Posted Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:35 pm GMT by Sykopathik
I've done many searches about this online and in this forum but am unable to lock down a solid answer. Basically, I am just wondering if it is legal for me to play poker online. I am in Pennsylvania, in the USA and just want to be sure. I don't expect my winnings for the year to exceed any tax laws by the end of this year obviously, but what happens once I exceed federal limitations for extra income? Any help or direction to resources on this is most appreciated.
Syko
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Posted Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:23 pm GMT by Peteus
I live in PA also and can't find an answer.
Posted Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:04 am GMT by den9
if your 18 you can, on partypoker atleast
Posted Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:59 pm GMT by Geno
It's legal, get to it :D
Posted Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:38 pm GMT by Lizard
LOL Geno.
I think it is law that is bigger then state law. I think all gambling online is illegal.
I am assuming Forbes knows their stuff:
http://www.forbes.com/2001/02/20/0220gambling.html
Posted Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:03 pm GMT by Sean_in_NJ
| Lizard wrote: | | I think it is law that is bigger then state law. I think all gambling online is illegal. |
Placing a wager over communication lines is not illegal, but accepting one is. I believe it's for that same reason you can't talk on a cell phone in a Las Vegas sportsbook.
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:44 am GMT by Lizard
Sean, so are you saying that gamling online is legal?
Here is another site I found for Sykopathik, although it looks like it doesn't talk much about Online.
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:19 am GMT by Sean_in_NJ
| Lizard wrote: | | Sean, so are you saying that gamling online is legal? |
It's not against federal law. It might be against state law, and if it is, it isn't limited to the online variety. It's illegal regardless of the medium.
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:32 am GMT by supafrey
Federal law in the U.S. is just fuzzy about it. No laws have been made to address the issue yet.
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:57 pm GMT by Lizard
It is illegal (my opinion) and I think they are updating laws in different states to reflect it, they just never inforce it (that I know of). Who knows if it stays illegal though. Enough states are increasing casinos that I am guessing it will eventually become legal but only time will tell.
I will assume we all know what the WPT is. Here is a link to their Online Gamling web site. Look at number 3.
http://www.wptonline.com/help/terms.do
I am guessing they have enough Lawyers and money to research this fact.
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:13 pm GMT by Sean_in_NJ
| Lizard wrote: | | I am guessing they have enough Lawyers and money to research this fact. |
As soon as I see the first successful federal prosecution of an online poker player, I'll believe it's illegal.
The only time companies perform legal research is to protect their own interests, not those of their customers. I suspect the WPT is incorporated in the US, and it would subject them to US law regardless of where their servers are sitting. If not, and if they're not accepting wagers from US customers, it's because a) they were requested not to by the US FTC, b) they know the day is coming when it will be officially legal and regulated and c) they don't want to be one of the "bad eggs" that didn't cooperate before.
For the gaming sites that really care, it's probably in their best interests to abide by the US governments wishes now (regardless of the legality of those requests) if they want to be granted gaming licenses in the future. For those that don't, they'll likely be bought up by the bigger names like Harrah's and Caesar's when the time comes.
Posted Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:19 pm GMT by Lizard
I agree web sites just put up the Disclaimer to protect their own ass and they do not care where their customers are from, since about 90% are from us. According to an article I was reading.
Just because they do not enforce it doesn't make it legal - again, my opinion.
This could become a similar fight to File Sharing. Only time will tell though.
Posted Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:08 am GMT by groton
The IRS does not care where you Play the Game as long as you pay your tax's realy thats all i care about
Posted Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:03 pm GMT by supafrey
File sharing is legal in Canada.
Ding ding, mofos. 
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