In 2019, The United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruled against the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), concluding that the “Wire Act applies only to transmissions related to bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest.” On January 20, 2021, the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s decision, dealing yet another blow to the DOJ. Please note that the DOJ may appeal this ruling and ask the Supreme Court of the United States to opine on the breadth of the Federal Wire Act. However, it will be up to the new administration to decide if this is a legal battle worth addressing.
How did the First Circuit Interpret the Federal Wire Act?
[Read More]