Wake Forest went from a pick, to a (-1) favorite, to a (+2.5) underdog. I've watched them play the past two weeks -- and this is a tough team.
Can Connecticut play head-to-head with Boston College? The fans will be pumped for the effort that Connecticut has put on this year. Should be a good one.
MAC is a good conference. Tough, hard-nosed football teams.
Can Connecticut play head-to-head with Boston College? The fans will be pumped for the effort that Connecticut has put on this year. Should be a good one.
MAC is a good conference. Tough, hard-nosed football teams.
From Strut post:
Legal gambling is a term that’s received much attention recently. As attempts to legislate or prohibit the operation of offshore casinos and sportsbooks continue to fail, it remains a good idea for players to stay current on the latest legislative developments.
Legal Gambling?
In most jurisdictions around the world, the law is still a long way behind the technology and issues applying to online gambling. As a result, the question of whether or not it is legal to gambling online can rarely be answered definitively. It is probably fair to say also, that government attitudes to online gambling vary significantly, from whole hearted support, to strong opposition, to indifference. What is clear though, is that there is very little by way of legislation drafted specifically to deal with online gambling, whether positive or negative, and the application of existing laws is proving problematic.
The position in the US...
US State Gambling Laws
Up until reasonably recently, regulation of gambling in the United States was left exclusively to the State Legislatures, who determined the legality or otherwise of gambling activities within their jurisdiction. Some states have legalized many forms of gambling, while others have legislated to make it illegal to participate in any form of gambling other then the stats lottery. Nevada is the obvious example of a State which has embraced gambling as a legal form of commerce, while Utah is a noted for its strong anti-gambling stance, and laws deeming all forms of gambling within its jurisdiction illegal.
US State gambling laws were all drafted long before the advent of the Internet, and they do not have provisions dealing specifically with online gambling.
US Federal Gambling Laws
Specific online gambling legislation
So far, US Government attempts to pass legislation dealing specifically with online gambling have been unsuccessful. Separate Bills sponsored by Sen. Kyle and Rep. Goodlatte, which both attempted to ban online gambling both failed to attract the required 2/3 majority Senate vote required to become law. And while it is likely that there will be more attempts to pass legislation dealing specifically with online gambling (to regulate or ban), until such legislation is passed existing federal legislation serves as the only guide on this issue.
Existing Federal Laws
Federal laws relating to gambling were passed by Congress more recently (than State laws) to deal with inconsistencies in State based gambling laws, especially as they applied to interstate commerce. Although passed recently, US federal laws applying gambling activities were all drafted before the advent of Internet gambling. There are a number of current federal laws that have indirect application to online gambling. These are discussed below.
1. The Wire Wager Act
The Wire Wager Act is the statute that may be applied most directly to restrict the use of the Internet as to gamble. It prohibits the use of a wire transmission facility to foster a gambling pursuit. It provides, in part:
"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 this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
Exactly how this Act applies to Internet wagering is hotly debated. One school of thought in legal circles is that the Wire Act broadly covers any interstate use of the Internet that is related to placing or receiving bets. A second school of thought is that the Wire Wager Act cannot be applied to online gambling generally for two reasons. First, the words "wire communication facility" only apply to transmissions that use wires and the proliferation of wireless Internet access would therefore fall outside the scope of the Act. Second, reference to "bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest" implies the Act might only apply to wagering upon sporting events (not card games or other games based upon chance).
The above issues aside, it is clear that whether or not the Wire Wager Act can be applied to Internet gambling, it can only be applied to those "being engaged in the business of betting or wagering." It cannot apply against the online gambler or Internet service providers.
2. The Travel Act, The Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act, The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, The Federal Aiding and Abetting Statute
The above 4 Statutes all contain provisions that could be construed to apply to internet gambling. However, as for the Wire Wager Act, the appropriateness of their application is strongly argued, and even if they could be adjudged to apply to Internet gambling, their application would be restricted to operators only, and not players or peripheries (ISP's etc).
Given these Statutes questionable validity with regard to their application to online gambling, and also the fact that US prosecutors will always have a difficult time coercing defendants to appear in the United States to stand trial, actual prosecutions in the US in this area are extremely rare.
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 14, 2003 at 04:50 PM.]
Legal gambling is a term that’s received much attention recently. As attempts to legislate or prohibit the operation of offshore casinos and sportsbooks continue to fail, it remains a good idea for players to stay current on the latest legislative developments.
Legal Gambling?
In most jurisdictions around the world, the law is still a long way behind the technology and issues applying to online gambling. As a result, the question of whether or not it is legal to gambling online can rarely be answered definitively. It is probably fair to say also, that government attitudes to online gambling vary significantly, from whole hearted support, to strong opposition, to indifference. What is clear though, is that there is very little by way of legislation drafted specifically to deal with online gambling, whether positive or negative, and the application of existing laws is proving problematic.
The position in the US...
US State Gambling Laws
Up until reasonably recently, regulation of gambling in the United States was left exclusively to the State Legislatures, who determined the legality or otherwise of gambling activities within their jurisdiction. Some states have legalized many forms of gambling, while others have legislated to make it illegal to participate in any form of gambling other then the stats lottery. Nevada is the obvious example of a State which has embraced gambling as a legal form of commerce, while Utah is a noted for its strong anti-gambling stance, and laws deeming all forms of gambling within its jurisdiction illegal.
US State gambling laws were all drafted long before the advent of the Internet, and they do not have provisions dealing specifically with online gambling.
US Federal Gambling Laws
Specific online gambling legislation
So far, US Government attempts to pass legislation dealing specifically with online gambling have been unsuccessful. Separate Bills sponsored by Sen. Kyle and Rep. Goodlatte, which both attempted to ban online gambling both failed to attract the required 2/3 majority Senate vote required to become law. And while it is likely that there will be more attempts to pass legislation dealing specifically with online gambling (to regulate or ban), until such legislation is passed existing federal legislation serves as the only guide on this issue.
Existing Federal Laws
Federal laws relating to gambling were passed by Congress more recently (than State laws) to deal with inconsistencies in State based gambling laws, especially as they applied to interstate commerce. Although passed recently, US federal laws applying gambling activities were all drafted before the advent of Internet gambling. There are a number of current federal laws that have indirect application to online gambling. These are discussed below.
1. The Wire Wager Act
The Wire Wager Act is the statute that may be applied most directly to restrict the use of the Internet as to gamble. It prohibits the use of a wire transmission facility to foster a gambling pursuit. It provides, in part:
"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 this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
Exactly how this Act applies to Internet wagering is hotly debated. One school of thought in legal circles is that the Wire Act broadly covers any interstate use of the Internet that is related to placing or receiving bets. A second school of thought is that the Wire Wager Act cannot be applied to online gambling generally for two reasons. First, the words "wire communication facility" only apply to transmissions that use wires and the proliferation of wireless Internet access would therefore fall outside the scope of the Act. Second, reference to "bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest" implies the Act might only apply to wagering upon sporting events (not card games or other games based upon chance).
The above issues aside, it is clear that whether or not the Wire Wager Act can be applied to Internet gambling, it can only be applied to those "being engaged in the business of betting or wagering." It cannot apply against the online gambler or Internet service providers.
2. The Travel Act, The Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act, The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, The Federal Aiding and Abetting Statute
The above 4 Statutes all contain provisions that could be construed to apply to internet gambling. However, as for the Wire Wager Act, the appropriateness of their application is strongly argued, and even if they could be adjudged to apply to Internet gambling, their application would be restricted to operators only, and not players or peripheries (ISP's etc).
Given these Statutes questionable validity with regard to their application to online gambling, and also the fact that US prosecutors will always have a difficult time coercing defendants to appear in the United States to stand trial, actual prosecutions in the US in this area are extremely rare.
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 14, 2003 at 04:50 PM.]
Week 2 Picks (Results):
7-6-1 before Sunday Night Football Game
1) NY Jets (+3) over Miami (loss)
2) Baltimore (-2.5) over Cleveland (win)
3) Indianapolis (-1.5) over Tennessee (win)
4) Detroit (+6.5) over Green Bay (loss)
5) Atlanta (-3) over Washington (loss)
6) Buffalo (-3) over Jacksonville (win)
7) Houston (+8.5) over New Orleans (loss)
8) San Francisco (+3) over St. Louis (push)
9) Kansas City (-3.5) over Pittsburgh (win)
10) Arizona (+5) over Seattle (loss)
11) Denver (-3) over San Diego (win)
12) Oakland (-12) over Cincinnati (loss)
13) Minnesota (-9) over Chicago (won)
14) Dallas (+7.5) over NY Giants
15) Carolina (+9.5) over Tampa Bay (won)
16) New England (+5.5) over Philadelphia (won)
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 14, 2003 at 08:02 PM.]
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 15, 2003 at 12:03 AM.]
7-6-1 before Sunday Night Football Game
1) NY Jets (+3) over Miami (loss)
2) Baltimore (-2.5) over Cleveland (win)
3) Indianapolis (-1.5) over Tennessee (win)
4) Detroit (+6.5) over Green Bay (loss)
5) Atlanta (-3) over Washington (loss)
6) Buffalo (-3) over Jacksonville (win)
7) Houston (+8.5) over New Orleans (loss)
8) San Francisco (+3) over St. Louis (push)
9) Kansas City (-3.5) over Pittsburgh (win)
10) Arizona (+5) over Seattle (loss)
11) Denver (-3) over San Diego (win)
12) Oakland (-12) over Cincinnati (loss)
13) Minnesota (-9) over Chicago (won)
14) Dallas (+7.5) over NY Giants
15) Carolina (+9.5) over Tampa Bay (won)
16) New England (+5.5) over Philadelphia (won)
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 14, 2003 at 08:02 PM.]
[This message was edited by advalorem on September 15, 2003 at 12:03 AM.]
