FBI: ONLINE GAMBLING, Don’t Roll the Dice...

[Highwayman]

FBI: ONLINE GAMBLING, Don’t Roll the Dice



06/06//07

If you’ve ever thought about visiting a cyber casino, here’s something you should know: it’s illegal to gamble online in the United States.

“You can go to Vegas. You can go to Atlantic City. You can go to a racetrack. You can go to those places and gamble legally. But don’t do it online. It’s against the law,” says Leslie Bryant, head of our Cyber Crime Fraud unit at FBI Headquarters.

That means:
… No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;
… No transferring money electronically for gambling; and
… No wagers in offshore Internet casinos even if you live in the U.S.

What’s allowed? Some free online games, fantasy leagues, and Indian gaming sites that aren’t strictly defined as Internet gambling.

It’s also illegal for businesses to run gambling websites and to solicit online bets. Even companies handling transactions for cyberspace bettors can face federal charges.

Cracking down. Our strategy for tackling illegal online gambling—as a key enforcement agency—is to start with the companies providing the services in the first place. “We’re going after the people making the money—the owners of these virtual casinos, gaming rooms, and off-track betting parlors,” Bryant says.

We currently have about a dozen of these cases in motion. One of the biggest came last July when a federal grand jury in St. Louis returned a 22-count indictment against 11 individuals and four companies for their involvement in illegal online gaming and related activities. On May 24, one of the companies—BetonSports— pled guilty to racketeering charges in the case.

We’ve also had success against companies supporting the money flows behind virtual gambling. In January, for example, two Canadians were charged with operating an Internet payment services company (NETeller) that transferred billions of dollars in illegal gambling proceeds between U.S. citizens and the owners of online gambling sites outside the country.

In 2003, another Internet financial services company paid $10 million in a civil agreement to settle allegations that it aided illegal offshore and online gambling agreements. The U.S. government has also settled several cases with online businesses that have accepted money to market virtual gambling operations.

Think a little online gambling can’t cost you? Don’t bet on it. Even if you don’t get caught gambling, you could well lose the money you have in an online gaming account if the company faces charges, since the U.S. government seizes assets in these cases whenever possible.

FYI, here are the primary federal laws that govern online gambling:
 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
 Transmission of wagering, betting by use of a wire communication
 Broadcasting lottery information
 Fraud by wire
 Mail fraud: Attempt and Conspiracy

For more information on our cyber investigations and operations, see our Cyber Investigations website.



Federal Bureau of Investigation - Press Room - Headline Archives - FBI NEWS QUIZ/strong>Snapshot of Recent Investigations




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[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

FBI: ONLINE GAMBLING, Don’t Roll the Dice



Federal Bureau of Investigation - Press Room - Headline Archives - FBI NEWS QUIZ/strong>Snapshot of Recent Investigations
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thanks for postin the link HiWay, but i'll be damned if i'm gonna click on it

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by StarnetGypsy

thanks for postin the link HiWay, but i'll be damned if i'm gonna click on it

lol

i hear that shit...

i don't consider myself paranoid, but, i ain't clickin any links, to any brach of law enforcement, unless i really, really need the info...

[Boddie]

"We currently have about a dozen of these cases in motion"

If this is dated 6/6/7, then we got more heads to roll. My odds are on Calvin and SBG.

[indio]

wow, reading the FBI website just confirms what most of us already know, these apes are nothing more than a governmental police squad and know nothing about law, but are enforcement and propaganda goons who have way too much power.

Most legal experts agree that placing a bet online is NOT illegal. Even state law enforcement officials concur with this. Why would the FBI claim otherwise?, because thats what their masters tell them and they are sheep who blindly follow the orders of their masters, much like the SS, NKVD, or the STASI did in dictorial governments of the past. This cancerous growth, who were not even allowed to carry firearms before Dillenger, has become one of the nightmares that our forefathers warned us about.

It's a shame that so many good people in the FBI who help local police with forensics, and psychological profiles, in capturing pyscopaths, serial killers and rapists, and many other true criminals are joined together with the assassins, spies, and treasonous puppets who trample on the guaranteed liberties of the citizenry every day.

[stevo]

Most legal experts agree that placing a bet online is NOT illegal. Even state law enforcement officials concur with this. Why would the FBI claim otherwise?

Sorry I cut your statement off in middle Indio but I'm not prone to comparing the Untied States Services like the FBI to Nazi's.

However, I've checked and concur that in my state I'm not breaking any laws placing a bet online. I dont care what the FBI says. Why arent they arresting offshore bettors. The North Dakota guy is the only one I heard of and he brought the case forward due to claiming he was a pro to the IRS.

I will admit. This has drastically reduced anything I do offshore including the amount of funds I keep in this climate. Who hasnt?

[Dell Dude]

I'm oh so tempted to use this form to report myself for breaking the law by betting online. But I think I shall pass at this particular point and juncture in time. I don't have the coin the hire Jeffrey The Tiger Fieger as my defense attorney. Perhaps after I hit a walkoff suicide parlay.

Complaint Referral Form
Internet Crime Complaint Center
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note: Fields marked with * are required.

Your Personal Information
* First Name:
Middle Name:
* Last Name:
Business Name:
* Age: Please Select One... Under 20 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 Over 60
* Gender: Please Select One... Male Female
* Address:
Address (continued):
Suite/Apt./Mail Stop:
* City:
Do you live within the city limits?: Yes No
County:

* Zip Code / Route:
* Phone Number: numbers only
* Email Address: jdoe@email.com

Name of your local police or sheriff's office:


Is the complaint you are filing related to the Internet or an online service?
(email, chat, instant message, AOL, MSN, Yahoo, etc.)
Yes No

Do you have pertinent documents in paper form?
Yes No

Law enforcement or regulatory agencies may desire copies of pertinent documents regarding your complaint. These may include cancelled checks, copies of money orders, printed emails, envelopes (if you should receive anything by FedEx, UPS, U.S. Mail, etc.), etc.

Original documents should be retained for use by law enforcement agencies.

Information about the Individual/Business that victimized you
Business Name:
First Name:
Middle Name:
Last Name:
Gender: Unknown Male Female
Address:
Address (continued):
Suite/Apt./Mail Stop:
City:
State:
Zip Code / Route:
Phone Number: numbers only
Email Address: jdoe@email.com
Other Identifiers about the Individual/Business that victimized you
Web Site:
IP Address:
IRC Server:
Chat Room Name:
Usenet Newsgroup:
Other:
Monetary Loss
* Please specify the total dollar amount of your loss from this incident:
$ (US Dollars) Enter 0 for no loss


Please indicate the means of payment (select all that apply):
Cash
Cashier's Check
Check/Debit Card
Credit Card
Money Order
Wire Transfer
Other (Specify Other)

Did you use a third party online payment service such as PayPal, BidPay, Escrow?
Yes No

Description of the Incident
* Describe in your own words how you have been victimized.
Be specific. Include date(s) of transaction(s), a description of any items that were not delivered or were counterfeited, any transaction numbers (from Ebay, Western Union, PayPal, etc.), and any other pertinent information that helps to explain how you were victimized. Also if you received anything by U.S. Mail, FedEx, or UPS, specifically describe the envelope, by the date, time, city and zip code shown on the stamp cancellation postmark.

Please indicate any medium used by the individual/business in the course of the incident.
(select all that apply):
Bulletin board
Chat room
Email
Fax
In person
Internet messaging
Mail
Newsgroup
Telephone
Web site
Wire
Other


Please indicate the initial means of contact with the individual/business that victimized you:
Bulletin board Chat room Email Fax In person Internet messaging Mail Newsgroup Telephone Website Wire Other

Was this initial means of contact unsolicited/uninvited?
Yes No
What was your relationship with the individual/business you are complaining about prior to the incident you are reporting?
someone at work or school relative or family member business acquaintance neighbor or friend online acquaintance other person met or known no prior relationship

Did you conduct any research on the individual/business prior to the incident?
Yes No
How much time has passed since you determined you were victimized?
(select the best approximation)
Less than 1 week 2 - 3 weeks 1 month 2 - 3 months 4 - 5 months 6 months or more
Contact Information
Are there witnesses or other victims to this crime?
If yes, Please provide names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and/or websites of where additional victim lists can be found.



Have you reported this crime to any law enforcement or government agencies?
If yes, please indicate the organizations/individuals that you contacted (select all that apply)
Better Business Bureau
Consumer protection agency
Individual/business that victimized you
Police/other law enforcement
Private attorney


Provide the specific name of each organization, contact name, contact phone number, email address, date reported, and report number (if known).

[jag]

Originally Posted by Dell Dude

I'm oh so tempted to use this form to report myself for breaking the law by betting online. But I think I shall pass at this particular point and juncture in time. I don't have the coin the hire Jeffrey The Tiger Fieger as my defense attorney. Perhaps after I hit a walkoff suicide parlay.

rut roh; oops... you should have just hit the send button

[Hartley]

It's not illegal to place a bet online in the U.S. This is a scare tactic plain and simple.

[TheGuesser]

I'd like to report an internet crime by the US Dept Of Justice to the FBI for stealing innocent people's money who bet with BOS Books or played with Neteller.
The sad thing is ignorant people will believe the FBI's lies about Offshore Betting being illegal for US citizens. That's all they want, scare tactics, facts be damned. Indio you were right on in your comparsons, probably too soft.

[Highwayman]

It really doesn’t matter whether offshore gambling online is legal or illegal for American residents when all financial processing methods required for participation are illegal.

Go to Vegas or Atlantic City or the racetracks as suggested by the Government where gambling is legally endorsed, taxed, regulated and licensed for your benefit…that’s the real message from the FBI to American Punters.




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[Don King's Barber]

I love the way they tell you it's illegal to place a bet, but then don't cite any cases or legal precedents to justify the claim.
I wish there was a law against government websites lying to the public.

[Hartley]

Go to Vegas or Atlantic City or the racetracks as suggested by the Government where gambling is legally endorsed, taxed, regulated and licensed for your benefit…that’s the real message from the FBI to American Punters.

Of course, because the FBI is only interested in the well being of the American gambler.

Our strategy for tackling illegal online gambling—as a key enforcement agency—is to start with the companies providing the services in the first place. “We’re going after the people making the money—the owners of these virtual casinos, gaming rooms, and off-track betting parlors,” Bryant says.

Their strategy is not to go after the bettor themselves because any case against a bettor will be thrown out of court as there is nothing on the books making it illegal to place a bet.

[Garbage Time]

What a great thread...

any thread that mentions Jeffrey Feiger AND the NKVD is pretty sweet. Now Jeff's brother, he could write some catchy tunes.

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Don King's Barber

I love the way they tell you it's illegal to place a bet, but then don't cite any cases or legal precedents to justify the claim.
I wish there was a law against government websites lying to the public.

lol DKB but that IS our FED. every day it's a new lie they're trying to sell to those gullible enuff to choke them down ... it's called *new-speak*, or Cheney-speak/Bush-speak, all Orwellian warnings in *1984*.

[skilled27]

Makes you wonder if they really are gonna go after the big boys. Hope not.

[Hartley]

This is just the Volstead Act and prohibition era of the modern time. And as was the case in the 1930s, it's only a matter of time before a government with common sense realizes the best solution is regulation.

Don't forget in the 1930s it was not illegal to consume alcohol, only to produce it, distribute it and "profit" from it. So people found ways around it. Sound familiar?

The U.S. government issued fake warning to Americans that if they drank alcohol they were breaking the law although the government never tried to make consumption of alcohol illegal because they knew doing so would cause a huge backlash from ordinary citizens. Sound familiar?

One of the reasons stated for prohibition in the 1930s was that the government were concerned about the social aspects that drinking was having on families and that underage drinking could not be controlled. Sound familiar?

Lastly another reason that was accepted as fact although never formerly acknowledged as a reason was protectionist - the tea and soda merchants of the 1930s were upset about the declining use of their product so they hoped the ban on alcohol which was unregulated would force consumers back to their products. Sound familiar?

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Hartley

This is just the Volstead Act and prohibition era of the modern time. And as was the case in the 1930s, it's only a matter of time before a government with common sense realizes the best solution is regulation.

Don't forget in the 1930s it was not illegal to consume alcohol, only to produce it, distribute it and "profit" from it. So people found ways around it. Sound familiar?

The U.S. government issued fake warning to Americans that if they drank alcohol they were breaking the law although the government never tried to make consumption of alcohol illegal because they knew doing so would cause a huge backlash from ordinary citizens. Sound familiar?

One of the reasons stated for prohibition in the 1930s was that the government were concerned about the social aspects that drinking was having on families and that underage drinking could not be controlled. Sound familiar?

Lastly another reason that was accepted as fact although never formerly acknowledged as a reason was protectionist - the tea and soda merchants of the 1930s were upset about the declining use of their product so they hoped the ban on alcohol which was unregulated would force consumers back to their products. Sound familiar?

Common sense states that "government is best that governs least, society represents all that is good about humanity, government represents all that is bad about it." –Thomas Paine.

Hence it should be clear that…

…it's only a matter of time before a government with common sense realizes the best solution is regulation.

…suggesting government regulation as a "best solution" contradicts the principles of common sense.





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[Minnow]

Think a little online gambling can’t cost you? Don’t bet on it. Even if you don’t get caught gambling, you could well lose the money you have in an online gaming account if the company faces charges, since the U.S. government seizes assets in these cases whenever possible.

To tell people that their money will be confiscated because gambling online is illegal is totally irresponsible. "Even if you don't get caught" insinuates that someone is actively trying to catch you. If the government *itself* cannot phrase the law or cite examples correctly something is very wrong, and I find this extremely misleading.