CCAGW to Join Opposition for U.S. Online Gambling Ban

Sheldon Adelson's proposed Restoration of America's Wire Act, an attempt to federally ban most forms of internet gambling in the United States, was strongly opposed by the conservative US Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. RAWA was denounced in a letter to Speaker John A. Boehner and the three other top Congressional leaders, written by Thomas A. Schatz, the president of the watchdog:

“On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, I am writing to urge you to reject any consideration of S. 2159, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act or its companion House bill, H.R. 4301 during the lame-duck session of Congress."

“The Wire Act was enacted in 1961 to constrain interstate or foreign commerce relating to bets or wagers on sporting over the telephone. Subsequent court cases and Department of Justice enforcement of the Wire Act have limited its coverage to only sports betting,” Schatz wrote. “The misleadingly-named RAWA would therefore amend, not restore, the Wire Act, since it would expand its coverage to all forms of gambling or betting, including Internet gambling.”

Capitol Hill conservatives and libertarians are fearful of the something called cromnibus bill which will end up loaded with legislative proposals, including the RAWA- that would only pass both chambers in the lame duck session with Democrats still in control of the Senate. The CCAGW is also keeping an eye on which politicians support or vote for RAWA. Over ten other conservative associations have expressed opposition to the RAWA.

Referring in his letter to the political funding activities around RAWA by land casino multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson, Schatz wrote: "...pressure to consider this legislation is restricted to either a single company or individual, or a few companies or individuals,” at the same time addressing growing concerns of encroachment on the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees states' rights.