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  1. #1
    The Buzz's Avatar
    The Buzz is offline GPWA Gossip Hound
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    Default Another wave of Internet sportsbook arrests in the US

    An Internet sports book whose servers were based in Costa Rica, but whose operators were based in New York and New Jersey was the target of several raids in Queens County, N.Y., and Monmouth County, N.J., yesterday.

    According to The New York Times, 50ksports.com took in more than a half billion in wagers in the last 18 months.

    The Queens County and Monmouth County DAs combined for more than 60 arrests. The Queens County DA is the same man who arrested 33 people for the same crime in November.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/ny...=1&oref=slogin
    Last edited by The Buzz; 29 March 2007 at 7:36 am. Reason: Use of more credible source and updated information from the NYT

  2. #2
    Enke is offline Public Member
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    Default

    This can hardly be considered a traditional "internet sportsbook" like Sportingbet, Bodog, Bet365, and the rest of them though.

    From the reports, it sounds like these guys were running an illegal onshore sports betting operation and acting as bookies with runners and all. They were just utilizing the internet for the technology.

    I don't see this as an attack on internet gambling, more so an attack on organized crime and running a land based illegal sports betting operation.

    Regardless if their primary business was online or taking cash offline. Being an operator of any internet sports betting operation and living in the U.S. is probably not very smart.

  3. #3
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    This isn't a real case against online sportsbooks from what I read... This is a case of dumb@$$es living in the US who thought because they had servers outside the country, they were untraceable or something. stupid.
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  4. #4
    vinism's Avatar
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    This definitely wasn't an attack on Internet gambling. But it is another very clear message (in case anyone hasn't received it) that the U.S. is not tolerating sports betting of any kind. The interesting thing here is this looks to be the "new wave" of modern bookies -- the kind organized crime likes to run. Cash only and local, but with the conveniences of the Web.

  5. #5
    WinYourWayKyle is offline Private Member
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    Default

    Totally some kind of organized crime deal in my opinion. They were using the Internet to use it as a discuise to cover up their operation that was being run in the US.... Thats my take on story....

  6. #6
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    Default

    WOW. Fascinating to hear people parroting the US Government line here.


    It's organised crime ..
    It's illegal ...
    Blah blah blah blah blah ....

    It's a victimless crime.
    All they did was facilitate betting on Sports.
    There is no question that they honoured bets and paid out winners.

    American citizens can legally bet on Sports in casinos !
    Most world citizens can legally bet on Sports online !

    What you have here is a federal organisation protecting a casino cartel with a monopoly - and then spinning it as SAVING the American people.

    And you lap it up ...


    FFS - Land of the FREE ??!
    Pah !!

  7. #7
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    Nobody is lapping anything up.

    The fact is that sportsbetting other than in a casino has been illegal for decades. It's nothing new and has nothing to do with the web. The website is coincidental.

    No one said they liked it, it's just a fact.

  8. #8
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    Default

    I'm just fascinated by the different attitudes to obviously poor laws.
    I'll spell it out.

    ONE :
    Online gambling payments are specifically declared illegal by the UIGEA attached to the Port Security Bill in 2006.

    Affiliates cry foul and say the law is wrong. That it should be repealed.

    (Unless you're a poker affiliate then you group together to try and weasel an exemption for Poker only)

    TWO :
    Sports Betting Online is declared illegal thanks to a non-specific interpretation of the Wire Transfer act of 1961 that had no inkling of the internet when it was drafted.

    Affiliates mouth platitudes about Sports Betting being illegal and repeatedly regurgitate it as an immutable fact - despite the obvious similarity.

    (unless it's horse racing or fantasy sports betting of course - that's completely different !????)

    Lap. Lap. Lap.

  9. #9
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    I know what you are saying gooner. Everyone is trying to get an exemption for their money cow. Truth is who cares if someone bets on sports, on poker, or on a casino game, there is still an element of chance, and I dont care what poker players claim, it's gambling. Yes you can influence the odds but that doesn't make a difference when it comes down to it (just means that you might come out ahead)

    I think what everyone is saying is that since this wasn't purely 'online' sports betting it's not too relevant to the industry.

    Either way I agree it's all pretty stupid.
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  10. #10
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    TWO :
    Sports Betting Online is declared illegal thanks to a non-specific interpretation of the Wire Transfer act of 1961 that had no inkling of the internet when it was drafted.
    Because of the Wire Act, it is in fact illegal to bet on sports online from within the US.

    This is one of the reasons the government of Gibraltar will not allow any of the gaming companies which operate out of the rock, to accept US Residents to bet on any of the online sportsbooks hosted on the rock.

    Yes it is a ****** law. But unfortunately it is the law.
    Exit stage left

  11. #11
    ogpaper is offline Private Member
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    The Wire Act by itself does not apply to online sports betting, it was actually a Louisiana judge who ruled that it appls to online sports betting, I think 2 or 3 years back.

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