Federal Laws and Online Gambling

Online Gambling

The use of the internet to conduct gambling is a rapidly growing activity. This is partly due to the rise of mobile phones and the availability of broadband networks, both of which make wagering much easier and faster. However, the advent of such services also creates an opportunity for illegal activities. Several federal laws are now in place to curb the activity. These include the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Travel Act.

In order to understand the complexities of these laws, it is important to identify the definition of “Internet Gambling”. While UIGEA does not define the term, it does give the government the right to prosecute persons involved in unlawful Internet gambling. Moreover, a person’s use of the Internet to engage in such activity may be illegal, even if they are not located in the United States. As a result, this act has the potential to affect a wide array of people.

While the federal government has a vested interest in cracking down on illegal Internet gamblers, it is important to consider how far the law should go. UIGEA is the most important piece of legislation to be passed on this front, since it imposes a number of legal constraints on Internet gambling operators. In particular, the law prohibits the acceptance of financial instruments used in illegal Internet bets. Additionally, it requires that owners of Internet gambling businesses have gross revenue of $2,000 or more in a single day. If the owner fails to meet these requirements, he or she can be subject to up to five years in prison.

Although the UIGEA is a worthy piece of legislation, there are several problems with it. First, it may lead to the closure of facilities that are used to facilitate the activity. Second, it may impede the ability of the government to track down gambling operators, as well as the individuals responsible for their operation. And finally, there is a chance that it may lead to an increase in disordered gambling.

Other issues that need to be addressed include the extent to which the government can use the “Finance” section of the UIGEA to enforce its law, or whether it can actually stop online gambling altogether. The latter is a more serious question, however, because there is an element of interstate commerce at play.

A related matter is the use of the Travel Act to prosecute players who use interstate facilities to participate in unlawful activities. Specifically, the Act applies to Internet casinos.

There are a variety of other laws that can be used to enforce the law, such as the Gambling Devices Transportation Act. Similarly, there is a host of state-specific statutes that can be used to limit the operation of illegal gambling. Finally, there is a slew of court decisions that cite the Travel Act to impose fines on illegal Internet gambling operators. Despite these challenges, it appears that the Travel Act is still the best tool for the job.