Indiana USA Attorney General Opposes Legal Internet Gambling

Indiana USA Attorney General Greg Zoeller has sent a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, objecting to a measure that would allow online gambling sites to be licensed through the U.S. Department of Treasury. Zoeller said, "As Attorney General, my job description requires me to defend the ability of our state to pass its own state laws and not have them nullified or pre-empted by the federal government." He added, "While serious objections to this legislation have been raised by those in professional sports, college athletics and other groups, who warn that licensing online gaming will open the floodgates to gambling addiction by youth and adults, ruined credit and the potential for corruption and organized crime, there are other valid reasons to be concerned about this legislation."

Opposition from other groups echoed the concerns of Attorney General Zoeller. The Director of Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Rachel Newman Baker, commented, "The NCAA has long opposed sports wagering because it threatens student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The NCAA has taken a national leadership role on educating student-athletes on the issues of sports wagering, including the growing practice of Internet gambling. These efforts are increasingly important as the number of student-athletes that have placed a sports bet over the Internet has nearly doubled in four years, according to the 2008 NCAA National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering Study. The NCAA believes sports should be appreciated for the benefits of participating or watching, not the amount of money wagered on the outcome of the game,"

The National Football League statement also voiced opposition to the introduction of legal online gambling on sports. "In May 2009, the NFL along with the other professional sports leagues and the NCAA, expressed opposition to Congress regarding pending Internet gambling bills that could override federal and state statutes against sports betting. Our concerns remain unabated and unaddressed. We continue to oppose these measures."