We are not among them. In this case, in fact, we believe the costs are much too high. H.R. 3125 puts several critical components of American democracy at risk. First, this legislation makes a mockery of States' rights and the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Throughout the history of this country, gambling has wisely been dealt with as a state issue.
Community standards differ from state to state, and from region to region.
We strongly believe that gambling in cyberspace, like gambling in the real world, should be dealt with at the state level, not at the federal level. In addition, this legislation represents a blatant disregard for the principles of federalism on which this country was founded. Nowhere is that disregard more evident than in the way the bill deals with gambling on State lotteries. Second, this legislation represents the worst kind of government-enforced industrial policy. The bill essentially says that all Internet gambling should be prohibited-except gambling on horse racing, dog racing, and similar activity.