Bitcoin Forum

Hello i have a question regarding this issue as it is a very  BIG ONE.

Is it legal for players in the USA to gamble using bitcoin, by this i mean

gambling in the form of casinos, lotteries, sports etc.

I would like to know

The federal Wire Act is often interpreted as covering specifically sportsbooks, regardless of the currency or other considerations.  It is thought that it does not cover other forms of gambling.

The other well-known federal act covering gambling is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.  Its most well-known provisions prohibit the use of financial institutions to process payments for an undefined activity, unlawful Internet gambling.  Despite the fact there is no clear prohibition against games such as poker and a lack of any federal law directly targeting online gambling, the feds have shut down the U.S. activities of Internet poker sites and even indicted the principals of corporations spreading raked poker games.

There is no clear law at the federal level outlawing Internet gambling, though it seems sportsbooks are unambiguously prohibited at least under the prevailing interpretations of existing laws such as the Wire Act.

Some people stop there and simply assume that means Internet gambling is legal, but that's making a huge mistake, because the vast majority of law enforcement activity in the United States occurs at the state level, and state laws on gambling, Internet or otherwise, are a crazy quilt of contradictory laws.  Any online site offering wagering of any sort risks violating the laws of any state where it takes customers, and state prisons can keep you just as locked up as federal prisons.

If you mean is it legal for YOU to gamble online?  Maybe not, but I've never heard of anyone (even in police raids of underground poker rooms) getting arrested for PLAYING a game of chance.  You do risk losing any money you deposit at a site, but you're already risking that.  I personally don't worry about being prosecuted for gambling online, but your tolerance for risk may vary.

No Federal law to gamble online however there is some state laws that make it a crime to gamble online. Depending on your state location it can be as severe as a class C felony. (Washington)

There is a greater legal risk to the casino operator, than to its users. You should research the laws on online gambling in the state that you are in, since laws can vary from state to state.

This article may be of some use to you: http://bitcoinreviewer.com/article/is-bitcoin-gambling-legal-and-why/

According to Boston University, the laws or regulations pertaining to online gambling are related to how much money the government can make or lose, not related to  morals or the pretext of protecting consumers.  See:

http://stockbet.com/#/support/gambling

Uncle Same just wants his cut. So basically if you pay taxes on your winnings then you are okay.

But lets be honest, who's paying taxes on bitcoin gambling...

It's now more than just Uncle Sam.  Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands is trying to beat back online competition.  He has hired a team of lobbyists to bash online gambling, by spreading spin and lies.

There was momentum towards state-level legalization.  Now, Adelson is reversing that trend, so that he can limit the gambling choices that the consumers have, to just land-based like his.  You can read more at http://stockbet.com/#/support/gambling

Everything is legal so long as you don't get caught  ;D

Isn't BitCoin being treated as property as opposed to currency?  ;)

Doesn't matter.  Generally gambling for anything of value is what is prohibited or requires a license.  You can't get around that by, say, using chips instead of actual money, at least as long as the chips are convertible.

Technically, all forms of gambling that cross borders in the USA are considered illegal
Or so I have heard
The internet has no borders so  ;)
(but as the above said it's more of an operator risk than anything else)

That said some sites don't like US players because of those concerns.