Wire Act applies to all online gambling

[Malikbhai]

The US Department of Justice has reversed its previous opinion that the Wire Act applied only to sports betting, setting up a showdown with the states that have launched intrastate online gambling markets.

They haven't prosecuted US based businesses engaged in technology or affiliations so far.

Land based casino owners are behind this lobbying effort. This is my guess.

https://calvinayre.com/2019/01/15/bu...line-gambling/

[Moonlight Cat]

Land based casino owners are behind this lobbying effort. This is my guess.
https://calvinayre.com/2019/01/15/bu...line-gambling/

He-he-he US DOJ change they point of view again )) I agree, this is offline lobby. But from our (affilites) point of view - this is good. Regulated gambling in US is against our interests at this time.

[MJM]

Regulated gambling in US is against our interests at this time.

This has just as much potential to be terrible for those of you promoting offshore sites equally to regulated ones. The timing of this is terrible, and reeks of Adelsons dirty fingerprints. The flood gates were about to open, now I predict a giant "pause" to the industry.

A couple good things will come of this, in my opinion though:

1. I suspect NJ and others will immediately sue and try to get an injunction.

2. I think this will create a united front to interests in support of this - I can see lottery, casinos, etc all joining forces to fight this. That has the potential to be a good thing.

I prefer the state by state model to a federal option, but we may now need congress to clean this up. Cluster+****. Frustrating.

[Former Member 14]

Buggered if I know how they could interpret it to include online-gambling...

The law-makers themselves in 1961 didn't have crystal balls, so they would have based this law on exactly what its supposed to represent and protect against...wire (aka phone-lines). Besides, wouldn't they (DoJ) need a high-court ruling on this, if they were go ahead and prosecute. Just because they're the DoJ, doesn't mean they have the power to write new laws into old laws, does it?

Granted 'Black Friday' was another DoJ initiative, but they had the UIGEA on their side for that one. And, they only (AFIK) seized dot-com's.

[MJM]

^^ Like the supreme court ruling earlier this year, it will become a states rights issue pretty quickly imo - or at least thats what the states will argue.

This is all just a "if you can't win, delay delay delay" thing from Adelsons camp, with NJ so successful there is just no way in hell that cat is going back in the bag.

[Top Domains]

UIGEA was a sneaky midnight drop under cover of darkness. They can't win this time. The cat is out of the bag. I think MJM is right and this has the potential to be a good thing that winds up having the opposite effect of accelerating the industry after its delay.

[allfreechips]

There is a LOT of money involved now with NFL and states that are on the gambling wagon, we will see a real fight and hopefully a supreme court ruling that states the US was based on gambling/ lotteries for funding so why would any gambling be illegal

added- When will they also enforce national drug laws and raid all these growers?

[JCA]

It seems that there is a general regulatory trend to create strict rules protecting players. For example, such rules may include "emergency exit" button and other specific requirements. Even those countries, where gambling was entirely unregulated or regulation was weak are going to apply new rules, so it makes no surprise that US will impose new restricitons.

[potentialeight]

I'm also of the opinion that this is going to end up being a good thing one way or another.

[Malikbhai]

Grey is better. Grey works.

[gil.langelaan]

Land based casino owners are behind this lobbying effort. This is my guess.

I hate to put on my tinfoil hat, but what other variants are there? If you follow the ones who profit the most, this is the only reason.

Buggered if I know how they could interpret it to include online-gambling...

That's part and parcel of being a lawmaker. You have to stretch things even if it makes little sense.

[PROFRBcom]

I predicted back in 2011, after "Black Friday", that it would take decades to work out the online poker debacle in the USA. I think I'm being proven correct.

[Malikbhai]

PA has caved, instead of fighting back.

Pennsylvania warns online gambling licensees to comply with new Wire Act opinion

https://calvinayre.com/2019/01/19/bu...mply-wire-act/

[Malikbhai]

All this is good as long as the DOJ doesn't start putting online affiliates of offshore books in penitentiaries.

American affiliates never paid any price, but their other countrymen did; owners of 5dimes, betonline etc., forced to live on islands having attained the American dream, but never really being able to enjoy it and have normal lives.

Affiliates got rich at their expensive, taking 30% and walking away; never having to worry about the Federales.