Trump’s Re-Election: What It Means for Online Poker in the US

With Donald Trump back at the White House, what's the future of online poker in the US? It’s now familiar territory, a waiting game like all years. The Wire Act could easily be right back in the centre. What could Trump’s return mean for the Online Poker and the iGaming Industry? Let’s look at that.

Gaming on state lines is controlled by the federal law of 1961, the Wire Act. At first, it was only for sports betting. His administration confirmed this interpretation during Obama’s presidency. However, Trump’s DOJ took an opposite turn during his first term, saying in 2018 that the Wire Act applied to all forms of iGaming.

That led to a 2019 lawsuit by the New Hampshire Lottery, which prevailed. Biden took office; a court upheld that decision in early 2021. Supporters of limiting federal gaming control pulled off a big win.

In 2022, IGT, a major iGaming company, sued Biden's DOJ to clarify the Wire Act's scope. IGT won, and the ruling again confirmed that the law only applied to sports betting. The gaming community was hopeful, but Trump’s return has sparked concerns. Will his administration try to change the Wire Act again?

Trump's past actions regarding gaming were unpredictable. Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul and major Trump supporter, was against online gaming. He pushed Trump to issue a new opinion on the Wire Act in 2018. 

With Adelson now gone, things are uncertain. His heirs don’t seem to share his harsh views on iGaming. However, a gaming law expert, Greg Gemignani, warns that Trump’s DOJ might revisit the Wire Act.

It’s unclear if gaming will be a priority for Trump this time. If Adelson's family keeps their interest, Trump’s administration could take up the fight again.

Experts are divided on what might happen next. Some think Trump’s administration has bigger issues to handle. Analyst Joseph Stauff believes gaming might not even be on Trump's radar. 

But Gemignani remains cautious, noting that Trump’s last DOJ was unpredictable and might try again. He thinks there's still a chance the administration could target iGaming.

During the recent campaign, neither Trump nor Kamala Harris addressed gaming; instead, they focused their debates on larger issues like immigration, the economy, and democracy, which left gaming completely off the radar. 

Some experts view this as a positive sign, implying that gaming may not be a significant priority for Trump this time. However, the complete lack of mention also leaves much uncertainty, as we still have no clear indication of his intentions.

Many questions remain about what the online poker world will look like after Trump’s return. IGT’s 2022 win was good for the industry, but that hope is fleeting if Trump reverses the Wire Act. 

iGamers remain on tenterhooks to determine whether Trump is set to make major changes or is just bluffing. The cards are on the table, and we’re all watching how this goes on.