NAPO Commends Efforts To Give U.S. Law Enforcement Tools To Crack Down on Illegal Gambling, Protect Consumers
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) recently commended the efforts of FairPlayUSA to give U.S. law enforcement agencies the resources needed to crack down on illegal gambling operations and to protect children and American consumers who choose to play Internet poker.
"Americans who want to play poker online deserve a strictly regulated, safe industry here in the United States," said Marisa McNee, executive director of FairPlayUSA. "It's time to modernize the Wire Act of 1961 and the law enforcement tools necessary to put the illegal, offshore sites out of business and protect children and consumers. We appreciate NAPO joining the discussion and supporting our efforts. Their support demonstrates the growing consensus about the need to act on this important issue. We look forward to working with NAPO and other advocates as we continue to inform people about the problems associated with offshore Internet gambling."
The statement, referenced above, from William J. Johnson, executive director of NAPO is listed, in full, below:
"The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) commends the efforts of the FairPlayUSA coalition to give U.S. law enforcement agencies the resources needed to crack down on illegal gambling operations and to protect children and American consumers who choose to play Internet poker.
"Notwithstanding legislation passed in 2006 that was intended to stop Internet gambling in the U.S., millions of Americans continue to bet billions of dollars every year on foreign websites, many based in jurisdictions with little or no regulatory oversight.
"Recent actions by the U.S. Department of Justice to crack down on certain rogue gambling operations are laudable. However, as we have seen in the past, when companies that flaunt American law are put out of business, they are inevitably replaced by operators who may be even more unscrupulous.
''NAPO believes that the most realistic solution to this problem is implementing effective licensing and regulatory procedures, coupled with vigorous law enforcement actions against illegal gambling operations. NAPO believes that this is the most practical means by which to thwart illegal gambling sites, protect American consumers and children, address problem gambling and crack down on money laundering and other criminal activity.
"We applaud FairPlayUSA and encourage other law enforcement organizations to join this growing coalition."
About NAPO:
The National Association of Police Organizations is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States that serves to advance the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.
Founded in 1978, NAPO is now the strongest unified voice supporting law enforcement officers in the United States. NAPO represents more than 1,000 police units and associations, 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers, and more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.
About Fair Play USA:
The coalition is designed to educate policymakers and the public about the current ambiguous laws in the U.S. that have led to a $6 billion a year illegal gambling market led by rogue offshore operators. FairPlayUSA supports Congress once and for all defining what is illegal gambling and providing stronger law enforcement tools to ban such gambling, as well as providing a strict regulatory framework for online poker.
SOURCE FairPlayUSA
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