Is it illegal to gamble online?

[rackmsuckr]

I know everyone is betting at Stanjames.com, but Steve Lipsky posted an article in another thread http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/technology/18gamble.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin which states:

Prosecutors assert that under the Federal Wire Act of 1961, the providers and promoters of Internet sports books and casinos are participants in a criminal enterprise.

The fact that these operations are legal in their home jurisdictions “does not entitle them to do business in the United States,” said Catherine L. Hanaway, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, which brought the indictment....

 

[vagabond]

I know everyone is betting at Stanjames.com, but Steve Lipsky posted an article in another thread http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/technology/18gamble.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin which states:

Prosecutors assert that under the Federal Wire Act of 1961, the providers and promoters of Internet sports books and casinos are participants in a criminal enterprise.

The fact that these operations are legal in their home jurisdictions “does not entitle them to do business in the United States,” said Catherine L. Hanaway, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, which brought the indictment....

we have lots of very complex, wierd,irrational & gustapo Laws on this soil and many innocent people have been labeled `criminal` because of these laws.Our govt went after the people who operated internet gambling even from foreign contry ( some where in carrebian).
When the FBI raided johnston city more than 30 years ago during those pool hustler`s jamborees ,it was based on the violation of Interstate commerce laws because one loud mouth player offered a challenge to play any for some money something like that.i only have a vague idea abot the whole affair.
I will be very carefull with these matters.

 

[Krypto]

Answer?

Well, LE has been my line of work for nearly 23 years, but I am not very clear on this matter either. I am certain that it is illegal, but prosecution of those making bets is very rare. The authorities will, and have been, pursuing the Book Makers themselves. With this said, I am still too chicken to make a bet myself. I know the pool world pretty well, and I would love to bet on some great players with outstanding odds for return, but any risk of arrest is too much risk for me. The bottom line is really business. The US gambling interests have too much invested to let you legally click on an icon and bet with someone in Britain. Many states also have their own laws covering gambling of any kind.

Curses Bat Man!

 

[jjinfla]

Police are becoming more inovative in finding ways to catch criminals. They are pretty good at using the internet to catch child predators. I also know that detectives routinely scan Ebay to find people selling selling stolen items. So it would not be too hard to set up a false betting scenario. Anyone actually placing a bet would be in violation of some law, somewhere, I believe.

It is all new with the police and since I do not want to be a test case for some eager beaver District Attorney I just don't do any gambling on line.

From what I understand the internet companies are overseas and safe from prosecution. But people living here who place bets can still be prosecuted for gambling. So far no prosecutors have bothered to do so.

Jake