Vig & Juice is a podcast discussing the history and legality of gambling and sports betting in the US hosted by three attorneys who practice Fantasy Sports & Gaming Law at Vela Wood.

In this episode, we cover arguably the most monumental piece of legislation regarding sports betting – the Wire Act of 1961 – which prohibited using wire communication for betting and wagering across state lines. We discuss what the Wire Act means for online gambling and whether the act applies only to sports betting or to gambling in general.

Paragraph A

Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering 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, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

Time Stamps

• 1:30 – U.S. in the 50s


• 5:50 – The Wire Act


• 6:25  – JFK’s Suggested Remarks


• 7:20  – Wire Communication Facility


• 8:20  – Wireless Communication


• 9:30  – IL and NY Online State Lotteries


• 11:05  – 2011 DOJ Opinion (Narrow View)


• 13:15  – 2018 DOJ Opinion (Broad View)


• 14:30  – Safe Harbor Exemption


• 16:55  – Paragraph A


• 22:10  – Casinos’ Interest


• 23:10  – Reaction & Future

Related Content

• The Repeal of PASPA


• Why Playing Fantasy Sports Is Legal (For The Most Part)


• Fantasy Sports Contest Legislation Tracker