| When discussing online casinos
, the question that often arises is “Aren’t online casinos illegal?” Now, this is a difficult question to answer, and is usually mulled about and dismissed. In fact, it is a complicated issue, and one that has no concrete answer. What we do know, however, is that the fight is not in the favor of online gambling at the moment.
There are some states that have passed legislation prohibiting online gambling, but there are no federal laws addressing the topic. The law that is often called into play where internet gambling is concerned is the Wire Wager Act, which was written in 1961 to combat people taking bets over the phone. Under this Act, any person taking bets via “wire communication facility” can face time in prison as well as hefty fines.
The justice department has been documented as being against online gambling, and in 2002 began pressuring media outlets to stop airing ads for online casino sites. Not only has the justice department put pressure on various media outlets, they have also exerted their authority over banks, many of whom will no longer process transactions from online casinos.
In 2005, the WTO (World Trade Organization) ruled that the US can regulate online gambling to protect morals, but only if it’s laws become organized beforehand. If this is actually the case, it will be a long time before we actually see the US government regulating online gambling. The best advice is to check your state laws; if your state says it’s okay, have fun. If not, either move to a different state or use the money you were going to gamble with and start saving for a trip to the real casino. |
