DOJ Surrenders: Will Not Appeal Wire Act Decision

It’s been a long, difficult fight… but it’s finally over. The U.S. Department of Justice lost a Wire Act decision again, but this time they will not appeal that ruling. The First Circuit Court of Appeals has determ9ned once and for all that the 1961 Federal Wire Act only applies only to sports betting, not to other forms of online casino games or poker. And in regard to sports betting, the Act only applies to best across state lines, or interstate gambling. The Justice Department had attempted all sorts of fancy legal maneuvers, some of which put at risk activities…

Justice Department Appeals Wire Act Decision

The US Justice Department has filed a notice of appeal over the recent Wire Act decision in New Hampshire. That District Court ruling was in favor of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission that the Act only applied to sports betting. The notice of appeal reads: “Please take notice that all Defendants (the United States of America; the United States Department of Justice; and William Barr, in his official capacity as Attorney General) hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from the Court’s June 20, 2019 Judgment, as well as the Court’s June 3, 2019,…

How the Wire Act Decision Affects Online Gambling

Online poker was the biggest winner in this week’s Wire Act decision. The judge in the U.S. District Court case of New Hampshire vs. the Department of Justice ruled that the Interstate Wire Act applies only to “activities associated with sports gambling” and not to the interstate sale of online lottery tickets. This decision seems to kill the DOJ’s recent re-interpretation that the act somehow applies to all online gambling. Here is a closer look at how Monday’s federal court decision affects online poker, sports gambling and fantasy sports. For online poker, the court decision represents just about the greatest…