Casino City Files Suit Against US Dept of Justice – Aug 13, 2005
There has been speculation for weeks as to which media company has the balls to tackle the US Department of Justice on their thinly veiled threats to US media carrying online gambling advertising, and this week the challenger stood up to be counted as Michael Corfman’s Casino City Group.
In a press release that received wide coverage and applause, the Casino City group announced that it had raised a formal challenge to the legality of the U.S. Justice Department’s attempt to suppress advertising for Internet gambling services.
The Louisiana-based company that provides a directory of both Internet and land-based casinos as well as several other informational services on its web-sites, has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Michael Corfman, President and CEO of Casino City, explained. “Our parent corporation had partnership plans with A&E Television Networks to promote the Breaking Vegas documentary and associated sweepstakes.
Casino City was to be featured on The History Channel website and in 30 national television spots, but they cancelled the agreement after the promotion had already begun. We were told by their marketing agents that A&E felt there was an unacceptable risk it would be viewed as aiding and abetting online gaming since it’s only two clicks from our home page to an online gaming site.
When you have an FCC license that must be protected to stay in business, you just can’t afford to take chances with the Department of Justice. That was the first instance, a few months ago.”
He continued, “More recently a major Las Vegas casino wanted to work with our parent corporation on a promotion but their lawyers nixed the arrangement because of our involvement with online gaming. The scare tactics employed by the Department of Justice have clearly had an effect.”
Law firm Greenberg Traurig has assembled an heavyweight team to handle Casino City’s case. Barry Richard, the attorney appointed to lead the litigation team, sports an impeccable resume.
Barry represented President George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election litigation and has successfully argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Named as one of the National Law Journal’s Lawyers of the Year in 2001 for his “national reputation for compelling advocacy,” Barry has experience in state and federal constitutional law in addition to complex commercial litigation, appellate practice, and government and election law. Barry will be assisted by Laureen Galeoto.
Patrick O’Brien serves as an advisor to both Barry and Casino City. He is an expert in I-gaming law, and has advised and represented major sportsbook and casino operators, transaction processors, media outlets, Internet portals, and both targets and witnesses in several online gaming investigations.
