At the end of September 2006 the U. S. Senate introduced “The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006″. It wasn’t so much introduced as pushed through at the back end of the “Safe Port Act”, to which some commentators have taken exception. This has caused a flurry of anxiety and (some would say) hysteria among players, website owners and online gambling affiliates alike. But what does the new law actually mean? This article has a look at the facts behind the new legislation.
The first clue is in the wording of the Act itself; it is an enforcement Act. In other words it enforces previous and existing law where legality of gaming has already been established as a matter of precedent, and also the legality and illegality of different types of gaming already existing.
I could do much worse than directly quoting the wise words from Cardplayers legal counsel. He writes that the new bill
“attempts to make it more difficult to get money into a site by forbidding US financial Institutions from funding the type of online gambling that the law has previously made illegal. The new bill does not make online gaming illegal where it was not illegal before ?The bill merely speaks to the mechanism by which an online account is funded. ”
In other words the Act attempts to hinder Internet gambling sites by starving them of funds, by ordering the banks not to allow players to use their credit cards to play at those sites.
There is nothing about the activity itself being illegal (where it was not illegal before). And clearly, if the gambling sites in question are offshore, then by definition they are not subject to US legislation anyway. So the only way to get at these offshore sites is through the banks and the credit card companies.
The article I quote from goes on to cite the significance of the 1961 Wire Act, which was construed to have made sports betting illegal, but not games such as poker, on the grounds that the law was never enforced with regards to poker in the ten years that Internet gambling has existed. Instead, the 33 cases which were brought under the Wire Act were pursued by “deadbeat gamblers” who simply did not want to pay their gambling debts. The judge on that particular occasion, Stanwood R. Duvall Jr, threw out all 33 suits, so ruling that online poker was not within the reach of the Wire Act’s prohibition.
Now while the lawyers are busying themselves on working out the construction of what the new law actually means, it seems that players can make a few simple choices in order to protect themselves from what might be construed:
1. Open an account at an offshore Internet casino website;
2. Ensure the site is registered with a non-US company;
3. Ensure the site is hosted by a non-US company.
The vast majority of offshore Internet gambling sites still operate in US dollars, and they increasingly offer multiple currency choices. You can select which currency you wish to use before you play. Even so, it may be worthwhile remembering that, at the time of writing, there are approximately $1. 87 to the Pound Sterling, and $1. 26 to the Euro.
If the law goes further it may well be necessary to apply for a credit card issued by a non-US bank. But this is still something that is subject to speculation. We will have to see how the new law pans out in practice. In particular we will have to await the matter of how the law is construed and how precedent impacts upon it.

If you are one who thinks gambling is a new activity that blossomed in Las Vegas in the 20th century, you may need to brush up on your gambling facts. To get a good idea of how large the gambling story is, try going back a couple of thousand years. You’ll see that games based on chance and the roll of dice have been always been a part of human history. Not only did the Chinese and other populations enjoy gambling and games of chance, many Native American groups engaged in such activities long before the modern casino. Add to this the varieties of gambling carried around the world by European explorers and you have a global phenomenon of challenge and excitement. Here’s a starter fact – lotteries have even been used to raise funds for public construction projects. If you see 100 people on the street in a day, it’s a pretty safe bet that about 65 of them have placed a bet or made a wager in the past year. By many counts, profits in gambling casinos worldwide amount to $30 billion annually. Various studies report that Native American reservations host nearly 300 casinos. History of gambling facts: The state of Nevada legalized gambling in 1931. New Jersey was the second state to make gambling legal (1976). South Dakota and Iowa followed in 1989. While casinos have operated in Nevada since the 1940s, the state created its Gaming Commission in 1959. One myth that seems reluctant to die is that online gambling is not fair to players, because of casino control, less-than-random numbers and so on. Essentially, this is false. Safe-gaming software, eCommerce Online Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) and various licensing countries have eliminated much of the insecurity and unfair play. The myth may soon turn into one of the many Internet gambling facts. Casino style games, are by far the most popular activity online, outnumbering sports betting 2 to 1. Lotteries and pari-mutuel betting are far down the list in percentage of online gambling activity, as are real-time online poker rooms. The Interstate Wire Act, passed in 1961, is a federal law that had the goal of reducing gambling activity. The law states that it is illegal in the United States to use wire communication (such as telephone) to place bets or share gambling information. Interesting Gambling Facts: Sixty percent of online gamblers use English as their primary language. Second in line is Russian. Germany takes up position number three, according to a survey by Inland Entertainment Corporation. As for age, the numbers are close, but those between 26 and 34 play a bit more than others. One out of every five players is over the age of 45. In addition to online casinos, some of the most popular varieties of Web/Internet gambling are lotteries, sports books (wager on football, rugby, baseball etc. ). According to a 2007 story in USA Today, the Venetian Macao casino was the largest in the world (on the southern tip of China). Foxwoods in Connecticut is also advertised as the world’s largest casino. Very Interesting Gambling Facts: Video slots are generally considered the most popular online casino game. Roulette is one of the hardest games to win, while casino poker is often considered one of the easiest (with a little skill). If you can learn to count cards, you can move blackjack to the top of the “easier” list. There are 24 possible number combinations when a pair of dice is rolled. In 2003, a man won more than $39 million in a slot payout, after putting about $100 in. In 1997, a woman won $12 million in one payout. Even More Interesting Gambling Facts: Gambling is technically legal in nearly every state, in some form. Other than the Wire Act mentioned earlier, there is little federal regulation pertaining to gambling by an individual. Do some of your own research on gambling facts. Learn more about gambling history and surprise your friends with your knowledge of gambling statistics. It’s challenging and fun!!

Gambling is one of the oldest pursuits of the man. From a taboo to a popular source of entertainment, it has indeed traveled a long distance. The different forms of gambling can be traced in every culture, civilization and period. Each gambling game boasts of its own unique history.

Archaeologists have discovered signs indicating a ban on gambling in the 14th century. British King Henry VIII banned it in his kingdom when he discovered that soldiers were spending more time on gambling rather than on training. Numerous countries can be credited for contributing popular games to the world of gambling. Like the famous Keno, a lottery game that is played in thousands of casinos worldwide which has its origin in China. Games like Craps, Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack, have roots in parts of Europe. The idea of Blackjack and Poker came from the practice of shuffling paper money in China during 900 A. D. In today’s world, the popularity of gambling can be witnessed at Las Vegas, the gambling hub of the world. Online gambling, a relatively new concept of gambling via the Internet is definitely challenging casino gambling. The Internet has made it possible for everyone to gamble at their convenience, but then it comes with its share of problems too. Internet gambling is often questioned when it comes to ethical issues. Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of offshore gambling casinos. Technological boom has complemented the growth of online gambling sites. Now one can play almost any game at any time of the day without any interference. Besides, in case you don’t like the games or payouts at one site, then the next site is just a click away, something which is not possible at the land-based casinos. One of the largest online casinos www. sportsbook. com has signed up one million fans ever since it came online in 1997. It is a publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol SBT. L. Enjoying public trust, this is a site that is really popular. www. sportsbook. com, along with apprising you on the needed information about online gambling also helps you place a safe bet. Also, novice players have the opportunity to get betting picks free of cost with our free picks. You can place a bet on your favorite games like football, basketball and baseball. This is one-stop place for safe and secure gambling. One thing that is evident from the current gambling scenario is that online gambling is here to stay and will continue to grow !!

? The incoming Obama administration should take a good hard look at online gambling and UIGEA. ? During Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency, his major focus was on three major domestic issues: health care, education and tax cuts for the middle class. When asked how these issues would be financed, Obama stated that he would scrutinize the national budget and seize funding for any programs or initiatives that were deemed inefficient or unworkable and suggested he would find new source of revenues that were more realistic. Although the U. S. national budget is a massive and complex structure that has been seriously used and abused for the past eight years, and there are no simple overnight or easy fix solutions to repair the current damage done, here is one of many areas of internal revenue generation President-Elect Obama can look into. . . The regulation of Online Gambling. ? It is not commonly known, but the fact is that online gambling has actually generated over four billion dollars internationally in the past two years alone. Bare in mind that this came with limited U. S. participation since the implementation of UIGEA (otherwise known as The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act). And it is forecasted that the online gaming industry will top fifteen billion dollars by 2012 with or without the participation of the United States. A Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) study revealed that the United States has the potential to collect at least $8. 7 billion and up to $17. 6 billion in the next 10 years if it would tax and regulate online gambling, including poker. And those figures don?t include potential sports wagers. The $8. 7 billion figure did not take into account the 10 states that currently have laws on their books that specifically prohibit online gambling, even though they allow some forms of gambling (Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington). If all the states would tax and regulate online gambling, $33. 9 billion in taxes would be generated in the next 10 years, according to the PWC study. ? As a matter of domestic issue, there are still many other aspects of online gambling regulation that would need to be addressed such as monitoring for underage activity, policing black market or “rogue” casinos and support for addiction to name a few. But just as we have done in the past with the prohibition of alcohol (which ironically shares many similarities to the prohibition of online gambling including a national financial crisis at the time) We the people of America wanted the choice of whether or not to drink, the free market suggested a potentially lucrative business for both domestic and imported product and our government saw a huge alcohol tax revenue that unarguably gave new life to an obviously failing economy. ? Although there are so many other important agendas our new president will face such as the current situation in the middle east, international relations will be vital for Obama. He must show the world leaders that he is not conducting “business as usual” and will fight to correct the international financial blunders of the Bush administration. For instance; The United States (USA) and the European Union (EU) are currently battling over the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and possible violations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) The EU is accusing the US of violating terms established by the WTO regarding online gambling companies operating within Europe. This is a perfect opportunity for Obama and his administration to bring a “new deal to the table” (no pun intended). This could potentially accomplish two goals; create a new source of revenue for our failing economy and repair a severed relation with the World Trade Organization. ? With the current administration ready to implement the final regulations for the UIGEA just two months before being leaving the White House, this is an issue the new administration should address as soon as possible. The potential long term damage this could cause on the U. S. online gambling market would be devastating. However, with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act abolished and a new sensible regulation written and implemented (I nominate Barney Frank for this job) we could create our own domestic gaming institutions and offer them on an international market. We already have tax paying gambling operations here in the United States such as Caesars Palace, MGM Mirage, Harrah’s and more. Perhaps they would like to expand the gaming aspect of their business to an international community. This alone would create huge amounts of additional taxes these businesses already pay. ? The bottom line is this; UIGEA was a bad idea from the beginning and it needs to be revoked. The Obama administration needs to carefully look at online gambling and its potential as a major generator for future tax revenue. It has been done before with alcohol prohibition and it can be done with gaming prohibition. ?

Gambling has always been the favorite source of entertainment and also an easy way to pocket a few bucks. From the days when people were left with hardly any choice but to hit some hot gambling destinations like Las Vegas or the likes to the current bustling gambling scenario with exciting options including online gambling, the gambling world has indeed witnessed a sea change. Gamblers are carousing in today’s gambling scene where they are trying myriad gambling games. It has become a rage among all age groups. The obsession and popularity of gambling has led to the opening of huge number of casinos, betting parlors, sportsbooks and card rooms in almost every part of the world.

Although casino based gambling has always enjoyed credibility due to its safe, secure and regulated ways meanwhile people feel reluctant while parting with their money on Internet gambling sites. Looking at online gambling sites with a broad perspective, it can surely change the view upheld by gamblers. Here is a comparative analysis of both Internet gambling as well as casino based gambling.

Online gambling- The ‘in thing’ of the gambling world! Read this to know better. . .

The biggest advantage of online gambling is the immense freedom it offers to amateur players. So, without feeling hesitated, you can try various gambling strategies and moves at any site offering ‘play for free’ option or free picks. www. sportsbook. com can provide you with the opportunity to learn and perfect a game without risking a single penny. The regular ones can try their hand at unfamiliar games. The ‘how to’ section at these sites equips players with relevant gambling tips and techniques for a wide variety of games.

But then the glittering and dazzling ambiance of casinos is not a possibility while gambling online. Also, the casinos beat their online counterparts as regards their reliability and safety. But then a little browsing on your part to determine the legality and track record of gaming portals before gambling online can pay rich dividends later on. The comfort, privacy, high-end technology, 3D interactive games and other online gambling innovations offered by online gambling sites is eating out a major portion of casino-based gambling.

Few online websites are offering wealth of opportunities to attract more and more players like sign-up bonuses, match bonuses, player coupons, high roller bonuses, re-load bonuses, etc. , the value of which varies from $10 to whopping $1000. Easy payout options of gambling websites like www. sportsbook. com makes the whole gambling process easy and fast. Also anytime, anywhere access of these online gambling sites and no extra cost like the mandatory ones in casinos- fare charges, accommodation, tipping etc. makes Internet gambling a viable option.

The variety of gaming options on the web, plus day and night customer support, gives it an edge over casinos. In case of any inconvenience, one can seek assistance via toll-free telephone, live chat, fax, e-mail etc. So, now that you have gained wide and new viewpoint of online gambling, why not give it a try?

As a popular form of entertainment, gambling has a rich history, and every player has the potential to become a winner in the blink of an eye. There is nothing else quite like the rush of adrenaline that can accompany the gambling experience! The gaming industry has grown exponentially for the past two decades, and the lure of gambling has drawn more and more people to the casinos as well as racetracks and Internet gambling web sites. Gambling is a fascinating pastime in many respects, and the list below will introduce you to some of the historical, statistical, and humorous tips and trivia that make this pastime special. Did You Know? 1. At least 65,000,000 people in the United States play poker on a regular basis. 2. Playing cards as we know them today are still greatly influenced by the French, even though playing cards were invented in China. According to French lore, the cards with Spades represent royalty. Diamonds represent Merchants, Clubs represent Peasants, and Hearts represent the Clergy. 3. Former United States President Richard M. Nixon used money he had won playing poker in the Navy during World War 2 to finance his run for Congress in 1946. He must have been a good player, for it is never inexpensive to get involved in politics! 4. 87% of the people who visited Las Vegas during the year 1996 gambled. 5. Surveys reveal that 38% of the people who live in the United States have visited Las Vegas, typically to gamble. 6. The game called craps usually has some of the best bets in the casino. 7. Poker tournaments that take place on the Internet and on television have caused the Texas Hold’em variation of poker to have an enormous surge in popularity. 8. There is one slot machine in Las Vegas, Nevada, for every 8 people who live there. In 2005, the estimated population for the Las Vegas Valley is 2 million people. That’s a LOT of slot machines! Gambling Bits and Pieces 9. Blackjack, or 21 as some people call it, continues to be the most popular table game in both online and offline casinos. It is also the game with the best odds. 10. You will see many versions of video poker in a casino, but every one of them is based upon the game of Five Card Draw. 11. In the English gambling dens during the 18th century, one employee had the unfortunate job of dice swallower. That’s right – dice swallower! He was to swallow the dice if and when a police officer raided the den. 12. If played correctly, video poker can offer some of the best odds in the casino. 13. The first slot machine in the world was invented by a Mr. Charles Fey in the year 1899. He was an automobile mechanic who wanted his customers to have something to amuse them while they waited for their cars. 14. Groucho Marx, one of the Marx Brothers, loved to play poker. He kept his poker money on him at all times, carrying it in a ‘grouch bag”. This is how he got the nickname of Groucho. 15. There are only two states in the United States that do not offer legalized gambling. These are Hawaii and Utah. 16. 57% of people in the United States bought a lottery ticket in the last 12 months. This fact, which was discovered by a Gallup Poll audit on gambling, proves that the lottery is the most popular form of gambling in the United States. 17. 68% of the folks in Las Vegas who gamble play the slot machines. Fun and Interesting Facts 18. 24% of those living in the USA admit that they have participated in illegal gambling. 19. When studying the percentages of people who visit Las Vegas, it was discovered that the largest percentage group, 22%, was made up of senior citizens, those who are 65 and older. 20. One of the largest slot machine payouts ever recorded took place in Las Vegas back in 1998. A woman who had spent around $300 at a casino that day hit a $27. 6 million dollar jackpot! No wonder slot machines are so popular! 21. Most historians have come to the conclusion that the legendary and colorful figure of the Wild West known as Wild Bill Hickock was not a very good poker player. 22. In the United States, it is not possible to take out a patent on any kind of gambling machine. 23. The card game of Texas Hold ‘Em was played for the very first time in a Texas city known as Robstown. This happened in the early 1900s. Texas Hold ‘Em was brought to Texas from Las Vegas by a small group of Texas gamblers. 24. Back in the 1970s, the average age of the people who enjoyed casino gambling ranged from 30 to 55. Nowadays, that age ranges from 17 all the way up to 70. 25. 80% of a survey group said that all gambling should be legal, and that casinos are perfectly okay. 26. A word of warning – You are not allowed to use your cell phone at a gaming table. This is generally true in all casinos. Of course, if you are playing at an online gaming table, you can do what you wish. 27. The largest casino in the world is located on the outskirts of Hartford, Connecticut in the United States. It is called the Foxwoods Casino. 28. Las Vegas has two nicknames – Las Vegas and Lost Wages. 29. Slot machines range from penny slots all the way up to those that range from $50 to $500 for each spin! These high-priced slots are usually located in what is called the ‘High Roller’ room or rooms of a casino. As a general rule, you will not see too many of these machines. Gambling Facts and History 30. In 2007, more than $170 billion dollars was placed in bets in Las Vegas by gamblers. ‘The House’, or the casinos, won about $7 billion dollars of that money. 31. Online gaming is cool. Where else can you play video poker in your pajamas? 32. Casinos in Las Vegas are under no legal obligation to pay off any of their gambling debts. 33. The state of Nevada in the USA, home of Las Vegas, made gambling legal in the year 1931. During that same year, the Hoover Dam was being built by the US government. They didn’t want the men who were working on the dam to get involved with gambling, so an entire town, Boulder City, was built as a place for the dam workers to live. It was made illegal to gamble in Boulder City in the hopes that these workers would not squander the 50 cents an hour they were being paid. Today, Boulder City is the only city in the state of Nevada where it is illegal to gamble. Fascinating Gambling Facts 34. To this day, the Italians and the French will still argue over who invented the game of Blackjack. 35. Millions of people are using the Internet to gamble 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 36. Those who play the slots online as well as offline will find that a majority of the time, they will win more often playing online. 37. In horseracing or any type of sports gambling, you need to win a percentage of about 52. 4% of the bets you make in order to break even. This is because a commission is charged by the house on every bet. 38. There is no rhyme, rhythm, or pattern to playing the slots. It is almost impossible to predict when you are going to win. 39. When playing poker, the Dead Man’s Hand is Aces and Eights. 40. Most people who take a vacation to Las Vegas gamble for 4 hours a day, each day they are there. 41. Some say that the game of roulette was invented by a man called Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and inventor. Others say he merely decided what order the numbers would go in. 42. And still others claim that the game of roulette came from China. Another group swears that roulette was invented by a group of Venetian monks! It appears that no one knows the real truth. 43. Even though a line of slot machines may look identical, every one of them looks different on the inside. 44. Dice are the oldest gaming tool available to use today. 45. Blackjack was banned in America back at the turn of the 19th century. Already a hugely popular game, it went underground as folks continued to play it illegally. The ban was lifted in 1939 as Nevada prepared to introduce Las Vegas to the world. 46. Craps is an American game, but was devised as a variation of a European game played in the 17th and 18th century that was known as ‘hazard’. 47. Legend has it that a fellow by the name of Francois Blanc made a bargain with Satan in order to find out the supposed ’secrets’ of the roulette, wheel. The basis of this legend is that when you add up all of the numbers on the wheel, you end up with the number 666, a number that has always represented the devil. 48. Slot machines are capable of revealing millions of possible combinations for every minute the game is played. This is because of the random number generator, or RNG, that is inside the machine. 49. Craps got its odd name from a nickname given to the French Creoles of New Orleans, Johnny Crapauds. 50. There are two types of dice, casino dice and ‘drugstore’ dice. Casino dice are precisely made by hand to insure that they are balanced and are a perfect cube. Drugstore dice are smaller than casino dice, and are made by machinery. Gambling Facts and Figures 51. Historians have found documentation that tells us Napoleon really enjoyed playing a game or two of 21, or blackjack when he was in exile. 52. If you add up all of the opposing sides of one dice, you will always come up with a total of 7. 53. Roulette has rules that are easier to follow and understand than most other forms of gambling. 54. Video poker has been a part of the gambling world ever since the early 1970s. 55. The game of Baccarat was once played with Tarot cards. 56. Caribbean Stud Poker is a poker variation that is very popular worldwide. It was developed from a 16th century game called Primera. 57. There are 38 numbers on an American roulette wheel, 0, 00, 1 to 36. 58. There are 37 numbers of a French roulette wheel, 0 to 36. 59. Those who live in Nevada bet around $846 each year at the casinos. 60. The game of Baccarat was invented during the middle ages by Felix Falguiere, an Italian gambler. 61. One of the fastest growing forms of entertainment all over the world is casino gambling. 62. There are 11 different ways to make a wager in the game of roulette. 63. The British call slot machines ‘fruit machines’ and ‘one-armed bandits’. 64. The gambling game of strip poker originated in New Orleans, Louisiana around 1830. 65. Backgammon is the oldest recorded game in history. This game, which originated in Mesopotamia, is called by many different monikers. 66. Gambling has become a $40 billion dollar per year industry in just the United States alone. Things You Probably Never Knew About Gambling 67. Blackjack tables have a little in common with baseball games. The seats at the table that are around the dealer are known as ‘bases’, and are known as first, second, and third base. 68. Baccarat came to Las Vegas in 1959 at the old Sands hotel. It probably was not well like by the hotel owners, as the Sands ended up losing $250,000 the first night on the baccarat tables! 69. There are three different varieties of baccarat. They are called ‘Chemin de fer’, or railway, ‘Baccarat Banque, or Adeux Tableaux, and Punto Banto, which means North American Baccarat. 70. Blackjack team play was invented by a man known as Al Franesco. 71. The zeros on roulette wheels are called the ‘House Edge’. The zeros were originally added to the wheel by its inventor in order to increase the house odds. 72. Caribbean Stud Poker found its way to the United States in the 18th century. It first surfaced in Louisiana, and then spread west. 73. Nowadays, you can learn how to play Craps on your Iphone! 74. A pair of dice has several nicknames. They can be called ‘Boxcars’, ‘Snake Eyes’, ‘Mississippi Marbles’, or ‘Memphis Dominoes’. 75. The fastest growing industry in the world in Indian gaming, which is a $27 billion per year industry in just the United States. 76. The name ‘Blackjack’ was derived from a variation of the original game rules, in which a player who had the black Jack of Spades received a payout. 77. The worst roulette bet, and why? It’s known as the 5 number bet, 0, 00, 1, 2, 3, and once made, the house edge jumps from 5. 26% to 7. 89%. 78. The game of Baccarat gets its name from the worst hand possible, zero. 79. The original name of Blackjack was ‘Ving-et-un’, which translates into the word ‘blackjack’. 80. The largest win at an online casino was $1, 683,524. 64. 81. A sailor had 27 wins in a row playing Craps at a Las Vegas casino back in the 1950s. The odds of this happening are 12,467,890 to 1! 82. The game of Bingo originated in Italy during the year 1530. 83. In Australia and New Zealand, the term “Housie” is used for Bingo. Gambling Trivia You Never Would Have Guessed 84. In the entire time the game of Keno has been played, a prize of $500,000 has been won four times, two times by the same player. 85. Roulette is the oldest of all casino games. 86. Keno was used in ancient China to raise money that was used to build the Great Wall of China. 87. Keno came to the United States in the 19th century. 88. It is possible to come up with 1,474, 200 different Bingo cards. 89. Playing cards as we know them today first appeared in Europe sometime during the 1300s. 90. Modern Bingo was devised from a game known as Beano. When a player mistakenly called out “Bingo” instead of “Beano”, the name caught on everywhere. 91. A little more than 70% of the high rollers in Vegas who enjoy playing Baccarat are Asian bankers and Asian industrialists. 92. Keno goes back to the Han Dynasty in Chinese history between 205 and 187 B. C. 93. In South America and Europe, the game of Baccarat goes by the name of Punto Banco. Punto Banco is usually a high roller game. 94. The age of the youngest person to win the World Series of Poker main event was a tender 24. 95. It is possible to make 2,598,960 poker hands from a standard 52-card deck. 96. The odds of being dealt the hand known as a ‘pocket pair’ in Poker are 16 to 1. 97. There are only 4 possible Royal Flush hands in a standard 52-card deck. 98. The odds of getting a Royal Flush hand are 649,740 to 1. 99. More than 70 million decks of standard playing cards are sold each and every year. 100. That sandwich you ate yesterday got its name from a poker player. The Earl of Sandwich loved poker so much he was loathe to leave the game table, even to eat. So, he would have someone bring him bread and some meat, and the sandwich was born! 101. The nickname for a pair of 8s in the game of poker is Pocket Snowmen.

Las Vegas is said to be a popular tourist destination in the United States of America. Ask any visitor to Las Vegas the reason of his arrival in the Vegas, his reply would be ?To gamble?. To that extent, not only Las Vegas but also other major cities in the United States of America provide enough opportunity to people who wish to ?punt? on their money. Needless to say, casinos are breeding grounds for some rags-to-riches and riches-to-rags stories. What are the US Gambling Laws?

Gambling is a legitimized activity in many states in the USA. Many state and federal laws mandate statutes that govern the activity of gambling in the United States of America. The US Gambling Laws are further divided into three sections ? State Laws, Federal Laws and Charitable Laws.

State Laws ? Most of the states in the United States of America have legalized gambling. These gambling laws are applicable to any form of gambling which includes but is not limited to lotteries, casino gambling etc. For example, the state law of Alabama lays down the rule that any person who has lost some money during gambling can claim the money back in six months from the date of the gambling. This is governed by the Section 8-1-150 of the statute of Law of Alabama.

Federal Laws ? Federal laws are laws mandated by the government of the United States of America governing the gambling industry. The four main federal gambling laws include ? Federal Anti-Lottery Laws, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, Wire Act Violation: Internet and Phone, Gambling Ship Act. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 mostly bans gambling operators in accepting funds from bettors through the internet. This act has swooped down on tons of websites that indulged in unlawful internet gambling.

Charitable Laws ? Majority of states in the United States of America have enforced laws that exempt some gambling activities from the gamut of the state and federal gambling laws. These activities include but are not limited to bingo and charitable raffles. Please note that the states of Hawaii and Utah are an exception here as they do not have any Charitable Law. For example, Bingo is considered perfectly legal in the state of Alabama. In the same vein, the state of California has mandated laws on Charitable raffles, Charitable bingo and Charitable poker games.

The Online Gambling activity is in terms of its legalities and various rules as applied by the government of United States of America. This reason has prompted many casino owners to operate the casinos from other countries which ensure that they are not governed by the tough laws of the United States of America.

The Federal Government has mandated certain statutes for online gambling and online casinos as well ensuring the protection of customer rights at all times. In fact, the government of the United States of America has banned all cross-border gambling activities which has met with a lot of criticism at the World Trade Organization.

No matter what your political persuasion, liberal, conservative, Republican, or Democrat, the new laws pertaining to internet gambling are eventually going to affect the online gambling industry.
In October 2006 the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was attached to the Safe Port Act at the last minute by Representative Bill Frist(R) No one in the Senate had any knowledge of this addition until fifteen minutes before the Act was presented to the floor for debate in a late night session. There was no time for debate on this late addition to the Port Security Act and no politician in his right mind would vote against Port Security.
Most political analysts from across the spectrum agree that this act could never have been passed if it had been presented separately. While the Safe Port Act is important to the security of the United States, one wonders what this addition has to do with national security. The bill was passed almost unanimously by both the House and Senate with no time to debate this ill conceived amendment.
Under this act participation in online gambling is not banned or criminalized. Essentially this Act requires banks and other financial institution to adopt policies and procedures that blocks the flow of funds to online gambling sites. It specifically bans the use of credit cards and checks for online gambling.
While this site does not in any way advocate any illegal activity, a quick google search will show many alternatives to credit cards and checks. Most US based online gamblers consider this act a serious infringement on their privacy and personal liberty.
Opposition to this act covers the whole political spectrum. One conservative website raises some very relevant points. First, internet technology renders enforcement futile. The freedom the internet offers handicaps law enforcement and rapid innovation ensures that law enforcement will fall farther and farther behind. Second, the internet is an instant detour around domestic prohibitions. National sovereignty prevents the US from forcing other countries from enforcing bans on activities that are legal in those countries.
Most importantly consumer demand and the government demands for more revenues will create political pressure for legalization. And last but certainly not least is the premise that online gambling will bring competition to an industry that has long enjoyed the shelter of highly restrictive licensing practices. The bottom line is, Americans love to gamble and they cherish their liberties and privacy.
Recent studies show that as many as 60% of Americans have gambled and only a tiny minority regards online gambling as immoral. Americans have overwhelmingly shown they support the online gambling industry. The billions spent on online gambling prove this point.
The arguments against online gambling are weak at best. Some opponents of online gambling suggest that the internet encourages gambling addictions. Studies have clearly shown that online gambling is less addictive than drinking (a legal activity) and certainly much less addictive than smoking. Online gambling does not kill or cause cancer. A vast majority of online gamblers bet small sums for their own pleasure and from the privacy of their own homes. Americans, liberal and conservative alike overwhelmingly resent government intrusion into their private lives.
Another argument used by prohibitionists is the claim that online gambling is used to launder money and support terrorism. There has not been one connection made between online gambling and terrorism. The money laundering argument is irrelevant given the many other ways to launder money. Weak arguments indeed.
There is legislation pending in congress introduced by Barney Frank which would do away with most of the provisions in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This bill has broad bipartisan support. Hopefully congress will respect the will of the majority of the people that elected them. I urge all of you who participate in online gambling to contact you representative and senator and let them know how you feel. Regulation of private matters is a slippery slope that we should not go down.

The history of gambling is quite a storied one. Despite the evolution of this popular pastime, gambling isn?t always viewed as socially acceptable. The effects of gambling can be far reaching. Known as ?gaming? for around 265 years before the term ?gambling? was introduced, the entertainment value of the many types of wagering money or property continues to grow. Back in 1994, the UK government approved a National Lottery, which helped to make gambling seem more mainstream to the public. The advent of gambling via the Internet, mobile phone and/or television also served to make the gambling laws that were passed in 1968 seem rather old-fashioned. As more people began to enjoy gambling from the comfort of their homes, and the impacts of Internet gambling became apparent, a change of rules was definitely needed! The gambling industry in the UK was given a thorough review, approved by the government, during the year 2000. Gambling statistics were studied, and the follow-up to this review was dubbed the Bud Report. It recommended that gambling as a whole should be modernized. This report also suggested that current laws be relaxed to let communities have more freedom of choice concerning their gambling habits. A new Gambling Act went into effect in 2007, and the reaction of a large number of people was anything but positive. They refused to recognize any benefits of gambling. The most vocal criticism of these liberal gambling laws came from the Methodist Church and the Salvation Army. Their concern was that the number of casinos in Britain would grow at an alarming rate. Nevertheless, the new laws remained, and served to regulate not only certain lotteries, bingo, casinos and gaming machines, but also remote gambling and betting. More than ten various commissions and trade associations have been established to aid in the monitoring process of gambling. They also have the power to impose fines, pull licences, assess penalties, and can see that those who cheat or gamble illegally are prosecuted. Among these are the National Lottery Commission, the Gambling Commission, British Casino Association, British Horseracing Board, and the Association of British Bookmakers. Three categories of gambling are prevalent in the UK. These are betting, casino style gambling, and lotteries. In most cases, a person must be over age 18 in order to gamble. The exceptions are fruit machines which pay with tokens, which has no age limit, lotteries that are local, and football pools, with the latter two having an age limit of 16 and above. Those who are employed within the gambling industry are held to high standards. Some must obtain certificates of approval before they can begin their jobs. Betting shops and bookmakers also play a big role in the UK gambling scene. Sports betting is quite popular, and betting shops offer a location to place a bet via betting terminals, seating to watch the events on television, and enjoy some refreshments as well. Bookmakers have many tasks. They accept the wagers, collect money from those who lost a wager, pay those who won, and turn a profit by striving for a ?balanced book?. Gamblers can also place a bet on the Internet or by way of a telephone call. The types of sports betting in the UK include horse and dog racing. Casinos are full of different types of gambling to attract visitors. Slot machines which can deliver a large jackpot, table games with playing cards such as Blackjack, and games of chance like roulette are all popular. The odds always favour the house in casinos. Millions of pounds flow through the coffers of the various British casinos each year. By law, the casinos cannot advertise their addresses, nor can they urge people to come in and gamble. Fruit machines, also known as slot machines, seem to be very profitable for the casinos, and are hugely popular with the gambling public. Bingo,is also popular, especially with institutes and clubs who hold bingo games so that a charity receives the proceeds. Lotteries continue to be a popular way to raise money, or to take a chance on winning a jackpot by buying a ticket. 70% of the UK population enjoy playing the lottery. The draw variety of lottery is well known, and there are also the raffles, scratch cards, sweepstakes, and those lotteries found on the Internet and interactive television. Lottery fraud is becoming a gambling problem that must be solved. Internet and remote gambling have boosted the profits and also the problems relevant to UK gambling. The increased monetary benefits are seen by some as one of the benefits of gambling, along with giving people a social outlet. Another favourable benefit is the money gambling can raise to profit charity. However, others are staunchly determined that all types of gambling exploit those who are addicted to the thrill of this pastime, and see this habit as one that is just as damaging as alcoholism. By creating gaming addicts, draining the bank accounts of those who can?t stop gambling, and damaging the lives of those family members who must live with the repercussions of having a gambler in their midst. There is a big chance that the gambling statistics that zero in on those who have a problem with gambling are going to continue to grow. Many organisations have been formed to look into gambling?s social impact. They have revealed the four reasons people gamble are escapism, the idea that they are doing something glamorous, the thrill of risk taking, and the social aspect. The liberal laws of the UK will more than likely increase gambling problems. According to the Church of England?s organisation, all gambling should be avoided as the risks outweigh the benefits. The Church will not enter into investments with any company who gets more than a 25% turnover from gambling proceeds.

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