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Gamblers in the United States now look less likely than ever to be able to legally play at an online casino following a vote to repeal a Washington D.C. gambling law.
The change in opinion is reported to have occurred as a result of details leaking regarding the awarding of a contact to Greek company Intralot.
Mayor Vincent Gray had already backed a repeal before the city council's Finance Committee decided to take action following a 3-2 vote.
Back in June last year it appeared that DC was going to be the first place in the United States where you would legally be able to play online casino games. At the time the Washington Post reported that betting on poker, blackjack and bingo would begin in September.
Unfortunately that never came to fruition and this repeal strikes a significant blow to the hopes of legalising online casinos across the US.
It comes as a particular surprise given the statement made by the US Department of Justice in December regarding what is constituted as in breach of the Wire Act.
Vice president for government affairs at Intralot Byron Boothe spoke of his disappointment at the decision. He explained that it's now unlikely that the state will be able to revive their efforts to permit a legal online casino.
He concluded that DC "was really leading the charge and obviously they dropped the baton."
