iMEGA HEARING DATE SET

13 July 2007

iMEGA attempt to overturn the UIGEA will be heard September 4

Latest news on the litigation launched by the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) seeking the overthrow of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act on constitutional grounds is that a hearing date has been set for the issue before Judge Mary L. Cooper of the US District Court in Trenton, New Jersey.

The publication Red Herring quotes iMEGA president Edward Leyden as saying: "We think the law infringes on the First Amendment and Tenth Amendment rights of our members. And we also believe the government has exceeded its authority in its WTO dispute with Antigua and that too has harmed our clients.”

Joe Brennan, Jr., iMEGA founder and a former executive of AOL, told the online gambling information portal Gambling911 spoke: "The UIGEA can still be enforced prior to the September 4 [New Jersey hearing] date. But we feel confident that the judge will prevent that from happening."

During the hearing the presiding officer will review the plaintiff iMEGA legal brief, along with the response from the defendant US Department of Justice and the US Treasury. She may then determine whether to grant the plaintiff's request for a restraining order on the enforcement of the UIGEA. Alternatively, the judge may order a separate hearing to hear oral arguments and testimony before making a ruling.

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