Compliance Updates
U.S. District Court Confirms Federal Wire Act Applies only to Sports Betting Activities
NeoPollard Interactive LLC and New Hampshire Lottery have been thrilled by the U.S. District Court decision which confirms that the federal Wire Act applies only to sports betting activities. This decision is important for the U.S. lottery industry as a whole as it alleviates concerns pertaining to the transmission of lottery data over the Internet, whether in connection with traditional retail or online lottery sales.
The Wire Act subjects to criminal liability any person who “knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers.”
In January 2019, OLC released a new opinion concluding that the Wire Act extended beyond the sports-betting context to criminalise the interstate transmissions of all bets or wagers, whether or not they are sports-related—thereby reversing the conclusions of the 2011 opinion and threatening to shut down the burgeoning iLottery industry.
Working alongside the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, NeoPollard Interactive and Pollard Banknote, the New Hampshire Lottery’s technology providers, immediately sought a declaratory judgment in federal court that the OLC’s new Wire Act interpretation was based on an incorrect reading of the statute.
By concluding that the Wire Act applies only to transmissions related to bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest, Judge Paul Barbadoro safeguards the New Hampshire Lottery and NeoPollard Interactive from the threat of unlawful prosecution in New Hampshire, Michigan, and in each other U.S. state where NeoPollard Interactive operates.
“We are very happy with the recent judgement regarding the interpretation of the Wire Act. This is a great success for the Lottery industry generally and iLottery specifically, as it ensures that the sale of both iLottery games and national and regional multi-state games across all sales channels can continue to be strong contributors to lottery sales and the good causes that lotteries in the United States support. In terms of iLottery, we know first-hand the positive effect that these operations have not only on sales, but on the overall player experience. We look forward to continuing to provide state-of-the-art iLottery products and strategies to lotteries as they explore new, interactive sales channels,” Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer of NeoPollard Interactive said.
“We are pleased that not only will our national and regional multi-state game sales carry on, but also importantly that our own relatively new yet highly successful iLottery operations will be able to continue. Since the launch of our iLottery program last year, we have seen an increasingly positive response from our players, resulting in higher returns to education programs in New Hampshire. We are grateful for the leadership and support from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, NeoPollard Interactive and Pollard Banknote in this highly complex matter. We are excited to continue our strong partnership with NeoPollard Interactive to provide entertaining online products that deliver an enhanced play experience to all our customers,” Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director of the New Hampshire lottery said.
EGT Digital is proud to announce that it has obtained a licence that allows it to provide its software products in Brazil. The Bulgarian provider was certified by the regulator Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) and can now offer local operators its rich portfolio of gaming solutions, containing over 120 in-house developed casino titles and the 4 top-performing jackpots Bell Link, High Cash, Clover Chance, and Single Progressive Jackpot.
Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, shared her excitement regarding the authorization: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to present our gaming content to the Brazilian market. Our slots are available to domestic players, ready to captivate them with their numerous fascinating features and provide an unforgettable experience, fully tailored to their tastes and preferences.”
Bettors in Arizona wagered approximately $791 million on sports in October of 2024, according to a new report by the Arizona Department of Gaming. This represents an approximate 22% increase when compared to October of 2023.
The state collected approximately $2.35 million in privilege fees in the month.
Compliance Updates
PlayUZU.bet.br and BacanaPlay.bet.br and to make a splash in the brand new regulated Brazilian market
Global gaming powerhouse SkillOnNet is among the first companies to receive provisional authorisation to operate in Brazil. The first SkillOnNet localised brands to launch in the newly regulated market are PlayUZU.bet.br and BacanaPlay.bet.br, two already successful European and Latam casinos but with very different features and USPs providing a wider choice to casino players in Brazil.
The licence represents a new milestone in the Latam market for the Malta-based gaming and entertainment giant. In recent years, SkillOnNet, through its awards winning PlayUZU brand, has made inroads into the regulated markets of Mexico, Peru, and Buenos Airies City in Argentina.
The new licensing regime came into force on January 1, 2025 after Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a bill into law to regulate and tax online gaming in December 2023. Regulatory intelligence analyst Vixio predicts Brazil’s online gaming and betting will exceed $2.9bn in annual gross revenue in 2025, rising to almost $6.3bn in 2028.
Since its launch in Portugal in 2020, BacanaPlay has become a household brand name. In Portuguese, the world “bacana” means “cool,” which encapsulates the fun, friendly vibe of the brand.
PlayUZU.bet.br is the Portuguese language version of SkillOnNet’s flagship Spanish brand, which has already proved hugely popular in Latin America. PlayUZU is marketed as a “fair” online casino that offers players a unique package of benefits including no wagering requirements and money back on every bet, win or lose.
SkillOnNet operates more than 40 brands in multiple regulated markets, globally. It also boasts one of the richest and most diverse gaming platforms in the world, with premium casino content from top software providers and a host of exclusive slots and dedicated Live casino tables.
Pedro Garcia Country Manager for Brazil at SkillOnNet said: “We believe Brazil will quickly become one of the biggest online gaming markets in the world. Our goal is to be a tier-one casino operator in this hugely significant new market by investing aggressively in marketing and brand development and establishing a strong local team. Our licensing in Brazil is a reflection of our commitment to regulatory compliance and to fair and responsible gaming, and we’re excited to showcase our specially localized high-quality content to a massive new audience.”
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