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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
209 S. LaSalle Street
Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60604

                 Plaintiff,                  

                  v.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM   
GAMBLING, INC.,
208 G Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
                 

                Defendant.


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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1-03CV01278

JUDGE: Henry H. Kennedy

UNITED STATES' EXPLANATION OF CONSENT DECREE PROCEDURES

The United States submits this short memorandum summarizing the procedures regarding the Court's entry of the proposed Final Judgment. This Judgment would settle this case pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(h) (the "APPA"), which applies to civil antitrust cases brought and settled by the United States.

1.   Today, the United States has filed a Complaint, a proposed Final Judgment, and a Stipulation between the parties by which they have agreed that the Court may enter the proposed Final Judgment following the United States' compliance with the APPA.

2.   The United States also filed a Competitive Impact Statement relating to the proposed Judgment. See 15 U.S.C. § 16(b).

3.   The APPA requires that the United States publish the proposed Final Judgment and the Competitive Impact Statement in the Federal Register and in certain newspapers at least sixty (60) days prior to entry of the proposed Final Judgment. The notice will inform members of the public that they may submit comments about the proposed Final Judgment to the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(c).

4.   During the sixty (60) day period, the United States will consider, and at the close of that period respond to, any comments that it has received, and it will publish the comments and the United States' responses in the Federal Register.

5.   After the expiration of the sixty (60) day period, the United States will file with the Court the comments and the United States' responses, and it may ask the Court to enter the proposed Final Judgment (unless the United States has decided to withdraw its consent to entry of the Judgment, as permitted by Paragraph 1 of the Stipulation). See 15 U.S.C. § 16(d).

6.   If the United States requests that the Court enter the proposed Final Judgment after compliance with the APPA, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(e)-(f), then the Court may enter the Final Judgment without a hearing, provided that it concludes that the Final Judgment is in the public interest.


Dated:    June 13, 2003

    Respectfully submitted,


        _______________/s/________________
Rosemary Simota Thompson
Attorney, Chicago Field Office
IL Bar # 6204990
U.S. Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
209 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Telephone: (312) 353-7530
Facsimile: (312) 353-1046