Online gambling, also known as e-gambling, is the betting of games of chance or skill using the Internet. This includes virtual poker, sports betting and casino gaming.
In the past, online gambling has been prone to deception, scams and fraud. However, with more transparency and more honest casinos, the industry has improved. It is still a risky business, but one that offers advantages for consumers.
The United States has passed several statutes to protect against unlawful internet gambling. One of these is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Another is the Travel Act, which prohibits players from using interstate facilities for illegal gambling.
Several attacks have been made on the government’s ability to enforce these laws. These attacks have been based on the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech. While these arguments have had some success, they have also raised constitutional questions.
Section 1956 creates the offense of laundering for international and law enforcement purposes. Laundering means to disguise or conceal a thing for taxation or other illegal purposes.
Some states have expressed concerns that the Internet may be used to bring illegal gambling into their jurisdiction. As such, federal law has been reinforced by state laws in cases.
Some of the more interesting cases have been handled by the Fifth, Fifth, Fourth, Sixth, Tenth and Fourteenth Circuits. All of these cases involved five individuals making at least one bet at any time during thirty days.
Other notable cases have involved a variety of other individuals, such as a bartender and a manager of an establishment with video poker machines. Even though the prosecutions were successful, the federal government’s actions were challenged on constitutional grounds.
