Congressional Pushback Threatens DOJ’s Expanded Wire Act Interpretation

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill may be halting the Justice Department’s efforts to expand the reach of the Wire Act. The DOJ recently shifted its longstanding position that the Wire Act solely pertained to sports wagering, concluding instead that it covers a majority of online gambling forms. This action faced immediate legal challenges, with a New Hampshire federal judge issuing an injunction against the DOJ’s interpretation.

Although the DOJ has the option to appeal this decision, Congress is deliberating on an appropriations measure that could present an additional obstacle. The bill is concise and direct: no allocated funds can be utilized to enforce the DOJ’s revised understanding of the Wire Act. This funding restriction would significantly impede the DOJ’s objective of pursuing a wider array of online gambling operations.