Federal Laws Against Illegal Internet Gambling
Generally speaking, the term illegal Internet gambling refers to using or accessing the Internet to engage in gambling. It is illegal under the Wire Act, the Illegal Gambling Business Act, and the Illegal Gambling Control Act.
As a result, federal officials have been tasked with policing these illegal activities. The Federal Communications Commission, for example, has jurisdiction over common carriers and the Federal Communications Commission has the power to revoke a license to provide telecommunications services to gambling facilities. In response, state officials have expressed concerns about the potential for internet gambling to transport illegal gambling to their jurisdictions.
A recent study found that one in five Americans has gambled on the Internet. Several states have already taken steps to stop this activity, including California, which recently passed legislation banning Internet gambling. However, despite the efforts of state officials, illegal Internet gambling remains a serious problem.
There is a long list of federal criminal statutes that have been implicated in illegal Internet gambling, including the Travel Act, the Wire Act, the Illegal Gambling Control Act, the Illegal Gambling Business Act, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and the Illegal Gambling Devices Transportation Act, also known as the Johnson Act. These statutes are the basis for the many different prosecutions. However, each state has its own statutes, which have been compared to each other to see which one is most effective.
The Travel Act is not only a law against gambling, but it is also a law against money laundering. This is important because money laundering is a way of evading taxes, concealing illegal activity, or simply promoting gambling.