[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MISGUIDED LEGISLATION ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, legislation has been introduced in this 
Congress that calls for preempting the State laws of Nevada and closing 
down legal sports wagering entities.
  Certainly the problem of illegal gambling and the results of illegal 
gambling are serious and must be addressed by this Nation. However, 
banning the highly regulated and closely supervised legal sports 
betting located in Nevada is not the solution.
  According to FBI experts, the strict regulations on sports betting in 
Nevada have helped law enforcement officials in their efforts to stop 
illegal sports betting. Mr. Speaker, legislation banning legal sports' 
wagering is simply not the solution to stopping illegal betting.
  I have introduced H.R. 3800, which calls for the U.S. Justice 
Department to analyze illegal sports gaming and make recommendations in 
combating it. Enforcement of our current laws is the solution, 
outlawing a law that enforces these laws is not a solution.

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