News Release

Blumenthal Urges Effort to Ban Internet Gambling

March 19, 1997

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today urged passage of a federal law to clearly ban gambling on the Internet.

Blumenthal and other state attorneys general appeared today before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in Washington to endorse legislation they said is essential to preserve state regulation of gambling.

"Gambling and the Internet is a mix that is a recipe for deceit and financial disaster," Blumenthal said. "This legislation would clarify existing law and explicitly ban any gambling communication -- including Internet communications -- not authorized and regulated by the states."

Blumenthal said that gambling on the Internet would be rife with problems, including no regulation or control over those operating the Internet gambling -- including possibly criminals -- and no protections for those who placed wagers.

"Our country's very rigorous and thorough regulation of gambling would be undermined by unregulated Internet gambling," Blumenthal said. "For those who would run wagering on the Internet or those who would place wagers, this law will clearly state that offering gambling or placing bets on the Internet is illegal unless the state in which the gambling takes place has authorized it."

The proposal would give state attorneys general authority to go to court to block Internet gambling and provides fines of up to $10,000 and two years in prison for those who operate Internet gambling enterprises and fines of up to $5,000 and one year in prison for those who use the gambling service.

Blumenthal said the proposal, introduced by U.S. Sen. John Kyl of Arizona, would allow states to continue to regulate all gambling within their borders.

Blumenthal two years ago led attorneys general in opposition to interstate gambling by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, which had planned to set up a toll-free number to accept bets. Earlier this year, Blumenthal ordered telephone companies in Connecticut to block access to an 800-number advertised on the Internet by a New Brunswick tribe that was operating a sports betting service.