Attorneys-general, state lotteries protest DOJ’s Wire Act rethink

The US Department of Justice’s online gambling views are under simultaneous attack by at least two state attorneys-general and the association representing all US lottery operators.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro wrote a joint letter to the DOJ detailing their “strong opposition” to its recent opinion that the 1961 Wire Act applies to other forms of gambling beyond sports betting.

The new opinion could spell trouble for some aspects (definitely interstate poker, possibly payment processing) of New Jersey’s thriving online gambling market, while Pennsylvania doesn’t want any curbs on its own online gambling market, which was supposed to launch this year.

The attorneys-general urged the DOJ to “withdraw its opinion altogether or assure us that DOJ will not bring any enforcement actions against companies and individuals engaged in online gaming in our states – where it is appropriate under state law.”