Indian Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing On Wire Act Decision

An announcement was made on US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a hearing on February 9th regarding the memo released on December 23rd by the US Department on Justice regarding the Wire Act of 1961.

The hearing entitled U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for the Tribes will be held on February 9th at 2 PM at the Senate Dirksen Bldg 628.  This is the second hearing held by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.  They held one in November entitled “Future of Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for the Tribes.”  You can check out our recap of those proceedings, but the main gist of the hearing was that tribes are split on internet gaming.

This new hearing is just the latest in a bevy of discussions by lawmakers regarding the DOJ memo that essentially declared that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting.  Since that opinion has been released several states have expressed interest in at least discussing online gaming.

From reports, tribes remain split on the matter of internet gaming with some feeling that the legalization of games will create unfair competition for the tribes.  With California, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey, Maine, and Connecticut already expressing at least interest in discussing online gaming, it is becoming clear that tribes will need to address this issue sooner than later.

Details regarding witnesses have not been released as of yet.  We will bring you more details on this trial as they become available.