Unlike traditional gambling operations, online gambling is illegal under federal law. This includes the Illegal Gambling Business Act and the Wire Act. The Illegal Gambling Business Act prohibits the operation of illegal gambling businesses, while the Wire Act prohibits illegal gambling on sporting events and contests.
It’s also illegal to transmit information about a gambling site over the Internet. As a result, the Federal Communications Commission has the jurisdiction to enforce the law against gambling operators. The FCC has authority over common carriers, such as the internet service providers, and may even levy fines and impose other penalties against Internet gambling operations. The Federal Communications Commission also has the power to suspend or deny Internet service providers from operating in their jurisdictions.
The FCC also has the power to require Internet service providers to maintain appropriate data security standards, thereby preventing the theft of personal information. This is a good thing for consumers, but it can be a bad thing for businesses that need Internet connections for critical business functions.
Despite the FCC’s powers, there are still some state-level issues that need to be addressed. Some states have argued that Internet gambling is a great way to bring illegal gambling operations into their jurisdiction. Others have pointed to the commercial nature of such a business as a good reason to allow the business to flourish.
The most obvious question is, what is the federal government’s role in preventing or stopping illegal Internet gambling? Specifically, what statutes and regulations should the government enforce? In addition to the federal government, state officials have voiced their concerns over the use of the internet to bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions. This has been particularly true of Costa Rica, where the Tropical Paradise gambling operation is based.
In addition to the above mentioned, the Travel Act and the Wire Act are the most important statutes to review. The Travel Act is especially applicable to internet gambling because it prohibits the promotion, facilitation, and other conduct related to illegal gambling. The Travel Act also prohibits money laundering. This law is an effective measure against the proliferation of illegal online gambling operations, and can help to prevent some of the more heinous crimes. The Wire Act is a less sweeping prohibition against illegal gambling on contests and sporting events. Despite the controversies surrounding the Act, it remains a useful tool to law enforcement.
In addition to these statutes, there are a number of lesser known federal laws that can be used to bring Internet gambling operations to justice. Despite the various legal challenges, there’s no question that illegal Internet gambling is still a serious problem. The FCC is a logical leader in enforcing the law against illegal Internet gambling. As with any legal challenge, the best course of action is to educate consumers and businesses alike about the various laws, regulations, and legal loopholes that can help prevent Internet gambling operations from taking hold in their jurisdiction.