NATIONAL, FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE® 326 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. NE. WASHINGTON, De 20002 PHONE 200 47-8180 «FAX 615 200-547-8100 ccHuck CANTERBURY “Aes 0, Pasco, am 2 December 2014 ‘The Honorable Harry M. Reid ‘The Honorable John A. Boehner Majority Leader Speaker of the House United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Nancy P. Pelosi Minority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Senator Reid, Mr. Speaker, Senator McConnell and Representative Pelosi, Lam writing once again on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge Congress to heed the law enforcement community with respect to proposals to prohibit online gaming Congress cannot ban its way out of this problem as this would simply drive online gaming further and further underground and put more and more people at risk. Internet gaming forced into the shadows would exacerbate current difficulties and create new dangers. Not only does the black ‘market for Internet gaming include no consumer protections, it also operates entirely offshore with unlicensed operators, drastically inereasing the threat of identity theft, fraud or other criminal acts. There is also evidence that these gaming sites launder money for organized erime and help to finance terrorist networks. We know that these overseas gaming sites process billions of dollars every year, creating a breeding ground for transnational criminal organizations. States like Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada have taken the lead in creating regulated systems, Residents that choose to play have access to a well-regulated, well-monitored system and will not be drawn into putting their money or identities at risk on offshore, unlicensed black market site: Congress should not to undermine these efforts. Since the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, the FOP has consistently sought the tools to enforce the laws governing Internet activity to combat money laundering and other criminal activity. A blanket Federal ban would make these efforts all but impossible. The FOP wants to protect our citizens and the best way to do this is to drive black market online gaming into the light and serutiny of a regulated system that is safe, fun and fair. Thope that the Congress will carefully consider the input provided by the FOP and the law enforcement community on this issue. A Federal prohibition is irresponsible and will severely hinder our efforts to combat unlawful aetivity on the Internet. I hope that the FOP and the law BUILDING ON A PROUD TRADITION— oeenforcement community can work with Congress on this issue, If I can be of any additional assistance on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in my Washington office. CRruck Canterbury National President Si