A congressional amendment has been put forth that would threaten any online gambling Wire Act enforcement by the U.S. Department of Justice. The proposed amendment would attach to a federal bill that determines funding for the DOJ, and would block any funds from being used to enforce its revised opinion on the 1961 Federal Wire Act.

Should the amendment be accepted, the Justice Department will not be permitted to use any money to enforce the opinion of their Office of Legal Counsel’s belief that the Wire Act applies to all forms of gambling and not just sports betting.

The amendment was filed by Georgia Representatives Hank Johnson and Sanford Bishop, Kentucky’s Andy Barr and New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas, and comes after the DOJ instructed its staff that it was only delaying enforcement of the opinion until January 1st, 2020.

While it has yet to confirm that it will appeal this ruling, the Justice Department memo on delaying enforcement action suggested that it could well fight the court decision. You can read more about this amendment and the Justice Departments online gambling Wire Act plans at IGB North America.