Concerned Women for America are warning against a bill introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D- Massachusetts) that would legalize, license and regulate Internet gambling.

The public hearings for the Internet Gambling Regulatory and Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2046) will begin this week.

"Gambling hurts families, pure and simple," says Shari Rendall, Concerned Women for America's director of legislation and public policy. "Congressman Frank's misguided legislation makes the problem worse."

The United States accounts for almost half of the world's $12 billion spent on Internet gambling. The proposed bill would reverse legislation that bans gambling on professional and collegiate sports and allow offshore Internet websites the right to engage in sports gambling.

Concerned Women for America say studies have shown that access to gambling is a forerunner to gambling addiction.