AG Curtis Hill: States Benefit From USDOJ’s Clarification Of Recent Legal Opinion On Gambling
Attorney General Curtis Hill said today the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) has demonstrated responsiveness to states’ concerns by clarifying its recent legal opinion regarding the meaning of the Wire Act and its effect on lotteries.
On March 21, Attorney General Hill and 24 other attorneys general sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein arguing that a recent legal opinion issued by the federal government could reach beyond the realms of sports gambling and into areas traditionally controlled by the states, potentially jeopardizing state lotteries.
On April 8, the Department of Justice released a memorandum clarifying that state lotteries were not addressed in the January 2019 Wire Act memorandum.
“I welcome the Department of Justice’s clarification of the January 2019 Wire Act memorandum,†Attorney General Hill said. “The Hoosier Lottery plays an important role in funding various programs in Indiana. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein’s clarification of the Department’s position is a move in the right direction.â€
