Although the Coalition to Stop Internet Gamblingand its founder, Las Vegas Sands Corporation Chairman and billionaire Sheldon Adelson (pictured), have been able to cobble together numerous conservative groups to back their position, there is now sentiment from that side of the aisle against their efforts. A letter sent to several members of Congress on Monday cites these conservative groups and the reason for their opposition.

The letter, sent to House Judiciary Chairman Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), was in response to the legislation from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz, both Republicans, that would look to reinstate the Wire Act of 1961 and ban online gambling and poker, including in states where it’s already regulated.

“As we have seen in the past, a ban will not stop online gambling,” the letter said. “Prohibiting states from legalizing and regulating the practice only ensures that it will be pushed back into the shadows, where crime can flourish with little oversight. [Additionally, in] the black market, where virtually all sites are operated from abroad, consumers have little to no protection from predatory behavior.”

Beyond the simple statements, the signers of the letter pointed out another perhaps more ominous sign. “Even more concerning is the fact that this bill allows the Federal Government to take a heavy hand in regulating the internet, opening the door for increased internet regulation in the future,” it read. “By banning a select form of internet commerce, the Federal Government is setting a troubling precedent and providing fodder to those who would like to see increased internet regulation in the future.”

“In total, HR 4301 is an inappropriate and unnecessary use of Federal powers that infringes on the rights of individuals and states,” the letter concluded. “We applaud you for standing against this government overreach and preserving the principles of federalism and free-market competition that underscore American democracy.”

The following ten people signed the letter:

Joe Jansen, Alliance for Freedom
Steve Pociask, American Consumer Institute
Michelle Minton, Fellow of the Competitive Enterprise Institute
Coley Jackson, Freedom Action
Matt Kibbe, FreedomWorks
Carrie Lukas, Independent Women’s Forum
Andrew Langer, Institute For Liberty
Tom Giovanetti, Institute for Policy Innovation
Eli Lehrer, R Street Institute
David Williams, Taxpayer Protection Alliance

These groups represent some factions of the GOP that, to this point, have been supporting Adelson, the Coalition, Graham, and Chaffetz in their efforts to pass a Federal ban on internet gaming and poker. Kibbe(pictured), in particular, is a powerful voice in the Tea Party coalition and has appeared on programs as diverse as “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, “Real Time” with Bill Maher, Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” and commentator Glenn Beck’s former program on Fox News.

After its initial introduction last month, the bills from Graham and Chaffetz have seen little movement. Still, the letter sent by these conservative organizations is a powerful statement in support of the states’ rights to regulate online gaming.

Adelson’s casinos include the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas and Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania.

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