Online gambling, why some yes and some no?

Question

So they passed legislation to make online gambling illegal for US citizens. They closed down Netteller and Pokerroom. com no longer lets US people play with real $. But there's some websites (poker and sports) who still accept credit cards. What is the discrepancy? How come some can still operate and others are shut down?

I actually think banning online gambling is a good thing for me, but it should either be a total ban or no-ban, not half-a@@.

Answer 1

basically, the internet is like the wild west. it's nearly impossible for a traditional justice system to work. so, if you commit a crime in cybespace (e.g. gamble in a state that prohibits gambling) there is no evidence. money did not change hands (at that point in time, usually before and after) and the location of the act vs the location of the crime are different...often two different countries.

the way the law is written, the actual crime is if a US bank sends funds to a recognized gambling website. the evidence in this case is the paper trail, produced by the bank, showing that the money was sent. the person who sent the money will not be prosecuted, only the bank will be fined.

Answer 2

There is NO federal law that makes the act of wagering online illegal. The only federal law that addresses gambling is the wire act from the 1960's which makes it illegal to place wagers via the telephone. The US government passed a port security law and tacked on provisions (UIGEA) that make it illegal for BANKS, not players, to fund or accept payment from "illegal" gaming sources. The only problem (for the govt) is that there are dozens of third party methods available for funding and no way to trace ACH credits.  Another problem for the DOJ is that they qualified the online gambling statement with "illegal online gambling" yet failed to define "illegal online gambling".  There is no law that speaks to online gambling so UIGEA refers to no specific activity.  In other words, the new provisions are only for show, a meager attempt to turn the banks into law enforcement agencies, and the end result is a waste of ink. I still use my VISA check card and e-check on my favorite sites. Online gaming will be impossible to completely eliminate from the US. The best they can do is make it inconvenient. Eventually I see the industry being regulated and taxed.

The only states with laws directed towards online wagering are Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, Indiana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey and South Dakota. Although these states do have specific laws pertaining to online gaming, there has not been any charges laid and those laws are vague and currently being challenged.

Some sites have decided, on their own, to no longer accept American players. These are the publicly traded companies and most have returned to private owners.  All of the sites that have been prosecuted have been for accepting wagers from Americans WHILE being based on US soil!  It has nothing to do with off shore online gambling. There are still many highly reputable sites that welcome and cater to American clients.

I have wagered online for years and make good money betting on sports and playing poker. You can get free sports betting tips, poker tips, matchup stats, tools, sports picks, stats, and reviews of only highly reputable gaming sites at http://GamblingReviewsSite.com

The recommended sites all offer top customer service, security, and fast/free payouts.

Answer 3

There is no federal law that makes gambling with a foreign online casino illegal.  Pokerroom was not closed down, in fact, the sites that do not accept US residents was the decision of the companies that limit access by country.  

The law that you are referring to limits the way banks transact with gambling sites, NOT the player.  Most credit cards with American banks have filters that block these transactions.  However, there is no means of enforcement, and the law is so bogus, there will never be in it's current state.

Answer 4

It really is not illegal. Its just that some online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks decided to stop allowing US players when the bill was first introduced. There are actually quite a few places you can still play at and have no trouble with. I recommend http://www.intertops.com/sportsbook/cgi-...

They have a casino, sports book and poker room, and you can transfer money back and forth from each. They have also been in business the longest and are 100% safe and secure.

Hope that helps :)

Answer 5

You can play poker legally on http://www.spadeclub.com. It is sponsored by cardplayer magazine and if you use the code ACESFULL you can get a two week free trial. It pays real cash prizes when you win. They base it on sweepstakes laws.

You can also play blackjack and poker at http://www.clububt.com, it will show you the prizes that you can play for. It does cost $20 month to join. If you register and enter this code WEC97XUK, it will give you two free weeks on their site. I have a paid membership there and I've won real cash there and they do pay.

Both sites are legal to play at in the USA.