The Legality of Online Gambling
While the U.S. government has been hesitant to enforce its online gambling laws, some have successfully challenged the validity of the laws on constitutional grounds. Appeals based on the Commerce Clause and the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech have met with varying degrees of success. The Commerce Clause’s commercial nature seems to satisfy this objection, and free speech objections seem to be undermined by the limited protection of First Amendment speech against criminal conduct. Due process arguments, on the other hand, have suffered in the case of online gambling in the United States.
Teenagers and young adults are easily accessible to both real world and online gambling. Parents and youth should discuss the risks of gambling with their children. These websites also have helpful information on gambling addiction. If you are unsure whether an online gambling habit is developing, contact your primary care physician and review additional online material. Further, if you suspect that you have a gambling problem, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. You can also visit your primary care provider for treatment and advice, who can recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Many online gambling sites offer bonuses as an incentive to attract new customers. Most of these sites offer 5% to 20% of your initial deposit, with requirements to wager the bonus two to three times before you can withdraw it. Other online gambling websites offer prizes for frequent customers and reward them with repeat business. Winnings are typically deposited into your online account or mailed to you in the form of a certified check. But before you deposit your money in any online gambling site, be sure to check the rules and regulations of your country.
While online gambling has become a $40 billion industry in the U.S., prosecutors have been unable to prove that the websites knowingly transmit bets from U.S. citizens. Furthermore, they cannot prove that you made your wagers through these sites because the sites are not able to track your physical location. Fortunately, the legality of online gambling continues to grow, and there are many ways to enjoy the excitement without breaking the bank.
While there are some legal issues involved, the biggest concerns stem from legality. In the case of Cynthia Haines, a California woman who lost $70,000 at online casinos, the Providian National Bank sued her for nonpayment and countersued the bank, claiming that she had incurred the debt as a result of illegal gambling activities. Because the casino was illegal in the state of California in 1998, Haines’ lawyers argued that the debt owed to the bank was void and invalid because it was the result of a fraudulent contract.
In the case of illegal Internet gambling, the federal government has stepped in to prevent the industry from spreading further across the nation. The American Banker reported on illegal Internet gambling transactions by sports journalists, and the Sporting News has agreed to pay a $4.2 million fine and launch a $3 million public-service campaign. This is not surprising given the fact that the government is concerned that internet gambling can spread illegal gambling to other states. The Federal Trade Commission has even warned against the practice as “unlawful” by virtue of its widespread use in sports betting.