Online gambling can cause as much harm to the families and communities of addictive gamblers as if a brick-and-mortar casino were built right next door.  It can result in addiction, bankruptcy, divorce, crime, and moral decline just as with traditional forms of gambling.

Internet gambling is growing at an explosive rate.  It gets around existing anti-gambling laws, endangers children in the home, promotes compulsive gambling among adults and preys on the poor.  The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act would put an end to illegal Internet gambling in the United States by prohibiting the use of any bank instrument – such as a credit card, check or electronic funds transfer – for internet gambling. 

I will continue to work with other pro-family Members of Congress to curb online gambling and the devastating effects it has on society.  When this bill came before the House of Representatives for a vote it passed with my support by a vote of 317 to 93.