It is a grey area. From what I understand, the Wire Act was designed to deal with phone calls that cross interstate/foreign lines. But if you're using the Internet, are you really using the phone? Maybe yes, maybe no.
I wouldn't worry about the Wire Act. If you're gonna get caught for ANYTHING, it would probably be tax-evasion. And you'd have to win lots of money before that became an issue. Withdrawing $200 here and there isn't gonna raise any red-flags.
I wouldn't worry about the Wire Act. If you're gonna get caught for ANYTHING, it would probably be tax-evasion. And you'd have to win lots of money before that became an issue. Withdrawing $200 here and there isn't gonna raise any red-flags.
The Wire Act, found at 18 U.S.C. §1084 provides in pertinent part as follows,
(a) Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under his title or imprisoned ....
18 U.S.C. §1084(a) (emphasis added). Section Co) of the statute carves out an exception to the rule, instructing that the Wire Act shall not "be construed to prevent the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of information for use in news reporting of sporting evens or contests" from a state or country where betting on the sporting event or contest is legal to another state or country where such betting is legal." 18 U.S.C. §1084Co) (emphasis added).
(a) Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under his title or imprisoned ....
18 U.S.C. §1084(a) (emphasis added). Section Co) of the statute carves out an exception to the rule, instructing that the Wire Act shall not "be construed to prevent the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of information for use in news reporting of sporting evens or contests" from a state or country where betting on the sporting event or contest is legal to another state or country where such betting is legal." 18 U.S.C. §1084Co) (emphasis added).
Now Sammy are you sure about this? I'm going to have to wait for someone else to second your motion. My God, brother if you are right that is scary.
Are you saying that if I went on down to the local law enforcement office and said that I've been playing football on-line (betting) and that I just want to turn myself in for violation of the wire act--they would arrest me?
(I would explain of course that I knew they were short-handed and that was the reason I was turning myself in after just finding out that this law affected players?
Are you saying that if I went on down to the local law enforcement office and said that I've been playing football on-line (betting) and that I just want to turn myself in for violation of the wire act--they would arrest me?
(I would explain of course that I knew they were short-handed and that was the reason I was turning myself in after just finding out that this law affected players?
Old - sorry about the legalese, I know that the law was passed originally to crack down on bookmakers using telephone to take bets across state lines. Since the 60's the law has been challanged, and interperted differently by law enforcement to include the player also. Sammy is right though it is a priority issue that police use against the player only if they really have noting else to bust him on. Plenty of bookies have been convicted of violation of the "Wire act", and I believe it was used in the 80's to arrest players for the first time. The most notorious case being the one against the computer group, who were bettors, but were charged with violations of the Wire Act, among other laws.
wil.
wil.
You keep looking for assurances where there are none to be found. My advice is to read the links that General has posted, they beat this topic to death. Then, I would seriously consider liquidating your accounts and quitting. If I'm not mistaken, you quit betting a couple of months ago because of concerns and now you're back with the same concerns as well as badgering books to do record keeping for you.
I truly don't mean to insult or flame here. I honestly think that this business is more worrisome for you than any possible profit or pleasure that you may be deriving from it.
I truly don't mean to insult or flame here. I honestly think that this business is more worrisome for you than any possible profit or pleasure that you may be deriving from it.
Wilhelm,
The Computer Boys got the Wire Act charge because the Feds felt they were involved in bookmaking, not specifically for being bettors.
Just like this bogus stuff about "aiding and abetting" that they are insinuating against a lot of the media right now, the government is showing they don't respect their own laws. They are doing interpret as they wish and lean on everyone with all their power. They won't ever get a conviction on any of this, but they sure as hell can try and make your life difficult and miserable until they get run out of court. No the Wire Act doesn't apply to you, as plainly as you can see unless you are in the business of wagering it doesn't apply. Now if you are a professional gambler and state so on your taxes I don't quite know how that would be handled, but for most of us it isn't an issue. Once again OMT you live in a life of fear on this. Just do yourself a favor and give up sports betting, it can't possibly be worth all your worry!!!
The Computer Boys got the Wire Act charge because the Feds felt they were involved in bookmaking, not specifically for being bettors.
Just like this bogus stuff about "aiding and abetting" that they are insinuating against a lot of the media right now, the government is showing they don't respect their own laws. They are doing interpret as they wish and lean on everyone with all their power. They won't ever get a conviction on any of this, but they sure as hell can try and make your life difficult and miserable until they get run out of court. No the Wire Act doesn't apply to you, as plainly as you can see unless you are in the business of wagering it doesn't apply. Now if you are a professional gambler and state so on your taxes I don't quite know how that would be handled, but for most of us it isn't an issue. Once again OMT you live in a life of fear on this. Just do yourself a favor and give up sports betting, it can't possibly be worth all your worry!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by -=Scorpion=-:
Dante, I thought you quit!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scorp....second time I answer you my man I DID quit moderating but I DID NOT quit posting or being in the BR ....Scorpion? Why are so concerned about me Sir?
Dante, I thought you quit!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scorp....second time I answer you my man I DID quit moderating but I DID NOT quit posting or being in the BR ....Scorpion? Why are so concerned about me Sir?
Kyl's bill doesn't have anything to do with making online betting illegal, all it does is say the transfer of money is illegal. Just be careful not to fall into the trap politicians and the Department of Justice want you to do. They are stretching the laws and the truth in ways that aren't proper. This recent scare tactic of going out and telling media that they don't qualify for first amendment rights that have been protected by no less than the Supreme Court in recent years is sickening. They win and get what they want when people start equating laws that deal with a subject and mistakenly think they are outright prohibitions. No I don't think it would be good for Kyl's bill to pass, but it is a far cry from making online betting a crime.
