DC lawmakers revisit 300-year-old gambling law
A 300-year-old law has been brought back into relevance by a Delaware LLC called Gambling Recovery, after it was invoked in a lawsuit against sportsbook operators in Washington, DC.
The law, which dates back to when British monarch Queen Anne was in power, was first introduced to protect people from losing everything to gambling. It allowed these gamblers to sue to recover their losses over a certain amount.
Now, Gambling Recovery is attempting to revive this old law, the Statute of Anne, to recover millions of dollars in gambling losses from some of the country’s biggest sportsbooks, including BetMGM, DraftKings, and Caesars.
The 18th-century law states that gambling losses of more than US$25 can be recouped. However, any money recovered in the lawsuit must be split in half with the city. Gambling Recovery’s attorneys estimate that if they are successful, this could mean a US$300 million windfall for the DC council.
Before any trial can proceed, DC lawmakers may vote to change the Statute of Anne on the grounds that it does not apply to modern sports betting. This would effectively stop any lawsuit in its tracks before it can proceed.
In a letter published by The 51st, attorneys for the LLC, Derek T. Ho and James W. Taglieri wrote, “It is not clear why the District, given its current fiscal challenges, would voluntarily eliminate the possibility of receiving a significant amount of revenue to support its safety-net. “Make no mistake, Section 2064 [the budget provision] prioritizes the financial interests of gambling operators over the priorities of District residents. We cannot fathom why the Council would take this action.”
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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