Free Republic

Since the early days of the Republic, the question of how gambling is regulated has largely been a right reserved for the states. However, this week members of Congress will discuss legislation that would overturn state laws pertaining to gambling within their borders and create a federal ban, preventing states from legalizing online gambling in the future. They claim it is to protect minors, those with addictions, and states that do not want online gambling available to their citizens. This measure will achieve none of those goals. Rather, it will undermine federalism and drive problem gambling underground. Proponents of the...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Rep. Barney Frank said Thursday he would start pushing to lift a U.S. ban on online gambling in the next few weeks, but said it was too early to make any concrete move to lift restrictions ruled illegal last month by the World Trade Organization. Frank, D-Mass., who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters that the online gambling bill passed last fall was "one of the stupidest things I ever saw." "I want to get it undone. I plan to file legislation," Barney said, explaining that he would lay out his plans in the next...