Screw the Sporting News

[Johnny Detroit]

They have some gay flash graphic and this message on their web site. Funny thing is if you search the site, sponsored links for gamblign related terms bring up pick sites, etc. I will never read a Sporting News again.


Please be aware that betting with offshore or foreign gambling enterprises
via the internet or telephone violate U.S. federal and state laws.
Companies that engage in the business of online casino-style
gambling, or online or telephone sportsbooks also
violate U.S. federal and state laws.



A public service announcement from Sporting News

[topspinner]

Yeah, they also play that message on their radio station about every hour, which makes me cringe everytime I hear it and one of the reason I don't listen to the station anymore.


I think I had read somewhere that it they were required to do it because of some gambling related settlement with the Government.

[all-in]

Department of Justice Letter to National Association of Broadcasters.
The Department of Justice sent a warning letter to the National Association of Broadcasters on June 11, 2003, setting forth the Department's view that Internet gambling and offshore sportsbooks operations are illegal. Here is the text of that letter:


"As you are no doubt aware. advertisements for Internet gambling and offshore sportsbook operations are ubiquitous on the Internet, in print ads. and over the radio and television. The sheer volume of advertisements for offshore sports books and online casinos is troubling because it misleads the public in the United States into believing that such gambling is legal. when in fact, it is not. Because of the possibility that some of your organization's members may be accepting money to place such advertisements, the Department of Justice, as a public service, would like you to be aware that the entities and individuals placing these advertisements may be violating various state and federal laws and that entities and individuals that accept and run such advertisements may be aiding and abetting these illegal activities.

"With very few exceptions limited to licensed sportsbook operations in Nevada, state and federal laws prohibit the operation of sportsbooks and Internet gambling within the United States, whether or not such operations are based offshore. United States Attorneys' Offices in several districts have successfully prosecuted offshore sportsbookmaking and Internet gambling operations, and the Department of Justice win [sic.] continue to pursue such cases.

"Notwithstanding their frequent claims of legitimacy, Internet gambling and offshore sportsbook operations that accept bets from customers in the United States violate Sections 1084, 1952, and 1955 of Title 18 of the United States Code, each of which is a Class E felony. Additionally, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2, any person or entity who aids or abets in the commission of any of the above-listed offenses is punishable as a principal violator of those statutes. The Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing these statutes. and we reserve the right to prosecute violators of the law.

"Broadcasters and other media outlets should know of the illegality of offshore sportsbook and Internet gambling operations since, presumably, they would not run advertisements for illegal narcotics sales, prostitution, child pornography or other prohibited activities. We'd appreciate it if you would forward this public service message to all of your member organizations which may be running such advertisements, so that they may consult with their counsel or take whatever actions they deem appropriate."

Grand Jury Investigation
In the same time frame as the DOJ letter, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis) was given the task to investigate criminal violations like those mentioned in the DOJ letter. See US Court Subpoenas Gambling Portals, Companies Aiding Internet Gambling Feel U.S. Pressure and US govt puts the squeeze on online gambling. Subpoenas were issued to a number of media outlets in connection with the investigations made by a grand jury impaneled by that U.S. Attorney. As an apparent result, in the first half of 2004 several media outlets stopped accepting online gambling ads. These included Infinity Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications and Discovery Networks, the parent of the Travel Channel.

[all-in]

They have to spend 3 million over the next 3 years to educate the public about the evils of intenet gambling.

Sporting News Settles Gambling Ad Case for $7.2 Million
Published: Thursday, January 26, 2006
Author: Dan Katz


The United States Department of Justice announced last week that sports media company, The Sporting News, has agreed to settle a case in which it was accused of promoting illegal gambling websites through broadcast and print advertisements. The amount of the settlement was a whopping $7.2 million.

The terms of the settlement will have The Sporting News pay a $4.2 million fine as well as complete a $3 million, three year public service campaign to educate the public about "illegal" internet and telephone gambling.

The United States attorney's office in the Eastern District of Missouri began an investigation into internet gambling in 2003, reaching settlements with some American media companies who have run gambling ads. Other companies were questioned for information.

The amount of the settlement is based on profits The Sporting News made from gambling advertising between spring 2000 and the end of 2003. The company argues that it stopped running the ads when the government notified it that they were illegal, six months before the end of 2003.

Perhaps the most shocking and unsettling part of this development is the irresponsibly ludicrous statement by prosecutors (as related by Catherine L. Hanaway, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri) that running advertisements for gambling companies is comparable to running ads for child pornographers and drug dealers.

Wipe your eyes and read that again. Running advertisements for gambling companies is comparable to running ads for child pornographers and drug dealers.

Talk about exaggeration. So what do we think prosecutors think of land-based, U.S. casinos? Sure, they are legal, but they provide essentially the same service as online gaming companies. They must be compounds run by Satan himself.

Guess I'm catching the express train to hell.

Originally published January 26, 2006