So what exactly is illegal?

[mikethern]

Is it illegal for an American to play poker online? Or is just illegal for banks to transfer money to and from online casinos?

[Grasshopp3r]

There is no federal law that prohibits non-sports gambling on the internet. The Wire Act covers sports gambling. There are some states that have internet laws. The UIGEA was a measure aimed at stopping the funding mechanisms for online gambling.

Some of the lawyers here can correct me if I am incorrect.

[lfairban]

I would be surprised to find out that anyone has yet been prosecuted under the UIGEA since the enabling regulations have not been promilgated. In theory, nothing should have changed since Oct. '06.

[Jack Bando]

The company you give your money to that gives that money to the poker room, they're breaking UIGEA.

And the site you play on as well is breaking UIGEA.

You, are not. Unless you live in one of the few states that has it written down in law that online gambling=bad. Even then, some people say those laws are invalid due to the internet being a national issue, and not a state one.

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
The company you give your money to that gives that money to the poker room, they're breaking UIGEA.

And the site you play on as well is breaking UIGEA.


[/ QUOTE ]

The financial intermediary and poker sites are in a grey area at the moment. I lean more towards they are not breaking any laws. You are right though that the consumer doesn't appear to have any legal liability in this.

The only people arrested by the U.S. government have had involvement in sports gambling to some extent. Courts have said wire act only applies to sports gambling.