawmakers, writing on behalf of the organization, cited December’s ruling by the U.S. Department of Justice, which said the Federal Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sports wagering, as giving states the authority to determine if they want to legalize intrastate online gambling.

"The NCSL believes the federal government should respect the Justice Department ruling and would oppose any efforts by Congress to preempt state authority over Internet gaming," wrote Hawaii State Sen. Carol Fukunaga, and Alabama Rep. Greg Wren, the co-chairs of the NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee.

The letter was addressed to the Democratic and Republican leaders in both the House and Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The National Conference of State Legislators cited the organization’s long-standing opposition to "unwarranted federal pre-emption of state authority." The lawmakers asked Congress to allow state legislatures to decide whether to approve Internet gaming initiatives within their boundaries.

"We ask Congress to respect the sovereignty of states and to not consider any legislation that would overturn the Department of Justices ruling or to consider any legislation that would regulate gambling at the federal level," the letter said.

"States have long been able to choose whether or not other forms of gambling should be legal and have been very successful in its regulation. We also ask that the federal government respect the rights of states that choose to prohibit Internet gaming."

Officials from states with lotteries have also opposed federal Internet poker legalization.

Most of the commercial casino industry, including the Washington D.C.-based American Gaming Association, supports federal legalization of online poker.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.