Eric Holder Likely to be Nominated as Attorney General

Concerns of Eric Holder becoming the next Attorney General have gripped the online gambling sector over this past weekend following Holder's affirmation that he will continue to enforce prohibition on such things as Internet poker and sports betting.

Holder continued to win support of the Republican party including Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez.

"Eric Holder understands the unique role of the Attorney General and further, I think he's qualified to serve in that role," Martinez said in a written statement. "Therefore, I intend to support Mr. Holder's confirmation and urge my colleagues to do the same."

Senior Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have scheduled a markup on Holder's nomination for Wednesday.

Former FBI director Louis J. Freeh urged lawmakers to support Holder this weekend as well.

During an exchange with Arizona Republican Senator, Jon Kyl, Holder promised he would continue to aggressively enforce the law against the forms of Internet gambling that DOJ considers illegal.

Here is a partial transcript of that exchange:

KYL: And then we discussed the regulations that were issued recently, actually, jointly by the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury Department in consultation with the attorney-general.

The regulations primarily try to go at the problem by thwarting the payments for unlawful Internet gambling -- in other words, to shut off the cash flow.

And I mentioned the fact that they were already beginning to spend millions of dollars in an effort to try to undo these regulations somehow and hope that you would -- and you indicated you would -- oppose efforts to modify or to stop those regulations, and, of course, continue to be vigilant in enforcing those regulations to shut off the flow of cash from this illegal activity. Is that your intention?

HOLDER: Yes, that is my position. That's what I will do.

KYL: Yes, thank you, and I appreciate that very much. And we could talk a lot more about the pernicious nature of Internet gambling, but in view of the time here, let me move on.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher