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.
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced it has secured gaming licenses in both Puerto Rico and Maine, marking a major milestone in the operator’s continued growth. With this expansion, PrizePicks becomes the first daily fantasy sports operator to obtain a gaming license in Puerto Rico.
PrizePicks players can now access Arena in Maine, with Puerto Rico set to go live in the coming months. Following the launch, PrizePicks will be operational with its fantasy contests in 47 jurisdictions across the US.
“We’re grateful to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and the Maine Gambling Control Unit for their partnership and support throughout the licensure process. We’ve seen tremendous engagement with Arena across the country, and we’re confident that momentum will carry into these new jurisdictions,” said Adam Packer, Senior Vice President of Legal & Compliance at PrizePicks.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has announced the appointment of Larry Spagnolo as the new Board Chair, effective August 15, 2025. This announcement follows the official Order in Council issued by the Alberta Government and marks a new chapter in AGLC’s ongoing commitment to support communities, encourage responsible choices and position Alberta as the best place to do business.
Larry brings a wealth of experience in technology and business leadership to the AGLC Board and will play an integral role in guiding AGLC’s strategic direction. He is currently serving as VP and GM of Emerson’s SaaS SCADA business and has held senior roles at Zedi and Telus, driving innovation, growth, and global success.
A strong advocate for education and community, Larry serves as Vice Chair of Athabasca University’s Board of Governors and has held board roles with NAIT and Polytechnics Canada. He was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his community contributions.
AGLC and the Board of Directors extend their heartfelt thanks to Len Rhodes for his leadership and dedication as Board Chair since August 2019. He decided not to seek a third term and will continue to serve in this role until August 14, 2025. Len led AGLC through some significant milestones, including reducing red tape by 51%, growth of the emerging cannabis industry and ensuring AGLC delivered a balanced approach to business development, social responsibility, and regulatory oversight.
MC Games has officially announced its exclusive ombudsman channel. The space arises to listen carefully to the opinions, suggestions, doubts and possible complaints of the platform’s users, ensuring direct dialogue and continuous improvement of the services offered.
Thinking about every detail so as not to leave any player with an unsolved problem, MC Games offers several steps to help players: First, the bettor finds a team with humanized support, 24 hours a day, in the chat. If the problem is still not resolved, the gaming platform offers the Ombudsman Channel to answer major questions, which are beyond the basic guidelines on how to withdraw, make a deposit or other such issues.
In a simple and intuitive way, the user is faced with the “Report on the Web” button on the site, directing him to the Customer Service Center. There, he will be able to answer questions, with the requested information, ensuring that his service happens quickly, safely, and efficiently.
The same space also works for those who want to share compliments, report the browsing experience on the platform and even send suggestions, so that the MC Games team can increasingly improve the experience of its audience, offering the most innovative in the market.
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