DOJ Changes Stance On Online Gambling
As consumers prepare for the holidays, the Friday before Christmas brought some great news to the online gambling industry. The United States Department of Justice has drastically changed their stance on online gambling, stating that the federal Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sportsbetting, as opposed to the previous perspective, which included all online gambling activities such as lottery and online poker.
Click here to view the full release from the United States Department of Justice
Many organizations in the online gambling industry applauded to move by the DOJ, claiming that this is a long overdue step to clarifying the confusing laws surrounding the industry.
“This is a much needed clarification of an antiquated and often confusing law,” said John Pappas, executive director of the Pokers Players Alliance. “For years, legal scholars and even the courts have debated whether the Wire Act applies to nonsporting activity. Today’s announcement validates the fact that Internet pokers does not violate this law.”
When Will Online Poker Be Legal?
The Wire Act played an important role in the DOJ’s position on how to handle the legalities surrounding offshore online gambling firms that offered online poker to players residing in the United States. Many legal experts think that this move will lead us to legalization of online gambling in all forms in the United States.
More information on the DOJ’s new view of the Wire Act can be found here
All that what we heard for the last few months, all that problems, lots of companies closed and with one simple news now they are saying: You know what…now its legal
It really is strange! But, all in all, this should be a good sign for what is in store for 2012
Can’t wait to see online casinos legalized in the US for the first time under a real regulation…it’s like an utopia since the UNIGEA….I’m crossing my fingers since years…
You mean UIGEA, right?
It’s going to be like a gold rush when it opens back up!