Placing legal bets on a server or our computer?

**Justin7** · 11-07-09, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by bobsimmons

When you place a bet is it legally placed on the server you are using or are they placed on your computer? You could argue that BOTH is the correct answer but if you are accessing your sports book through a proxy service and the proxy server you are using is in a country where sports betting is legal then are you not legally placing bets since you are using a legal server for doing it and the bets are being initiated on a legal server in a legal jurisdiction even though your computer may not be.....

I am sure I will get some flack for this question but I would appreciate informed answers if there is anyone who knows the technical laws about this. This paragraph above is meant to promote fruitful discussion of course.

Bob

It depends who's asking. If it is the DOJ trying to pursue a book, they will say the bet was placed in all locations.

If you're looking at either a criminal prosecution against the individual, or a book at doesn't allow US players, a proxy would probably work for the player for both.

**Strangerdanger** · 11-08-09, 11:17 PM

I've done extensive research on this. A couple of years ago I wrote a program to play online poker for me (a poker bot). I thought to setup a server out of the US to run the program from in order to escape any legal violations. I began to look into the law and, unfortunately, I found that our law writers had caught this potential loophole.

The SAFE Port Act, also known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 states that a person who is located within the United States at the time an online wager is placed in their name is in violation of federal law, unless in contradiction with local laws. So using a proxy service wont work.

**Justin7** · 11-09-09, 12:39 AM

Originally posted by Strangerdanger

The SAFE Port Act, also known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 states that a person who is located within the United States at the time an online wager is placed in their name is in violation of federal law, unless in contradiction with local laws. So using a proxy service wont work.

I call Bullshit. Show me the text.

To my knowledge, there is no federal law making it illegal to place a bet on the internet from the U.S.

**tltaylor89** · 11-09-09, 12:45 AM

I call bullshit as well

**KKoz9** · 11-09-09, 01:15 AM

Originally posted by Strangerdanger

I've done extensive research on this. A couple of years ago I wrote a program to play online poker for me (a poker bot). I thought to setup a server out of the US to run the program from in order to escape any legal violations. I began to look into the law and, unfortunately, I found that our law writers had caught this potential loophole.

The SAFE Port Act, also known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 states that a person who is located within the United States at the time an online wager is placed in their name is in violation of federal law, unless in contradiction with local laws. So using a proxy service wont work.

Triple bullshit...there is no federal law on the books regarding online gambling of any nature. Only the DOJ's interpretation of the 1962 Wire Act says it is illegal but the Courts have specifically ruled that it does not apply to online gaming.

**1st and Ten** · 11-15-09, 09:11 PM

Originally posted by Justin7

I call Bullshit. Show me the text.

To my knowledge, there is no federal law making it illegal to place a bet on the internet from the U.S.

Originally posted by tltaylor89

I call bullshit as well

Originally posted by KKoz9

Triple bullshit...there is no federal law on the books regarding online gambling of any nature. Only the DOJ's interpretation of the 1962 Wire Act says it is illegal but the Courts have specifically ruled that it does not apply to online gaming.