US Federal Gambling Laws

Current through Dec. 1, 2016

The following articles were prepared by Chuck Humphrey. Click on the blue title to read the article:

• Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.  This law applies to online gambling operators accepting financial instruments to fund accounts for players. including online casinos.
• Federal Anti-Lottery Laws
• Wire Act Violation: Internet v. Phone
• Gambling Ship Act

The rest of the material in this portion of my site is extracted from a truly excellent article written by Jeffrey Rodefer while he was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nevada.  I am indebted to Liebert Publishing, which publishes the Gambling Law Review, for permission to extract from and republish these materials.  The full text of his article, INTERNET GAMBLING IN NEVADA: Overview of Federal Law Affecting Assembly Bill 466, is available online in this online archive.

I have extracted the text of Mr. Rodefer's article as to each of the principal United States federal laws applying to gambling.  Click on the blue title to read the article.

• Wire Act of 1961
• Travel Act of 1961
• Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act of 1961
• Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970
• Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970 
• Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992
• Interstate Wagering Amendment of 1994
• Amendment to Interstate Horseracing Act
• Illegal Money Transmitting Business Act of 1992
• Other Federal Statutes