Can you be ARRESTED for internet gambling?

[Vannek]

So someone said on this forum that internet gambling is not legal activity on US, so its probably ilegal on pretty much any country. Could the goverment confiscate your money or arrest you for that?Sounds like they can.

[EjnarPik]

Lol.

Ejnar Pik, Southern-Docks.

[TylerD]

yea because EVERYONE follows the Americans, they always know best.

[westmt01]

Yes, you can be arrested and thrown in jail for gambling with real money on the Internet. You will be placed in a cell with people who duplicate rented VCR tapes despite the FBI warning, as well as scoundrels who wontonly rip the "Do Not Remove" tags off bed linens.

However, I think the police in my city are too busy wasting their time with trivial matters such as shootings, muggings, and carjackings to go door to door looking for criminals playing 1/2 Hold Em on the Internet.

[DrSavage]

Theoretically yes, practically - probably not. Depends on where you live. Check out this site.

http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Law-Summary/

[GrannyMae]

Can you be ARRESTED for internet gambling

only if you play ace-anything against me.

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/u/cop.gif

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
so its probably ilegal on pretty much any country.

[/ QUOTE ]


Many countries are more liberal in certain areas of the law regarding free-speech and personal liberty than our beloved supposed 'land of the free'.



I would still describe internet-gambling in the US as being in a legal grey-area although I really am not an expert.

To my knowledge, nobody has been arrested for placing wagers on the internet.
I heard about some guy from North Dakota who is a professional online sports-handicapper who got in legal-trouble for dutifully reporting his earning on his taxes.
The judge gave him probation and told him not to do it again if I recall correctly. He moved to a different state (I think Kentucky) after learning that North Dakota is a bit more strict on such things.

I just want to know why he chooses to live in such places as North Dakota and Kentucky. But what do I know?


My uncle saw a story on CNN that the Fed-Govt is 'out to get' internet-gambling sites and is going to shut them all down.
I don't really think this was the drive of the story he saw on CNN but think that he had some common misinterpretations of it.
Anyway, he told my Mom to warn me to get all my money out before the government takes it away.

Obviously, this is ridiculous on my many levels (not the least of which is that all of these sites are not in the U.S.).

[James282]

Great link - and it must be for me to post in the internet forum /images/graemlins/frown.gif
-James

[gabyyyyy]

Well Said. Although, It depends on where you live. I had a friend who lived in tallahassee who was arrested on a warrant for writing a 25.00 bad check to publix.

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
However, I think the police in my city are too busy wasting their time with trivial matters such as shootings, muggings, and carjackings

[/ QUOTE ]



A few months ago, the police in my city sent more than 1 squad car to an art-gallery that was serving wine at an opening reception without a license.
The police found out about it because it was posted in the paper as a Wine-and-cheese type of opening reception.
Did I mention that more than 1 squad-car was sent for this huge bust??


Meanwhile, robberies and random-volience crimes continue to rise.

[westmt01]

I hear ya! But I live in suburban Detroit, which means if anyone was serving booze to the public without a license, ALL of the cops would show up...to make sure they didn't miss out on any. We recently had a city official get pulled over for doing like 70 in a 30mph zone - she got on her cellphone and called the chief of police, a friend of hers - and the cops got in trouble for having the audacity to pull her over.

So crime isn't considered a big thing here. I'm not too worried about getting busted for my heinous poker activities...uh oh, who's that pounding on my door......

[Webster]

Only 1 person has ben arrested for online gambling. I would not worry.

[radek2166]

www.cnn.co/sports/moneymaker (http://www.cnn.co/sports/moneymaker)

[radek2166]

J/K /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[westmt01]

I hope it was Brandon J. Fuchs.

[AncientPC]

On a side note,

PartyPoker.com's web server is located in Ontario, Canada.

FullTilt.com's web server is located in LA, California.

ParadisePoker.com's web server is located in Uruguay.

Absolute's in Toronto.

Pacific's in London.

So it seems like the only one I'd be particularly worried about is FT since it's residing in the US, but I don't know CA's gaming laws.

[Shoe]

I have a question -- not sure if anyone here can help me out or not, but I live in Wisconsin (apparently one of the worst states for gambling laws despite all of our casinos).

What if I qualify for a major tournament online, and then manage to make the final table and/or win it. If the state would for some reason come after me, would I only have to forfeit the amount of the prize package I win (i.e entry into the tourney + flight/hotel value) or would they also be able to go after the money I won from the tournament (the money that was won legitatemitely, even though the entry was won online). ?

[GrannyMae]

you are fine.

also, people always say that moneymaker proves online gambling is ok, or not enforced. what they fail to undrestand is that he only gamb00led $40 online, and that is not a felony even if illegal. the tourney he won was played in a real casino and the taxes he paid were real.

US players winning a wcoop event are more in danger than someone winning a sattelite to a land based tourney.

[Overdrive]

[ QUOTE ]
So someone said on this forum that internet gambling is not legal activity on US, so its probably ilegal on pretty much any country. Could the goverment confiscate your money or arrest you for that?Sounds like they can.

[/ QUOTE ]

If Internet poker goes away, it won't be for legal reasons, trust me. At this time the best legal minds in the world simply DO NOT KNOW if it is 'illegal' or not. It could be illegal in Swamp Bottom Illinois, where you play on your computer, but it may be legal in Muddy Lake, Florida where one of your opponets is playing from, and legal in Canada, where the server of the poker site you are playing on is located, see how this can go? So what are they gonna do after they 'arrest' you? Send the swat team to the guys house on the next street and cuff him and take his computer away? Then are they going to arrest the Grandma two streets over who plays for fun?

I just wish some big gambling monstrosity like Harrah's or Steve Wynn would get into on-line gaming in a big way and use their muscle to get this legalized in the U.S.

Besides, remember that the World Trade Organization has ruled in a case brought against the United States of America by Antigua that any restriction of any sort on internet gaming by the U.S. Govt. is a violation of world trade agreements. I really don't think we have anything to worry about. But, if Bush and his Nazi Stromtroopers get re-relected I suppose anything is possible..

[Jim Kuhn]

Those art gallery wine sippers are what is wrong with America. We should just throw them all in jail. While we are at it online poker players are also worthless. Beer drinkers would be better off in jail. As for those filthy dirty smokers...................... Send a message to BIG BROTHER - Vote Libertarian!

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4U
/images/graemlins/spade.gif /images/graemlins/diamond.gif /images/graemlins/club.gif /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]

I just wish some big gambling monstrosity like Harrah's or Steve Wynn would get into on-line gaming in a big way and use their muscle to get this legalized in the U.S.

[/ QUOTE ]

Be careful what you wish for. I think that on-line gambling will be legal in the US someday. And when it is legal, it will be regulated and taxed. And taxed, and taxed. Most taxation of B&Ms today is applied to the house, with the house paying out of their winnings or rake. The exception being poker tournaments and very big slot jackpots where you have to show ID. The same process could apply to on-line casinos, but it would also be a lot easier to directly tax a player at a legal American on-line game. The house has your name, address, etc., in their computer. It would be very easy to withhold taxes from payouts, or just issue a Form 1099 to anyone who withdrew more than some set amount per year. Right now, US businesses have to issue a 1099 to any contractor that they pay more than $600 annually.

As to the original question on this thread, today I think that the most likely chance of a player getting into legal trouble would be because of not reporting taxes. I believe that since on-line gambling is relatively new, the IRS has not put much focus on it yet. As it becomes bigger, I'm sure the tax boys will start to see more evidence of it, and develop enforcement tools, like monitoring bank deposits from off-shore, to get their "fair share" of the goodies.

[PapaSan]

my cousin is serving a 25 year sentence at Folsom for winning a freeroll.

[Ledererfan]

all of this is possible: arrest, seizure of computer (for evidence), etc. then it's up to the courts if one's convicted and the subsequent sentencing, which could be anything. I don't think it's wise to tell others that they shouldn't worry or be concerned. This is a real issue, which the U.S. Congress is debating. I believe a measure to ban banks and credit card companies from paying out to these sites, as well as other penalties have passed the House and is now in the Senate. Not sure where the bill stands, but I wouldn't just dismiss online gambling on the basis of "they got bigger fish to fry" theory. In the meantime, the Justice Dept. and Homeland Security, I believe is also working on this, as is shown from the number of credit card companies who refuse to process transactions to/from the poker rooms.

BTW: it is not illegal for the consumer to tear the tag off the mattress, after it is purchased!

[Ledererfan]

wasn't there an issue with Chris M's prize fund after he won in 2003? I had heard that there was some legal wrangling over whether or not he got paid because Tennessee law made online gambling illegal. I know he got paid, but I have never seen a media report on this, only heard about it through the forums.

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
I had heard that there was some legal wrangling over whether or not he got paid because Tennessee law made online gambling illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This kind of gossip is about as reliable as the crazy guy who comes up to me on the street informing me that aliens have kidnapped Anna Kournikova.


It's amazing the kind of ridiculous, made-up stuff you can read about on the internet.

[GWB]

Bob,

We will get on top of the Anna Kournikova kidnapping situation right away. Thanks for the heads up. Some things take precedence, even over our brilliantly successful War in Iraq.

W

[MicroBob]

If it helps, the crazy guy told me that she was put in the trunk of a gigantic 500 foot tall Volvo and will be taken to the rendezvous point somewhere in Ecquador for transporation back to Mars.

I'm not really sure why it's necessary to get involved.
I just assumed those radio-controlled Mars-Rovers we have up there could take care of it.