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While a recent survey report by the American Gaming Association documents that only 4 percent of Americans currently gamble using the Internet, this form of "entertainment" has transformed "from barely registering with the public and elected officials to being a major story in the nation's media and the subject of intense debate in Washington." But there could be trouble in paradise, as online gambling is not legal (at least not yet) in the United States.
Some of the concerns relating to online gambling center on whether minors improperly engage in this adult activity, whether the ease of the Internet could cause people to spend too much of their time and money gambling, and of course the fact that online gambling is not legal here in the U.S.
Interestingly, the survey results reveal that typical online gamblers are younger, more highly educated, more male and more affluent than the general American population and the customers of brick-and-mortar casinos. The fact that online gambling is a new and developing trend is borne out by survey results showing that 70 percent of online gamblers state that they began this activity within the past two years.
Most online gamblers are not fully informed about their activities. For example, only 19 percent realize or admit that online gambling currently is illegal in the United States. Moreover, while they gamble often online and regularly, many are worried about the integrity of the online gambling games. Indeed, 55 percent believe to some extent that online casinos might cheat players, and 46 percent are of the view that other online gamblers have ways of cheating.
When asked why they gamble online, almost half of the respondents cited "convenience" as the primary reason. That might suggest that they would not be gambling but for the ease of the Internet, which can be a reason for concern. Surprisingly, less than 10 percent stated that the main reason for their Internet gambling was the chance to win money. So, is betting money over the Internet just something else to do in cyberspace? Apparently.
The average online gambler is a college-educated male under the age of 40 who makes more than $60,000 per year, plays poker and casino games roughly equally, and gambles over the Internet because it is easy and entertaining, not so much to make money. And while having this fun, our average online gambler does not know that he is not abiding by the law. Hopefully, he is not losing his shirt at the same time.
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First, "online gambling is not legal". It sounds more like the link should read "online gambling is not illegal", correct?
And second, "not abiding by the law" referring to online gamblers. But after reading that article it suggested more that it is the US government that is not abiding by the law.
Did I miss the point on this article?
I would really like to see a clear and concise law or ruling that shows the legality of say, placing an online wager for the Superbowl. If anyone has something concrete regarding this, I would appreciate a link to the information.
Thanks
"I think the Department of Justice takes the position that
gambling online from the United States to any site that's based
anywhere is covered by the Wire Act and thus is not legal."
Looks pretty cut and dry to me.
Regarding the "not abiding by the law":
You're right, but that really doesn't matter at the moment. If the
feds show up at your door and arrest you for online gambling,
you won't be able to argue that the WTO said its OK. If you're a
U.S. citizen then you must abide by U.S. laws. If you feel those
laws are in violation of international treaty, you can appeal to a
foreign government for politcal asylum (...good luck). Until the
WTO leans harder on the U.S. and Congress writes a new law,
we're bound by the ones we have.
And yes, the U.S. does need a clear and concise ruling on this.
Right now, the law is being derived from a statute never
intended to cover the issue. Write your congressman and
senator.
People are going to gamble some way some how. The goverment is passing a law about blocking credit card use for gambling. But what about the other ways people transfer money.
All people can now go to any state with gambling and use their credit cards to get money to gamble with. ATMs all over the place. Are the feds going to stop this to. IT IS NEEDED ALSO.
If they think on line gambling should be controled
because people are using credit cards, then sould they not control it thme selves and have the goverment make the money from gambling on line.
I went to vegas four times a year to play in Black Jack turnments. I Never, Never used my credit cards.
These on line gambling places are making a lot of money, so why sould the goverment not get a few million or more out of them, Like they do in the clubs here in the US.