US Government changing view on Wire Act - Doesn't apply to Online Poker

[Greg]

Well we had all but shut it down for the rest of the year and then this story breaks. Tons on speculation right now on the meaning of all this; and more importantly what moves do the major poker operators make in the coming months? As more becomes clear over the coming days we'll post a recap here. Next Thursday night could prove to be the biggest AffiliateLifeRadio program to date. Anyhow, enjoy the weekend everyone and Merry Christmas!

Forbes Magazine Breaking News - Department Of Justice Flip-Flops On Internet Gambling

[stillshadow]

That's pretty damn cool, although of course they leave the door open to prosecuting online poker companies based on the UIGEA instead. It was always absurd that the DOJ actually tried to use the 1961 Wire Act to apply to non-sports over the internet so it's nice to see that finally clarified.

That being said, I doubt this will have any real impact on the attacks against the existing poker companies. This was issued to pave the way (of course) for state lotteries and interstate co-ops, not to exonerate offshore companies. They still have plenty of other nebulous laws they can apply to go after ABC Poker.

[Notspot]

they leave the door open to prosecuting online poker companies based on the UIGEA instead.

If they could do that and make it stick I think they woulda done it a long time ago.

Still digesting what this actually means while wrapping presents but this is great news for players who weren't keen on breaking the law after black friday, hopefully we'll see a lot of those players return to online poker.

[stillshadow]

You mean if they could prosecute based on the UIGEA and make it stick? That's exactly what they did on the "Black Friday" (I still think that's a really silly and overly dramatic name for that day) indictments and have already made arrests.

[Notspot]

Yeah, ur right, I was just gonna come back and change that, misunderstood it all this time, only just realised in this last hour after doing some overdue research

Anyway, whatever is going on, it's some good news at last - Merry Christmas everyone

[Sebastian]

Wow, that is ridiculously sick good news.

[pokerprop]

Yes sick good thing news that the department of justice can interpret 1960’s laws any way they’d like and then change their mind when the financial motivation to do so is introduced. Oh but hey - yayyyy!!! praize Jebus weez has pokers! Amen! Amen!! Habala-boo-ba!! praize Jebus! praize Jebus!! Amen! Amen!!, All-in Amen!

[Sebastian]

Poker, lotteries and casino looks like, just not sports betting.

[jdwanchalk]

What makes anyone think this matters. Until a poker site operates in the US without issue, it's irrelevant. From what I have read on 2p2, not much will change because of this.

[parttimepoker]

This is not "new" news, really; when the wire act wasn't trotted out to prosecute Bitar, et al (and Holder said publicly he didn't know if WA applied to poker) it became pretty clear that the WA didn't apply to online poker.

What is critical about it, however, is that it gives states the unambiguous go-ahead for interstate poker.