Bipartisan Senate Push Against Illegal Offshore Gambling
A bipartisan coalition of senators, led by Republican Senator Katie Britt from Alabama, is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take a firmer stance on illegal offshore gambling.
A dozen members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent questions to Attorney General Pam Bondi, emphasizing the need for the DOJ to limit access to these unauthorized gambling platforms within the U.S. They argue that such operations present a serious risk to young people, who can easily access addictive sports betting sites with minimal oversight. This concern is highlighted in a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department acknowledged receipt of the letter but did not provide any further comments.
The senators expressed that, “These illegal offshore gambling operations expose young people to numerous harms, including allowing them to gamble on credit without age verification and providing no resources for gambling addiction. Gambling addiction among young people is on the rise, and these illegal operations are exploiting them for profit.”
Britt and the other senators are also requesting an analysis of past and current enforcement actions against such gambling operators. Additionally, they want to know if there are legislative measures Congress could pursue to assist the DOJ’s enforcement efforts.
The letter was sent to attorneys general across all 50 states and territories. In August, Bondi had already instructed her department to intensify measures against illegal offshore gaming and sports betting.
She called for collaboration with payment processors to prevent illegal transactions associated with these gambling platforms. The senators also encouraged the DOJ to utilize its authority under the Illegal Internet Gambling Control Act to confiscate the assets and domain names of these operators.
It’s noteworthy that Americans have reportedly wagered over $60 billion with illegal operators and offshore sites, leading to an estimated $700 million loss in tax revenue for states, according to a 2022 report from the American Gaming Association.
Britt raised alarms about illegal offshore gambling particularly affecting young men during a Judiciary Committee hearing in early October, and Bondi responded by promising to investigate the issue further.
