IGT has won its lawsuit against the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over its interpretation of the Wire Act, according to Bonus.com.
The global lottery and gaming firm first filed suit against the DOJ on November 23, 2021, and named the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) at the DOJ as disseminating the DOJ’s 2018 interpretation of the Wire Act.
The interpretation was that all forms of mobile gambling included the sale of lottery products online as well as interstate wagers on sports.
The DOJ was taken to Court over this by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission (NHLC), and the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire found in favor of the NHLC.
However, IGT considered that the legislation and ruling remained ambiguous, and thus filed its own lawsuit, citing fears that such ambiguity left their business open to prosecution for transmitting data across state lines.
IGT stated, at the time, that “gaming operators such as IGT face a credible threat of prosecution that poses a present and identifiable hardship as a result of OLC’s new interpretation of the Wire Act.”
After hearing both sides, the courts have now doubled down and found against the DOJ again, and, in this case, in favor of IGT.
US lottery and gaming operators can now trade without the threat of falling foul of the Wire Act and, specifically, IGT can conduct its online lottery services in 37 US states without fear of being subjected to imprisonment or any fines.
“Judgement is in favour of the Plaintiffs, International Game Technology PLC and IGT Global Solutions, and against the Defendants, Merrick B. Garland and The United States Justice Department,” the court ruling read.
