This FAQ article will explain the Wire Act in greater detail, and either answer your question, or direct you to the place where you can get the official word.
Q: Why was the Wire Act created?
A: The Wire Act was created in order to prevent the rise of organized sports betting in the United States. Specifically, it bans betting operations from transferring funds or wager-related information across state lines using a wire communications facility. This includes telephone, fiber optic, and internet cables.
Q: What was the original intent of the law?
A: The intent of the law was to cut down on organized crime in America. The law does not go after casual bettors, but only those who are “engaged in the business of betting or wagering.” This includes operators of internet betting sites, although there is some debate over whether the internet can be considered a wire communications facility.
Q: Does the Wire Act apply to online sports betting?
A: Only for sites that are based in the United States. As it stands, the only onshore sports betting sites are in Nevada and Delaware. These sites cannot send funds or wagering information across state lines.
Q: How are online sportsbooks legal with the Wire Act in place?
A: Onshore sports betting sites are legal only in Delaware and Nevada, although they may not send funds or betting information across state lines. Offshore sites are legal, and are not subject to US law. Also, there is no law that prevents US players from using an offshore online sportsbook.
Q: Does the act target the average sports bettor?
A: No, the average sports bettor is safe. Again, the law does not target small-time bettors. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Emanuel Celler stated that “this bill only goes after the bookmaker, the gambler who makes it his business to take bets or lay off bets.” He added that the law “does not go after the casual gambler who bets $2 on a race.”
Q: Do I need to worry about getting arrested for using an online sportsbook?
A: Absolutely not. The government isn’t interested in arresting Joe Six-pack. You only need to worry if you are running a major betting operation and taking in large amounts of money. The intent was never to prosecute individual small-time bettors.
Q: Has anyone ever been arrested for using an online sportsbook?
A: No, this has never happened. It wouldn’t make any sense for the government to go after one single bettor. That’s not what the law is about. You don’t have to worry unless you are involved in some serious high-level organized betting operation.
Q: Do you think the Wire Act will be modified in the future?
A: Actually, there have been attempts to modify the Wire Act. After all, it was passed way back in 1961. In fact, one of the reasons the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed was because lawmaker thought the Wire Act didn’t go far enough in preventing unlawful sports betting.
Q: What is RAWA?
A: RAWA is the acronym for Restoration of America’s Wire Act. It attempts to re-write 1961’s Wire Act to include most forms of internet gambling. The UIGEA already prevents most US states from sanctioning online sports betting in the first place, so it’s hard to see much of a point to RAWA.
Q: How likely is it that RAWA will be passed?
A: Highly unlikely. Consider, for one, that the UIGEA and PASPA already prevent states from having legal sports betting. It most likely won’t get past the House or the Senate. Most state lottery directors are against the bill, as are many conservative groups who feel that RAWA infringes on states’ rights.
Q: Is there anything else I need to worry about?
A: You should be aware of betting age laws for your state plus the legal age to bet. Also, you should familiarize yourself with the two other laws that apply to sports betting in the United States. These are the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Now that you’re more familiar with the basic tenets of the Wire Act, we can focus on more pressing matter, like choosing a legal and safe sports betting site for US players. We’ve spent countless hours following the trail and running down the hot leads on the best US sportsbooks on the web. The ones we’ve found are simply fantastic. We feel that you will be highly pleased with any of them. They all have great bonuses and offer the very latest and greatest features.
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