Online Poker Regulation Necessary, States Police Association

Another body expresses support to the popular pastime An interesting report came this week from the pro-legalisation action body FairplayUSA that the legalization of online poker in the US now has another supporter - the Fraternal Order of Police in the United States which sent a note to a number of senior US congressmen and women that includes Senator Harry Reid, Speaker John Boehner, Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Nancy Pelosi. It is stated in the letter: "...Millions of Americans wager regularly on offshore Internet gambling sites beyond the reach of the Federal government. Today, there are no controls on Internet gambling to give U.S. consumers recourse to U.S. courts to provide prompt and accurate payment; no protections are in place to prevent or detect money laundering; no firm and transparent licensing of operators exists; and no regulatory controls are in place to prevent criminals from entering the marketplace, rigging games, or misusing customer financial data. "This has created a situation in which U.S. law enforcement authorities cannot shut down illegal activity, nor is there any way for those victimized by fraud or other criminal activity to seek redress. "Just a few weeks ago, former Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Thomas J. Ridge and former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louis J. Freeh penned an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner explaining the scope of the problem and the need for a national strategy and Federal action. “The FOP shares their approach-- we need to modernize the Wire Act, create a strong regulatory framework for legal gaming that provides law enforcement the tools necessary to put the illegal offshore sites out of business and protect consumers from the operators who engage in criminal activity." The letter is signed by FOP president, Chuck Canterbury.