NASPL Opposes US Federal Gambling Control
The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (the NASPL), which represents all 52 legal lotteries in the United States as well as those in Canada, has opposed the control of the US Federal government on internet lotteries and gambling.
In a published statement on its site, the NASPL wrote that, on behalf of its members it was "opposed to federal legislation that would encroach on the traditional state prerogative to regulate gaming within each state's borders."
"Bills such as this would federalize the internet as a gaming portal, and create a costly and duplicate federal gaming licensing regime, and moreover, they would impair the ability of states to represent the sensibility of their citizens, which states are uniquely qualified to do and which they accomplish by regulating gaming within their borders to, among other reasons, raise revenue for worthy causes," said the statement.
In the NASPL opposition to federal gambling control statement, it continued that it believed that the "use, regulation, and ultimate beneficiaries of the internet for gaming" were best left to the legislative determination of each state and province.
A spokesman for the NASPL, responding to the latest US Department of Justice opinion recently published, said that the association was interpreting the opinion along the lines that most gambling operators were. "Our understanding is that, except for sports betting, a state's online games would be legal as long as sales or wagers take place within that state," said David Gale.
What the NASPL Stands For
The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries was founded in 1971, evolving from an informal exchange of information among a handful of lottery directors to an association representing 52 North American lottery groups.
Members from Canada include the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Loto Quebec, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Atlantic Lottery.
The objective of the NASPL is to facilitate communication among the different organizations relating to issues such as industry standards and other matters of mutual interest, as well as to train and educate lottery staff.
According to the NASPL, one of its most important objectives is to "promote recognition of the importance of maintaining public confidence and support for state and provincial sponsored lottery organizations and a means of generating revenue to meet public causes."
In 2010, more than $25 billion was returned as net profits to lotteries throughout North America.
Selling lottery tickets on the internet is not a new concept, but the NASPL wants to ensure that online lotteries remain the responsibility of individual states and Canadian provinces.
