June 16, 2020
Months after losing in Federal Court, the US Justice Department will have their online gambling appeal heard. The fight over whether the Wire Act applies to Internet betting or only sports betting is on the line! Also, more Las Vegas casinos announce their openings and we have a new game review!
A federal appellate court will hear arguments later this month on the case between the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and the Justice Department over the interpretation of the Wire Act which could decide the fate of online gambling in America.
Last week, the First Circuit Court of Appeals announced it will hold a teleconference on the case on June 18, with lawyers from both sides presenting their cases. The remote conferencing is because of restrictions still in place because of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Wire Act is a nearly 60-year-old federal law that prohibits certain types of interstate gambling transactions over a wire communication device, such as a telephone or a computer. The Justice Department believes it also applies to online gambling.
The New Hampshire Lottery challenged that opinion in court. A year ago, a New Hampshire federal judge ruled in the lottery’s favor, saying the law is limited only to sports betting. Read more about the Justice Department and online gambling at Casino.org.
