Betting on the Internet

There is no state in the United States that expressly allows betting on the Internet. It is definitely illegal in Minnesota, Missouri, Maryland, and Wisconsin. A host of other states including California and Connecticut are also moving to ban the business. Congress may beat them to the punch.

Legislation has been introduced to make betting on the Internet a federal crime. The Justice Department believes that accepting bets via the Internet is already a federal crime.

They have repeatedly closed businesses and arrested operators for violating existing gambling laws. By the time you read these words more federal and state action will surely have occurred.

You wouldn't know any of this by reading the Web pages. The online casinos make it so easy; just give them your credit card number and play via modem. It's all approved and perfectly legitimate... in the Caribbean or somewhere else. But not in the United States .

What does that mean for you? Gambling on the net is a double risk. You can lose in the normal way and you can also lose your entire bankroll when the U.S. assets of the corporation are seized. Are you already gambling on the Net? Don't panic.

The Feds won't be knocking on your door just yet. Give them some time to finish writing the new laws. Mean­while, don't expect a dispute with an online casino to be resolved by your state's attorney general.

businesses and arrested operators

Gambling rules and regulation