William Bryan: “I think my colleague has done an extraordinarily good job and given a very clear explanation of what we are seeking to…”

“I think my colleague has done an extraordinarily good job and given a very clear explanation of what we are seeking to create in this amendment. This simply represents an update to reflect the change of technology. Under current law, it is illegal to wager over mail and telephone communications. We simply intend, by this amendment, to bring current technology into compliance with the technology that was covered previously by this prohibition. Internet gambling is spreading exponentially. It approaches nearly $1 billion of annual revenue; 140 web sites currently operate on the Internet. It will be, as my colleague from Arizona indicated in his comments, a multibillion-dollar industry by the turn of the century. Why have the States' attorneys general approached us and asked us to enact this legislation? What vice exists with respect to Internet gambling that does not exist with respect to regulated gaming in the various forms the States have chosen to adopt? First of all is access. Whether one favors gaming or one has a strong religious or moral view opposed to gaming, I believe that all would acknowledge that gaming ought to be an adult recreational activity-- underscoring the word ``adult.'' When one accesses the Internet and the various web sites that are currently on the Internet, there is no means--no means to enforce the age of that individual who is accessing the Internet.”