Conservative groups push for federal ban on N.J. online gambling
Erin O'Neill | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 29, 2015 at 8:07 AM, updated October 29, 2015 at 9:33 AM
WASHINGTON — Several conservative groups have joined the congressional effort to ban online gambling, including in states like New Jersey that already allow it.
The list includes Focus on the Family and Concerned Women for America, Christian organizations that oppose abortion and same-sex marriage
. On Wednesday, they joined the bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Jason Chaffetz
(R-Utah), to push Congress to pass the legislation.
The Restore America's Wire Act would overturn a 2011 Justice Department ruling that gave states the right to offer Internet gambling to their residents. New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware took advantage of the opportunity.
Two Republican presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida,
are sponsoring the bill in the Senate.
"Internet gambling is a game changer," said Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, which supports cuts in government spending and wants to rewrite the tax code. "Certainly any decision to undermine this law, and unleash Internet gambling on our country, should not be left to a lawyer burrowed in the Justice Department."
The conservative groups are members of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, which is backed by Las Vegas Sands chairman and chief executive officer Sheldon Adelson
. He and his wife gave $93 million to Republican-leaning outside groups in 2012, more than any one else, including multimillion-dollar donations to super-political action committees supporting GOP presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.
Adelson was the biggest donor to the Republican Governors Association under Gov. Chris Christie's leadership, giving $3.5 million. The energy company Koch Industries and its executive vice president, David Koch
, also gave $3.5 million between them.
The Adelson-led coalition reported spending $180,000. In addition, Las Vegas Sands boosted its lobbying expenses to $1 million during the first nine months of 2015 compared with $780,000 during the same period a year ago, according to reports filed with the U.S. Senate.
Among opponents of the legislation, the Poker Players Alliance doubled its lobbying expenses, spending $580,000 from January to September compared with $275,000 during the same nine-month period in 2014. Caesars Entertainment, which operates an online gambling site for New Jersey residents and is helping to fund the Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection, reported spending $1.9 million this year, about the same as during the same period a year earlier.
John Pappas, executive director of the poker players group, said the legislation "does nothing to stop unregulated Internet gambling in the United States and in fact, only makes it harder for America's law enforcement to protect vulnerable consumers." He called it "particularly dangerous because it prohibits states from authorizing and safeguarding their own citizens."
And the national president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, Chuck Canterbury, urged lawmakers on Wednesday to reject the legislation.
"A federal prohibition of online gaming would make our communities less safe, not more so," Canterbury wrote.
In New Jersey, online gambling brought in $120.5 million in its first year of operation, according to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. In July, Mohegan Sun was the latest entity to offer online gambling in the state. Meanwhile, Atlantic City lost four brick-and-mortar casinos.
Erin O'Neill | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on October 29, 2015 at 8:07 AM, updated October 29, 2015 at 9:33 AM
The list includes Focus on the Family and Concerned Women for America, Christian organizations that oppose abortion and same-sex marriage
The Restore America's Wire Act would overturn a 2011 Justice Department ruling that gave states the right to offer Internet gambling to their residents. New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware took advantage of the opportunity.
Two Republican presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida,
"Internet gambling is a game changer," said Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, which supports cuts in government spending and wants to rewrite the tax code. "Certainly any decision to undermine this law, and unleash Internet gambling on our country, should not be left to a lawyer burrowed in the Justice Department."
The conservative groups are members of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, which is backed by Las Vegas Sands chairman and chief executive officer Sheldon Adelson
Adelson was the biggest donor to the Republican Governors Association under Gov. Chris Christie's leadership, giving $3.5 million. The energy company Koch Industries and its executive vice president, David Koch
The Adelson-led coalition reported spending $180,000. In addition, Las Vegas Sands boosted its lobbying expenses to $1 million during the first nine months of 2015 compared with $780,000 during the same period a year ago, according to reports filed with the U.S. Senate.
Among opponents of the legislation, the Poker Players Alliance doubled its lobbying expenses, spending $580,000 from January to September compared with $275,000 during the same nine-month period in 2014. Caesars Entertainment, which operates an online gambling site for New Jersey residents and is helping to fund the Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection, reported spending $1.9 million this year, about the same as during the same period a year earlier.
John Pappas, executive director of the poker players group, said the legislation "does nothing to stop unregulated Internet gambling in the United States and in fact, only makes it harder for America's law enforcement to protect vulnerable consumers." He called it "particularly dangerous because it prohibits states from authorizing and safeguarding their own citizens."
And the national president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, Chuck Canterbury, urged lawmakers on Wednesday to reject the legislation.
"A federal prohibition of online gaming would make our communities less safe, not more so," Canterbury wrote.
In New Jersey, online gambling brought in $120.5 million in its first year of operation, according to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. In July, Mohegan Sun was the latest entity to offer online gambling in the state. Meanwhile, Atlantic City lost four brick-and-mortar casinos.
