In their letter, the sporting bodies seek support for the recently tabled “Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (H.R. 4411)”. This bill introduces measures against the use of credit cards and other payment methods to pay for online gaming, which is already illegal in the United States except for betting on horseracing.

The sporting bodies say that sports betting threatens the character of team sports and that the lack of enforcement of the online gaming ban against off-shore gaming sites gives the wrong impression (of legality) to the public.

Various attempts have been made in the past to introduce laws that would obstruct the illegal online gambling activity. None of them have succeeded so far.

In contrast to the above-mentioned sports, betting is a vital element of the financing of horse racing, like anywhere in the world. Without it, the financing of horse racing would be undermined. Online betting on horseracing is allowed under the Interstate Horseracing Act.