NeoPollard Interactive LLC, jointly owned by Pollard Banknote Limited and NeoGames SA, has applauded the decision of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) not to appeal the most recent legal definition of the Wire Act.
Last week, it was confirmed that US lottery and gaming operators can continue trading without the risk of falling foul of the act after the deadline passed for the DOJ to appeal against the most recent legal interpretation which found it applied only to sports betting.
Liz Siver, General Manager, NeoPollard Interactive, commented: “We commend the New Hampshire Lottery for its leadership moving this initiative forward. Selling products online is a proven way to meet consumer demand and responsibly generate critical funds for good causes.
“As market leaders in ilottery, NPi applauds this outcome and looks forward to expanding our partnerships with lotteries to successfully leverage this delivery channel. The time is now for lotteries to engage in this strategic area given the increasingly competitive nature of the digital gaming landscape.”
The DOJ’s inaction brings to an end nearly three years of uncertainty for the gambling sector following a ruling in 2018 by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) on behalf of the DOJ that overturned a 2011 ruling by extending the Wire Act to cover all forms of internet gambling.
That 2018 ruling was successfully reversed by the District Court for the District of New Hampshire in 2019 in a suit brought by the New Hampshire Lottery and NeoPollard. It was upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit earlier this year in January.
The DOJ’s decline to appeal effectively ends the case in the ilottery’s supplier favour, confirming the Wire Act applies only to sports betting and not state lottery activity and other forms of interstate gambling, such as ilottery.
The New Hampshire Lottery has also commented on the decision by the DOJ to not appeal the most recent legal definition of the Wire Act, with the lottery’s Executive Director Charlie McIntyre calling it a ‘historic victory’.
