Using the internet to place and receive bets on sporting events, casinos, or horse racing is illegal under the Wire Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act. In addition, the use of the internet to facilitate illegal gambling implicates seven federal criminal statutes.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has jurisdiction over the common carrier and may be required to revoke or suspend the licenses of gambling sites that violate the law. The FCC may also be required to revoke or suspend the furnishing of facilities or equipment used to conduct illegal gambling.
The first online gambling venue to be available to the general public was the Liechtenstein International Lottery. The website offered a variety of games including bingo, roulette, and poker. It also included advanced software to help players place bets and enter contests. Aside from displaying the game, it also included a random number generator to determine the winner of each hand. The site also offered a plethora of deposit methods. Credit cards and debit cards were the most popular.
The most exciting part about the online gambling world is that it is not limited to the United States. Online casinos now have websites that are compatible with smartphones and PCs that run Windows operating systems. The sites also offer different forms of gambling such as sports betting, casino games, and virtual poker. The sites can be downloaded or accessed from a web browser.
While the FCC has limited authority to regulate Internet gambling, the federal government has a lot of sway when it comes to law enforcement. The federal government has a clear policy that illegal Internet gambling is a crime and should not be tolerated. In addition, state officials have expressed their concerns about Internet gambling bringing illegal gambling into their jurisdiction. This is particularly true for Internet poker operators. In fact, federal prosecutors have warned PayPal, the largest online payments company, that they could face prosecution if they continue to take payments for illegal Internet gambling.
The FCC also has jurisdiction over the licensing and regulating of common carriers, including internet service providers, wireless carriers, and telephone companies. In addition, the FCC is the body responsible for developing and enforcing security standards for the internet. The FCC has issued a number of directives, including the aforementioned one concerning online gambling.
The FCC has also issued a number of reports, including one titled Internet Gambling: An Overview of Issues. This report, published in December 2002, includes a summary of the many aspects of online gambling. The report also includes citations to state laws, such as the Travel Act, the UIGA, and the RICO provisions.
Using the internet to place bets on sporting events is the simplest form of online gambling. However, there are other more complex forms, such as casinos and sports betting. Some gambling sites specialize in one form of gambling, such as casinos or sports betting. Others offer a range of games including “instant” games, which do not require any downloads or installations.