THE REST OF the story about the DoJ??™s surprise statement remains to be written. By Saturday December 24, however, the online gambling industry was buzzing with what may prove to be the most significant statement made by the US Department of Justice regarding online gambling since the signing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. This surprise statement took place just one day after the State of Nevada adopted new online poker regulations. In this statement, the DoJ finally clarified its position that the Wire Act of 1961 only prohibited sportsbetting.
Throughout the last five years, the interpretation of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 as it is related to the UIGEA has been heavily debated amongst industry veterans and legal scholars. And although there are probably hidden agendas or political reasons for this statement coming out at this exact time, it is one that is welcomed and long overdue. The DoJ??™s newfound stance has many in the industry cautiously o...[more]
