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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bob Honold
202-225-2071

United States Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5) took action today to protect Americans from the dangers of Internet gambling by voting to pass H.R. 4411, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. This bill cuts off funding for online gambling sites, increases criminal penalties for those who break the law and supports international anti-money laundering efforts.

“Gambling websites are a serious threat to Americans, especially to our vulnerable children,” said Rep. Foxx. “Children of any age can easily go online and get into serious trouble on these websites. In addition, people can gamble for 24 hours a day and go into serious debt from making large bets with credit cards. Internet gambling is so easy and convenient that it often leads to addiction, bankruptcy and crime. I am pleased my colleagues and I passed this bill to help fix this serious problem.”

Americans spend approximately $5.9 billion dollars each year on unregulated, offshore, online casinos. Because online gambling sites are easily accessible, many people do not realize that they are illegal.

H.R. 4411 will address the problem of internet gambling by:

· Applying the Wire Act (which bans the use of wire communication facilities to transfer bets or wagers) to Internet gambling;

· Increasing the maximum penalty for Wire Act violations;

· Cutting off Internet gambling sites’ funding by regulating payment systems;

· Authorizing law enforcement to take action against those who aid Internet gambling; and

· Supporting international efforts to combat illegal gambling and money laundering.

H.R. 4411 is supported by a large number of organizations including the Family Research Council, the North Carolina Family Policy Council, Focus on the Family, the NCAA, the NFL, the NBA, Major League Baseball and 48 of 50 state Attorneys General.

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