Presidential firsts in gambling policy map which presidents signed landmark statutes or presided over turning‑point legal interpretations—John F. Kennedy signed the Interstate Wire Act in 1961, and George H.W. Bush signed PASPA in 1992. This article answers the fast questions—Which president signed the Wire Act? (Kennedy, 1961.) Which president signed PASPA? (George H.W. Bush, 1992.)—and then lays out a source‑backed U.S. gambling law timeline, two quick‑reference tables, and the policy turning points that changed federal and state roles in gambling regulation.
Read on for a compact timeline table, a cheat sheet tying laws to presidents, expert citations, and a plain‑English explanation of what presidents can—and cannot—do on gambling policy.
Presidential Firsts in Gambling Policy — Quick Answers
- John F. Kennedy (1961) — signed the Interstate Wire Act, the first major federal statute aimed specifically at interstate sports‑betting communications. As CRS summarizes, the Wire Act “prohibits certain interstate betting communications related to sports wagering.”
- Ronald Reagan (1988) — signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), the first comprehensive federal framework for tribal gaming; the NIGC explains IGRA was enacted “to promote tribal economic development, self‑sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.”
- George H.W. Bush (1992) — signed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which limited state authorization of sports betting until the Supreme Court struck it down in Murphy v. NCAA (2018).
- George W. Bush (2006) — signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), a payments‑focused statute restricting certain financial transactions tied to unlawful online gambling.
These items are “firsts” either because they were presidential‑era signatures that created a new federal rule or because an executive‑level action (DOJ/OLC opinion) under a particular president pivoted enforcement and interpretation.
U.S. Gambling Law Timeline: Presidential Firsts and Turning Points
U.S. Gambling Law Timeline: Presidential Firsts and Turning Points
| Year | President | Law / Opinion / Case | Type | What it did | Why it mattered | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 | Ulysses S. Grant | Comstock Act | Statute | Restricted mailing of lottery and obscene materials | Early federal curb on lottery commerce | National Archives / CRS |
| 1895 | Grover Cleveland | Anti‑Lottery Act | Statute | Banned interstate shipment of lottery tickets | Laid groundwork for Champion v. Ames (1903) | CRS / SCOTUS |
| 1951 | Harry S. Truman | Johnson Act | Statute | Restricted interstate transport of gambling devices | First modern federal device regulation | CRS |
| 1961 | John F. Kennedy | Interstate Wire Act | Statute | Targeted transmission of bets/wagers across state lines | First modern federal curb on sports betting communications | DOJ / CRS |
| 1970 | Richard Nixon | Illegal Gambling Business Act (OGCA) | Statute | Criminalized large illegal gambling operations | Tool against organized crime | DOJ / CRS |
| 1988 | Ronald Reagan | Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) | Statute | Created NIGC; framework for tribal gaming | Major federal framework for tribal‑state gaming compacts | NIGC / CRS |
| 1992 | George H.W. Bush | PASPA | Statute | Barred states from authorizing sports betting (with exceptions) | National restriction on state sports betting | CRS / SCOTUS |
| 2006 | George W. Bush | UIGEA | Statute | Restricted payment processing for unlawful internet gambling | Addressed payments in the internet era | Treasury / CRS |
| 2011 | Barack Obama | DOJ OLC Opinion (Dec 2011) | OLC memo | Interpreted Wire Act as applying only to sports betting | Opened interpretive space for state iLottery / iGaming | DOJ OLC |
| 2018 | Donald Trump | DOJ OLC Opinion (Nov 2018) | OLC memo | Reinterpreted Wire Act beyond sports | Sparked litigation by states/lotteries | DOJ OLC |
| 2018 | Donald Trump (term) / SCOTUS | Murphy v. NCAA | Supreme Court | Struck down PASPA on anti‑commandeering grounds | Reopened public‑market sports betting for states | SCOTUS |
| 2021 | Joseph R. Biden (term) / First Circuit | First Circuit decisions | Court rulings | Limited reach of 2018 OLC opinion in First Circuit | Ongoing clarification of Wire Act scope | Federal court opinions |
This timeline shows continuity from 19th‑century anti‑lottery statutes to 20th‑century anti‑racketeering and sports‑betting curbs, to late‑20th and 21st‑century legal changes driven by internet payments and strong judicial review.
Which President Signed the Wire Act, PASPA, UIGEA, and IGRA?
Which president signed the Wire Act?
John F. Kennedy signed the Interstate Wire Act in 1961. The statute targeted the interstate transmission of wagers and was aimed at curbing organized crime’s use of telegraph and telephone lines for sports betting. The DOJ has long described the Wire Act as targeting “the transmission of bets or wagers” across state lines.
Which president signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)?
Ronald Reagan signed IGRA in 1988. IGRA classified tribal gaming into Class I, II, and III, created the National Indian Gaming Commission, and set a federal framework for tribal‑state compacts. NIGC guidance notes IGRA was enacted “to promote tribal economic development, self‑sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.”
Quick numbered summary of IGRA’s structure
- Class I — Traditional social games (tribal jurisdiction).
- Class II — Bingo and certain non‑banked card games (tribal regulation with NIGC oversight).
- Class III — Casino‑style gaming (requires tribal‑state compacts).
Which president signed PASPA?
PASPA was enacted in 1992 and signed by President George H.W. Bush. It barred states from authorizing sports betting (with narrow exceptions, notably Nevada). The law persisted until the Supreme Court in Murphy v. NCAA held that PASPA “unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may and may not do,” and thus violated the Constitution’s anti‑commandeering principles.
Which president signed UIGEA?
George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which focused on payment‑processing prohibitions rather than defining what gambling is illegal at state level. UIGEA delegated much of the details to Treasury and the Federal Reserve for implementation of financial‑sector rules.
Gambling Policy Turning Points — Why These Moments Mattered
Federal gambling history has a handful of turning points that shifted the regulatory map. Below are eight concise turning points with why they matter:
- 1895 Anti‑Lottery Act + 1903 Champion v. Ames — established federal power to regulate interstate lottery commerce.
- 1961 Kennedy era (Wire Act, Travel Act, paraphernalia statutes) — created a legal toolkit aimed at interstate crime‑linked gambling.
- 1970 Illegal Gambling Business Act (OCCA) — focused enforcement on large illegal enterprises.
- 1988 IGRA (Reagan) — recognized tribal sovereignty in gaming while creating federal oversight.
- 1992 PASPA (Bush 41) — imposed a national bar on state‑authorized sports betting (until 2018).
- 2006 UIGEA (Bush 43) — shifted enforcement focus to payments and financial rails in the internet age.
- 2011 DOJ OLC opinion (Obama DOJ) — limited Wire Act to sports, enabling states and lotteries to explore online offerings.
- 2018 Murphy v. NCAA (SCOTUS) — struck down PASPA and opened the door for state sports‑betting legalization.
As CRS cautions, many federal laws “primarily target interstate and organized crime aspects,” leaving the day‑to‑day licensing and regulatory authority to states, which explains why state reactions to these turning points are central to how gambling actually operates in the U.S.
Federal vs. State Gambling Law — What Presidents Can and Can’t Do
Short answer: Congress makes laws; presidents sign or veto and the executive branch (DOJ, Treasury) enforces or interprets; courts review; states regulate intrastate gambling.
Typical federal focuses
- Interstate commerce and communications (e.g., Wire Act).
- Organized crime and large illegal enterprises (e.g., Illegal Gambling Business Act).
- Financial flows and payment processing (e.g., UIGEA) — payment‑processing rules affect a broad range of online offerings, including crypto‑based services and bitcoin casino games.
- Federal‑level frameworks for special categories (e.g., IGRA for tribal gaming).
Typical state powers
- Licensing and permitting of gambling operators.
- Taxation and consumer protections.
- Defining what forms of gambling are lawful within borders (lottery, casinos, sportsbooks).
The American Gaming Association summarizes the operational balance: gaming policy in the U.S. is “primarily regulated by the states,” while federal statutes target cross‑border and systemic harms.
Cheat Sheet — Which President Signed the Major Gambling Laws?
Which President Signed the Wire Act, IGRA, PASPA, and UIGEA?
| Law | Year | President | What it did | Notes / Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate Wire Act | 1961 | John F. Kennedy | Prohibited certain interstate betting communications | DOJ / CRS |
| Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) | 1988 | Ronald Reagan | Created NIGC; framework for tribal‑state compacts | NIGC / CRS |
| PASPA | 1992 | George H.W. Bush | Barred most states from authorizing sports betting | Repealed/struck down in 2018 (SCOTUS) |
| UIGEA | 2006 | George W. Bush | Restricted payment processing for unlawful internet gambling | Treasury / CRS |
FAQs — Presidential Firsts in Gambling Policy and U.S. Gambling Law Timeline
Which president signed the Wire Act?
John F. Kennedy signed the Interstate Wire Act in 1961; the law targeted interstate transmission of wagers and was aimed at curbing organized crime’s communications networks.
Which president signed PASPA and when was PASPA repealed?
George H.W. Bush signed PASPA in 1992. The Supreme Court in Murphy v. NCAA (2018) invalidated PASPA’s restrictions on state decision‑making, effectively allowing states to legalize sports betting if they choose.
Which president signed UIGEA and what does it do?
George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006; UIGEA targets payment processors and financial transactions tied to unlawful online gambling rather than criminalizing users.
Which president signed IGRA and how did IGRA change tribal gaming?
Ronald Reagan signed IGRA in 1988. IGRA created a federal structure—dividing gaming into Classes I–III, creating the NIGC, and requiring compacts for Class III gaming—helping tribes generate revenue and negotiate with states.
What did the 2011 DOJ Wire Act opinion decide?
The 2011 Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion concluded the Wire Act “applies only to bets or wagers on or about sporting events or contests,” which many states and lotteries read as enabling online lotteries and certain iGaming options.
What did the 2018 DOJ Wire Act opinion change?
The 2018 OLC opinion reversed the prior interpretation, concluding the Wire Act is not limited to sports, a view that prompted litigation by states and lotteries and subsequent judicial clarification in the First Circuit and other courts.
What is the Johnson Act (1951) and who signed it?
The Johnson Act (formally the Gambling Devices Transportation Act) was enacted in 1951 during Harry S. Truman’s presidency and restricted interstate transportation of certain gambling devices, part of mid‑century federal efforts to curb gambling‑related commerce.
How did Murphy v. NCAA change sports betting policy?
In Murphy v. NCAA (2018), the Supreme Court held that PASPA violated the anti‑commandeering doctrine because it “unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may and may not do,” freeing states to authorize sports betting if they choose.