BetOnSports Players Prosecuted August 20, 2008

Online gambling in the United States was put in a more tenuous position after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. Players now betting in online gambling establishments in the United States now face prosecution from federal authorities.

There has always been an ambiguous set of laws concerning online gambling in the US but prosecutions were almost unheard of. That has since changed with the prosecution of three players that were affiliated with the BetOnSports website. BetOnSports was one of the largest gambling establishments of its kind and speculation can only be that the site was set up to be a sort of example by federal authorities as an example to lesser sites participating in the same activities.

For those players that aren't aware what the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) says, in a nutshell, it prohibits players from transferring money from themselves to a gambling establishment. This means that any transaction made by a player in the United States is opening themselves to prosecution when they transfer, or deposit, money into their gaming accounts. This has also affected casinos located in other areas of the world, such as in the UK, which caters to players in the United States.

New legislation has been posited by Congressman Sessions from Texas that would focus the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) towards the goal of stopping all sportsbook and online casino transactions solely within the United States. This would be good legislation for operators of sportsbooks working outside of the United States as right now they are subject to sanctions for allowing players from the US to play in their site. Only time will tell what the future holds for Internet gaming laws but the smart move is to stay apprised of what is happening in your country, and your community.