Rep. Barton cheers DOJ online gambling ruling

A recent ruling from the Justice Department that could pave the way for states to allow online gambling was praised by a House lawmaker pushing to legalize online poker.

“I am glad the Department of Justice finally recognized what millions of poker players already knew: Internet poker isn’t a crime, it is a game of skill and it shouldn’t be outlawed by the Wire Act,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who has pushed for the legalization and regulation of online poker. “While the ruling clears up some confusion about the Wire Act and how it applies to online gaming, it also opens the door for more complications,” Rep Barton added. “If Congress doesn’t act soon we could end up with fractured rules and regulations that vary state to state, leaving more opportunity for fraud and fewer safeguards for players.”