As 2011 winds down there has been many online gambling analysts making predictions as to when and if a break in online gambling for Americans would take place before years end.
The DOJ stepped in with a decision just two weeks shy of the clock striking midnight for the New Year. Bravo to those gambling experts whose predictions were correct.
Now that the Wire Act of 1961 has been clearly determined by the DOJ that only sports betting is prohibited and does not pertain to any other forms of gambling, will the virtual online doors open for US players?
It is the moment the online gaming community has been waiting for, in particular the Poker Player Alliance.
“This is a much needed clarification of an antiquated and often confusing law," said John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance. "For years, legal scholars and even the courts have debated whether the Wire Act applies to non-sporting activity. Today's announcement validates the fact that Internet poker does not violate this law.”
"This will provide policy makers at both the state and federal level with the legal confidence to move forward with licensing and regulation of online poker and other non-sporting activity within their respective jurisdictions," added Pappas. "However, it is our hope that our federal policy makers see this as an incentive to move quickly to enact federal licensing and regulation before various states produce a mix of individual state schemes that may not be the best model to serve consumers."
The American Gaming Association had this to say:
"The Department of Justice's interpretation regarding the scope of the federal Wire Act validates the urgent need for federal legislation to curb what will now be a proliferation of domestic and foreign, unlicensed and unregulated gaming websites without consistent regulatory standards and safeguards against fraud, underage gambling and money laundering."
The Nevada Gaming Commission makes history after already approving regulation for online poker and is the first among US states to offer intrastate online gambling to residents. Intrastate gambling does limit players to only play against others within their state.
The DOJ stepped in with a decision just two weeks shy of the clock striking midnight for the New Year. Bravo to those gambling experts whose predictions were correct.
Now that the Wire Act of 1961 has been clearly determined by the DOJ that only sports betting is prohibited and does not pertain to any other forms of gambling, will the virtual online doors open for US players?
It is the moment the online gaming community has been waiting for, in particular the Poker Player Alliance.
“This is a much needed clarification of an antiquated and often confusing law," said John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance. "For years, legal scholars and even the courts have debated whether the Wire Act applies to non-sporting activity. Today's announcement validates the fact that Internet poker does not violate this law.”
"This will provide policy makers at both the state and federal level with the legal confidence to move forward with licensing and regulation of online poker and other non-sporting activity within their respective jurisdictions," added Pappas. "However, it is our hope that our federal policy makers see this as an incentive to move quickly to enact federal licensing and regulation before various states produce a mix of individual state schemes that may not be the best model to serve consumers."
The American Gaming Association had this to say:
"The Department of Justice's interpretation regarding the scope of the federal Wire Act validates the urgent need for federal legislation to curb what will now be a proliferation of domestic and foreign, unlicensed and unregulated gaming websites without consistent regulatory standards and safeguards against fraud, underage gambling and money laundering."
The Nevada Gaming Commission makes history after already approving regulation for online poker and is the first among US states to offer intrastate online gambling to residents. Intrastate gambling does limit players to only play against others within their state.
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
