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Internet Gambling Could Soon Be Legal In Michigan

LANSING (WWJ) - The U.S. Justice Department has reversed itself and now says it's legal to place bets over the Internet. The change in the federal law could have huge implications for the state of Michigan.

WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports that on the Friday before Christmas the U.S. Justice Department reversed a law, the 1961 Interstate Wire Act, which until now, has banned internet betting.

Implications from a revenue standpoint are significant - the change would mean that people could play poker online  and be a part of a game room at one of the Detroit casinos, it would also include purchasing lotto tickets on the web.

This ruling does not mean that Michigan will automatically allow internet gambling with all of its casinios and tribal casinos but the possibility for that change is now there as the Snyder administration and lawmakers are expected to investigate the issue further.

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