March madness pools forbidden

[train.]

I was informed that

[ QUOTE ]
In light of the UIGEA, 2+2 is strictly forbidding discussion or facilitation of March Madness pools on the boards.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't really bother me I just don't understand why we're prohibited from doing this when fantasy leagues are allowed (and i'm just assuming that fantasy leagues involved individual posters wagering against each other on the outcome of a sporting event. i don't know for sure and haven't researched it) and when posters are allowed to bet amongst themselves on the outcome of a talent contest (which is what a basketball game is too.) Not too mention the fact that there is advertising for gambling sites here and all manner of discussion about gambling and how to take advantage of the opportunities available.

[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

edit: left out part of original quote.

[Neil S]

UIGEA Section 5362's fantasy sports exception:

[ QUOTE ]
BET or WAGER... does not include... `(ix) participation in any fantasy or simulation sports game or educational game or contest in which (if the game or contest involves a team or teams) no fantasy or simulation sports team is based on the current membership of an actual team that is a member of an amateur or professional sports organization (as those terms are defined in section 3701 of title 28) and that meets the following conditions:

`(I) All prizes and awards offered to winning participants are established and made known to the participants in advance of the game or contest and their value is not determined by the number of participants or the amount of any fees paid by those participants.

`(II) All winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants and are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals (athletes in the case of sports events) in multiple real-world sporting or other events.

`(III) No winning outcome is based--

`(aa) on the score, point-spread, or any performance or performances of any single real-world team or any combination of such teams; or

`(bb) solely on any single performance of an individual athlete in any single real-world sporting or other event.

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Seems to me an NCAA tournament pool plainly doesn't qualify for an exception because it fails II and III aa. If I were 2+2 I'd make the same policy. It also fails I if you don't use a fixed prize pool.

[El Diablo]

train,

"facilitation of March Madness pools"

Banning that makes sense to me.

"discussion of March Madness pools"

Banning that, of course, would be silly.

[jman220]

[ QUOTE ]


"discussion of March Madness pools"

Banning that, of course, would be silly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Plus, to be consistent, if 2+2 wanted to ban discussion of things that violate the UGIEA, then every forum except for the off topic forums, and maybe the B&M forum would need to be closed down. I mean, the zoo and internet bonus forum is pretty much all about doing things that violate the UGIEA.

[MrWookie]

El D, Train,

My use of the word "discussion" there was to mean discussing setting one up. I agree that general discussion of MM pools should be allowed.

[El Diablo]

jman,

How are you not a mod yet?

[jman220]

[ QUOTE ]
jman,

How are you not a mod yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

I blame Luxembourg.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi train:

Based on advice from our attorneys, we have to be very careful in doing anything where it could be interpreted that we are taking bets or participating in the process of taking bets. Given that our forums have become very big and that we are located in Nevada (a very anti-Internet gambling state) we have to abide by these guidelines and will occasionally make decisions that seem to conservative to most.

Best wishes,
Mason

[Evan]

Wow, this is hilarious.

[kipin]

Mason,

When will this site cease to operate?