Online gambling is the act of betting on a sporting event, a game of chance, or an uncertain event. There are a number of types of gambling, including sportsbooks, virtual poker, and online casinos. Gambling is generally considered to be a violation of state law, but federal criminal laws can also be implicated.
There are several federal criminal statutes pertaining to illegal Internet gambling. These include the Wire Act, the Illegal Gambling Business Act, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) provisions.
UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) is a statute that addresses commercial activity and prohibits accepting financial instruments from players who use an interstate facility to place an illegal Internet bet. The legislation comes with Congressional findings on the impact on interstate commerce. In addition, it contains factors to weed out low-level gambling cases.
A criminal case charges Internet poker operators with violations of 18 U.S.C. During a trial, the United States alleged that they engaged in money laundering and racketeering in connection with their business. Ultimately, the Court agreed to hold the operators liable for the charges.
The case involved five individuals, at least one of whom participated on each of three days. The defendants had been operating a business that generated gross revenues of over $2,000. As part of the agreement, the company agreed to launch a public-service campaign.
Several questions about the scope of legislative power have been raised. These are especially relevant in cases involving financial transactions in the U.S. However, the attacks based on the Commerce Clause and the First Amendment guarantee of free speech have so far enjoyed little success.