Is internet gambling illegal?

[ravkes]

I want to know the laws that surround internet gambling in the US and how they affect someone who sports gambles through an offshore gambling website. I'm assuming there's a LARGE grey area, and that it's technically NOT illegal because from my knowledge there has never been an arrest in the US for placing wagers online.

Thanks.

[Dark Horse]

It's illegal to take bets.

'They' want you to think that placing bets is a grey area, rather than something natural that is as much part of the human DNA as the sex drive. The anti-gambling branch can be divided into two camps. The first are the inquisitors, dogmatic minds that have convinced themselves, and only themselves, that they hold some sort of moral high ground over a population that likes to put their money where their mouth is, in places other than the stock market. They are usually presented as the face behind anti-gambling legislation, but they are not the power behind it. That power is money driven. The second camp are paid off politicians, who try to direct gamblers towards 'legal' gambling outlets.

In terms of legality, there are different type of laws. There are basic laws that never change and will always be enforced. And there are flimsy laws that continuously change, depending on the direction of the political wind, and that are enforced only very lightly, if at all. You have to make up your own mind about these things.

[Baller85]

I'd be interested to find out if anyone has ever been arrested for it.

[excel]

news link <kinda crazy Seems like they went after the man in this one.

[Masu485]

I'm sure there are many more qualified to answer this here than me, but from what I understand, it's illegal 1.to be a bookie yourself 2.fund an offshore account. I may be wrong though...

There was actually a man arrested for betting, but I think the police had to force it because he wrote on a document that his occupation was professional gambler. I don't remember if it was just a tax issue or if it was illegal and they were forced to enforce it because he dangled it in front of their face.

[JerseyShop101]

He only got 5 months.

Here's a good read:

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-12-08/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-internet-sports-bookie-and-poker-pro-james-giordano/1

[Dark Horse]

bottom line (from article):

Three years of investigations, wiretapping, and another three years of court wrangling to put a bookie in jail for five months: It was a payoff only a sucker would bet on.

[Snowball]

http://vegasclick.com/online/legal.html

[BET THE HOOK]

Pretty damned good article. I cant believe the US doesnt just legalize sports gambling and tax it to pay off the national debt. Its a multi-billion dollar business every year. They are idiots and would rather let all the third world countries make all the cash.

[Boner_18]

If some prosecutor is driven enough to convict you, some part of the process of placing bets online is illegal. Is it going to happen. Decidedly not.

[HedgeHog]

Hosting a penny ante poker game is considered illegal. Pissing on a tree, even out of public view, can get you charged with indecent exposure. Depends on the state you're in, but you can be prosecuted for basically anything the government wants to pursue.

[thebestthereis]

nobody gives a flip about people betting online offshore. what they do care about and will only care about just like anything else is get a piece by taxing. that is all anyone cares about is the money and how do we make some period end of story. gimme gimme gimme and that will never change.

[frauhanna]

some conutries they do not allowed ganbling. However still have countries participate in gabling as well. Well it depends on your location if your country allowed gabling or not. But probably in China gambling is legal for sure.lol

[Dark Horse]

Pretty damned good article. I cant believe the US doesnt just legalize sports gambling and tax it to pay off the national debt. Its a multi-billion dollar business every year. They are idiots and would rather let all the third world countries make all the cash.

Republican party can't afford to lose the Bible belt. You know, the same folks that would kill over abortion.

[LarryF]

Snowball: Thanks for the article and nice butt...........LOL

[thespeculator]

Hosting a penny ante poker game is considered illegal. Pissing on a tree, even out of public view, can get you charged with indecent exposure. Depends on the state you're in, but you can be prosecuted for basically anything the government wants to pursue.

exactly, the government can do anything , anytime to anyone. Whenever you hear the government say they can't do something it more like they have an interest in not stopping it , like drugs, what the hell would all of those prosecuters, coast guard, federal cops ,state cops, local cops, they would all be out business , IMO of course

[thespeculator]

of course the most important thing is protecting the children

[winM]

I agree!

[illfuuptn]

So it's illegal for these books to be in operation? So if they find out who runs Bookmaker.com, that person is going to jail????

[Ruifgalmeida]

The UK is the best example, the goverment makes milions in taxes via sports beting, why doesnt the USA does the same thing people are going to gamble any way.

[DukeJohn]

I want to know the laws that surround internet gambling in the US and how they affect someone who sports gambles through an offshore gambling website. I'm assuming there's a LARGE grey area, and that it's technically NOT illegal because from my knowledge there has never been an arrest in the US for placing wagers online.

Thanks.

Quick answer as I am running behind schedule today... It is illegal and it is not. US law basically is as others have said, illegal to accept bets. The wire act was made for organized crime, doesn't mention internet but it is pretty clear that accepting sports bets is illegal, however games of chance are not covered under this law since judges have ruled against the law when dealing with games of chance. Now I believe 5 states were exempt from the anti sports betting law, meaning they can offer sports betting as a licensed activity, such as Nevada. So, only the accepting of bet is illegal in the US.

Now, State law is a whole other story. In several state, YES, it is illegal to place an internet wage. It is different from state to state. In Washington State it is a felon to gamble online. In Texas, it is perfectly legal as long as you do it in your own home and not in a public place.

You need to look up your own state law to see. There are several websites that will point you in the right direction.

Oh and as for UIGEA, the one about funding gambling sites, it is not illegal for individuals, just institutions.

BOL

[ravkes]

Thanks for the answers guys. I just thought of this; what the hell is the difference between Online Gambling and crane/prize/ticket games people play at Arcades, Chuck E. Cheese, Six Flags.. Same concept. Steal the most money from noobs who don't know what they're doing.

[curinator]

Thanks for the answers guys. I just thought of this; what the hell is the difference between Online Gambling and crane/prize/ticket games people play at Arcades, Chuck E. Cheese, Six Flags.. Same concept. Steal the most money from noobs who don't know what they're doing.

The better question is what is the difference between the sports market and stock market in the U.S. One is glorified and the other is frowned upon socially. Both markets are based on 'beating' other people and both have people participating in them for only the 'rush' they feel when making a trade/placing a wager.

In terms of swing/day trading, the percentage of successful of traders in comparison to the whole is most likely relatively close to the percentage of people successful in the sports market. Obviously that is a subjective statement, but I know it must be fairly close in terms of overall percentage of successful people vs. the whole in both markets (I only speak for speculative trading). Societies and individual social/personal views can be quite hypocritical at times.

[BigdaddyQH]

There are a number of laws that can be used to nail a person who wagers off shore. There are more banking rules and regulations than I can keep up with. Then there is the IRS problem if you do not report your winnings. Then there is the problem of possible tie-ins with known gangsters and wanted persons that operate some of these offshore books. It goes on and on. I wager in Las Vegas and report my winnings. I have never had a problem with the government. Wat I do is perfectly legal. What everyone in here does to fund their accounts and receive funds from their accounts is not perfectly legal. The Feds can shut you down, and throw you in the slammer any time they want to. Obviously they could care about the vast majority of people in here, because the vast majority of people in here are not worth prosecuting, but if you piss them off, they can, and will make your life miserable.

What the Feds can and will do is nail the off shore books. When this happens, those books either fold up, refuse to do business in the U.S, or start to slow pay because they have to figure out a new way to get monies into and out of accounts. Compare todays internet wagering to that of 5 years ago and you will see the huge differences forced upon the industry by the Feds. It is only going to get worse.

[HedgeHog]

There are a number of laws that can be used to nail a person who wagers off shore. There are more banking rules and regulations than I can keep up with. Then there is the IRS problem if you do not report your winnings. Then there is the problem of possible tie-ins with known gangsters and wanted persons that operate some of these offshore books. It goes on and on. I wager in Las Vegas and report my winnings. I have never had a problem with the government. Wat I do is perfectly legal. What everyone in here does to fund their accounts and receive funds from their accounts is not perfectly legal. The Feds can shut you down, and throw you in the slammer any time they want to. Obviously they could care about the vast majority of people in here, because the vast majority of people in here are not worth prosecuting, but if you piss them off, they can, and will make your life miserable.

What the Feds can and will do is nail the off shore books. When this happens, those books either fold up, refuse to do business in the U.S, or start to slow pay because they have to figure out a new way to get monies into and out of accounts. Compare todays internet wagering to that of 5 years ago and you will see the huge differences forced upon the industry by the Feds. It is only going to get worse.

This crap happenened under Bush Jr's watch. It will only be addressed again if Obama loses in 2012. Republicans hate gambling, but love going to bondage clubs.

[Art Vandeleigh]

The better question is what is the difference between the sports market and stock market in the U.S. One is glorified and the other is frowned upon socially. Both markets are based on 'beating' other people and both have people participating in them for only the 'rush' they feel when making a trade/placing a wager.

Sports indirectly involves kids, who are the ones mostly watching and nagging dad to take them to the game to see their favorite multi-tattooed athlete and buy their jerseys and sneakers and Wheaties. Enough people want to keep sports "pure" for the kids sake to keep gambling and any possible tainting of this purity away from the children. If we get rid of kids, we can get internet gambling.

[sportsbetwin]

So what's easier? Going out and buying a gun or funding an offshore sportsbook?

[Peeig]

I think this topic has been covered ad nausem on some of the poker forums......might want to check that out.