The Federal Government’s Role in Online Gambling

Online Gambling

Online Gambling is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. With the proliferation of mobile devices, it has become easier for people to access online gambling. There are many types of games available, including sports betting, poker, and bingo.

The most obvious form of online gambling is betting on a sporting event. People can wager on the total number of goals scored or points won by a team. These bets are based on the odds assigned to each team. Some casinos also offer games such as scratch card games.

In some states, such as New York, gambling activities are regulated under state law. Players can be in violation of the state’s laws by participating in illegal Internet gambling.

Internet gambling is also prohibited under the Wire Act, which prohibits illegal gambling on contests and sporting events. A federal law that reinforces state law in certain cases is the Lopez Amendment. This amendment focuses on commercial activity, and is intended to keep low-level gambling cases from escalating to the level of a serious crime.

There are several other federal criminal statutes that are implicated by illegal Internet gambling. These include the Illegal Gambling Business Act, the Wire Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) provision.

Section 1956 of the Federal Criminal Code creates several distinct crimes. Laundering to disguise and evade taxes, law enforcement stings, and international purposes are among the types of crimes created under this statute.