Proponents of legalized Internet gaming were dealt a blow when the Republican Party released its 2012 Platform ahead of the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay. The 2012 Platform leaves no doubt about the Republican Party’s official, party-line opposition to any form of legalized Internet gaming – specifically denouncing the recent decision by the Justice Department that opened the door for legalized non-sports gambling:
“Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support the prohibition of gambling over the Internet and call for reversal of the Justice Department’s decision distorting the formerly accepted meaning of the Wire Act that could open the door to Internet betting.”
Despite the oppositional stance set forth in the 2012 Platform, some Republican lawmakers have recently sponsored bills that would establish various forms of legalized Internet gaming. Thus, it remains unclear to what extent individual lawmakers will feel constrained by the official GOP Platform. Nevertheless, this is not an encouraging development for those that support a legalized Internet gaming regime.
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