Compliance Updates
NeoPollard Interactive and New Hampshire Lottery Prevail Against U.S. Government Appeal in iLottery Case
NeoPollard Interactive LLC, jointly owned by Pollard Banknote Limited and NeoGames S.A., is thrilled with the decision rendered by the First Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals on January 20, 2021 that unequivocally reconfirmed that the federal Wire Act is limited to sports betting and, therefore, does not pertain to state-run lotteries. This decision confirms the ruling of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire in 2019 that was appealed by the U.S. Federal Department of Justice. Overall, this decision is important for the U.S. lottery industry as a whole by alleviating concerns related to the legality of traditional retail or online lottery sales (also known as “iLottery”) which rely on the transmission of lottery data over the Internet.
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 2011, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”) concluded that the Wire Act only applied to sports betting. Following that opinion, many lotteries began to offer non-sports gaming products over the Internet, reasonably relying on the OLC’s conclusions that their activities were lawful.
In January 2019, the OLC reversed that prior decision and released a new opinion concluding that the Wire Act extended beyond the sports-betting context to criminalize interstate transmissions of all bets or wagersâthereby overturning the conclusions of the 2011 opinion and threatening to shut down the burgeoning iLottery industry.
Working alongside the New Hampshire Lottery Commission (“New Hampshire Lottery”), NeoPollard Interactive and Pollard Banknote, the New Hampshire Lottery’s iLottery 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. In June 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire confirmed that the federal Wire Act applies only to sports-betting activities. The OLC appealed that decision.
In this latest judgement, the First Circuit affirmed the District Court’s June 2019 decision thus restoring the 2011 interpretation that limited the Wire Act to sports betting. By upholding the 2011 interpretation that the Wire Act applies only to bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest, this ruling safeguards the New Hampshire Lottery, NeoPollard Interactive and Pollard Banknote, specifically, and all other iLottery operators, generally, from the threat of unlawful prosecution.
In addition, and equally importantly for other state lotteries, any concerns about the pooling of bets or the transmission of wagers in connection with national and regional multi-state games such as PowerballÂŽ and Mega Millions, whether through traditional retail or online channels, have been completely eliminated.
“We are very happy with the recent judgement confirming, yet again, the 2011 interpretation of the Wire Act,” said Liz Siver, General Manager, NeoPollard Interactive. “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 can continue to be strong contributors to lottery sales and the good causes that U.S. lotteries support. In terms of iLottery, we know first-hand the positive effect that these operations have had, not only on state resources, but on player experience as well. The current worldwide pandemic has amplified the importance of this new channel. We look forward to continuing to provide state-of-the-art iLottery products and strategies to lotteries with an increasing array of products within the digital landscape.”
SOURCE NeoPollard Interactive
High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.
âThe submission of our licensing application to access Ontarioâs regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Companyâs journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,â said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.
Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.
âOntario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. Weâre excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and weâre looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,â said Clemes.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.
With the theme âResilient regulation: Exploring what works, why and whatâs nextâ, the event brings together global regulators and thought leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks can evolve to meet todayâs challenges.
The four-day program explores timely issues, including the rise of AI and behavioural analytics, the impact of converging technologies, cross-border collaboration and the continued push to strengthen responsible gambling policies.
IAGR President Ben Haden said the program offers a strong preview of the content and conversations delegates can expect in Toronto.
âThis yearâs program showcases the breadth and complexity of the challenges facing gambling regulators worldwide, from protecting player wellbeing to tackling illegal markets and understanding new technologies,â Haden said.
âI encourage regulators, researchers and policy professionals from around the world to join us in Toronto. The conference is a space to learn, share experience, challenge assumptions and shape the future of effective, collaborative regulation.â
Confirmed speakers and panellists include:
- Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission, Great Britain
- Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark
- Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada
- Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming and Carrie Torrisi, Chief of Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
- Bashir Are, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Nigeria
- Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore
- Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder, GamblePause Initiative Africa, Nigeria
- Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO, Mindway AI, Denmark
- Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada
- Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar
- Sonia Wasowska, Head of Supervision, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates
- Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Australia
The event will be held at The Westin Harbour Castle on Torontoâs waterfront.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) has taken actions to place 14 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Placement on an Involuntary Exclusion List prohibits individuals from either gaming in a casino in Pennsylvania, via an online betting site regulated by the Board, or a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.
These matters, presented by the Boardâs Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel, raise the number of individuals now on the Boardâs various Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1391.
The actions by the Board include placement of five individuals on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List including one who left minors unattended while gambling in a Pennsylvania casino:
A female patron who left her 7-month-old twins in a vehicle in the valet area of Valley Forge Casino Resort for 5 minutes in order to obtain a cash out at the sportsbook.
Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, âDonât Gamble with Kidsâ.
Additionally, nine others were placed on the Boardâs Involuntary Interactive Gaming Exclusion list for fraudulent actions involving online gambling.
The Gaming Control Board is scheduled to meet next at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in the Boardâs Public Hearing Room located on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. More information, including the agenda, will be posted on the Boardâs website prior to the meeting.
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