A few days ago I started a thread about an easy way to contact your Congressmen and voice your opinion about the state of online gambling in the US. I am very disappointed that only one person replied. I hope we are a not a people that wants to have our cake and eat it too (want to gamble but then won't do what it takes to defend our right to do so.)

Anyway, today I received an email from the Congresswoman I contacted with surprising results. She is Nancy Boyda of Kansas (I am from Florida but staying in Kansas for the moment.) I trust that after reading her reply to me, you will use the following link to contact your Congressman. It only takes 5 minutes! But remember, this is from a site that opposes online gambling, so just put in your own words and you should be fine.

http://capwiz.com/fof/issues/alert/?alertid=10267681

Dear XXX,

Thank you for writing me regarding H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007. Please accept my apologies for the delay in this response. My office receives literally thousands of pieces of correspondence a week, and my staff and I are making every effort to streamline an efficient mailing system.

In 2006, President Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act into law. This Act confirms that most gambling online is illegal. The Act further makes it illegal for financial institutions and credit card companies to process payments for Internet gambling. The Act makes exceptions for Internet betting on sanctioned horse races and online lotteries.

I agree with you that a prohibition on Internet gambling is like trying to close the door after the horse has left the barn. With so many Internet gambling sites managed outside of the U.S. it is impossible for U.S. law enforcement agencies to prohibit their activities. The openness and freedom of the Internet provides additional hurdles to prohibition.

That being said, the dangers of Internet gambling are real. Nearly a quarter of male college students gamble in online card games at least once a month according to research done at the University of Pennsylvania . The Internet makes it very easy for young people to get into gambling and accumulate massive debt very quickly. As a mother with two children recently out of college this concerns me.

While I am not usually a fan of more regulation, it makes sense in this instance. Regulation of Internet gambling could encourage the private sector to develop greater network capacity, it could provide funds for gambling education and addiction programs, it would bring competition to the industry, and it would bring the industry out of the shadows. The Libertarian CATO Institute has stated that in this case, regulation may make the most sense, even though they are unsure how much regulation the industry would tolerate.

It is because of these possibilities that I have decided to co-sponsor H.R. 2140, the Internet Gambling Study Act. This bill would direct the National Research Council to undertake a comprehensive study of the online gaming industry. On an issue such as this, with many pros and cons, it makes sense to study the ramifications of potential legislation and try to set the right course rather than satisfy special interests (something that Congress too often forgets).

I hope you will continue to keep in touch and let me know whenever I may be of assistance as the interests of the people of Kansas ' Second District are my highest priority. Again, thank you very much for contacting me and sharing your views.

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