Dina Titus, US Representative for the state of Nevada, has written to vice president-elect Mike Pence urging caution when considering the contents of a November letter opposing online gaming, which was signed by attorneys general from 10 states.
Source: wikipedia
Titus, a Democrat, wrote that the letter, signed by the 10 Republicans, including Nevada’s Adam Laxalt, “contains several inaccuracies and unfair allegations,” reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
She said: “As you continue your work on the presidential transition, I encourage you to carefully study this issue before making any decisions that would infringe on states’ rights or eliminate jobs in the online gaming industry.”
The attorney generals' letter asked Pence to work toward the restoration of the US Wire Act: “The Obama administration overruled 50 years of practice and precedent when a Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion claimed the Wire Act only applied to sports betting and not to other types of online gambling,” it said.
The letter claimed that the move opened the door to “expansive internet gambling and exposed states to the significant negative impacts that often accompany online gambling,” citing gambling as a contributing factor in divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and suicide.
However, Titus said the letter was inaccurate, noting that a Connecticut study cited lacked relevance since real-money gaming was not regulated in the state.
“In Nevada,” wrote Titus, “where there are effective controls in place to verify age and location, there has not been a single reported instance of minors playing poker online.”
Nevada governor Brian Sandoval is reportedly unhappy that state attorney general Laxalt signed the letter since online poker has been a regulatory success for the state.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
