The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has come out in opposition of the federal government’s attempts to license online gaming. The bi-partisan group wrote an open letter to the American legislature, calling for the cessation of all efforts to legalize real-money internet poker.
“The NCSL believes the federal government should respect the Justice Department ruling,” read one passage, “and would oppose any efforts by Congress to preempt state authority over Internet gaming.”
The letter was penned by the co-chairpersons of the group’s Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee – Alabama Representative Greg Wren and Hawaii State Senator Carol Fukunaga. The most interesting aspect of the above quote comes in their mention of the Justice Department ruling. This is somewhat perplexing when one considers the recent DOJ ruling that online poker wagering does not break the laws laid down in the oft-quoted Wire Act.
Though opposed to regulation on the federal level, the NCSL is open to legal online poker on an intra-state basis. The matter, they claim, is one that the citizens of each region must settle on their own.
“We ask Congress to respect the sovereignty of states,” they said, “and to not consider any legislation that would overturn the Department of Justice’s ruling or to consider any legislation that would regulate gambling at the federal level… States have long been able to choose whether or not other forms of gambling should be legal and have been very successful in its regulation.”
Established in 1975, the NCSL assists lawmakers with research and discussions of critical topics. According to iGaming Business, they are known for their advocacy of the rights of states.