A letter from the Executive Director of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, David Gale (pictured), has outlined the organization’s stance on internet gambling and online poker in the United States. The letter, dated March 31, was sent to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has authored a bill to restore the Wire Act of 1961 and ban internet gambling in the United States, excluding horse racing, which received a carve-out.

Gale wrote in part, “Our Association believes, and is on record, that all gaming should be left up to the individual states to determine the games that are offered as well as the manner in which they are being delivered to their customers. This is, and has always been, a state’s right to make these decisions as they relate to gaming within its respective boarders.”

Gale addressed lotteries specifically, which help fund educational scholarships in many states: “Since lottery products are sold in a competing market, it is important that we continue to design and offer secure games that people want to play so that lottery states can continue to fund the much-needed programs and/or services for which lottery revenues are earmarked.”

Graham introduced his bill last month and a companion exists from Congressman Jason Chaffetz(R-UT, pictured) in the House. According to Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas, the bills as written would wipe out regulated online poker sites in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. They would also, according to Pappas, eradicate online lottery ticket sales, but preserve Powerball and other multi-state games that existed prior to the end of 2011.

In December of that year, the Department of Justice issued a memo stating that the Wire Act only applies to online sports betting, essentially green-lighting other games like poker. As Gale concluded in his letter, “It is our intent, and indeed our obligation, to protect our traditional games and to position our industry for growth.” Several states, including Illinois, have already begun rolling out lottery ticket sales on the internet.

The Democratic Governors Association has also come out against the new anti-internet gambling bills. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) cosponsor Graham’s legislation in the Senate. Congressmen Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Trent Franks (R-AZ), George Holding (R-NC), Frank Wolf (R-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) cosponsor Chaffetz’s legislation in the House.

Both Chaffetz and Graham(pictured) have denied requests from PocketFives to be interviewed about the legislation, with a staff member for the former saying, “I think we are going to pass on this request.” Graham’s press secretary denied our request by saying, “Thanks but our schedule is full.”

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