by Paul S. Hugel, Esq.
The expansion of casino and sports gambling on the Internet has been the subject of much discussion. By now, most people are aware that there are potential criminal law issues surrounding Internet gambling. However, very few people have an understanding of the exact nature of those issues and the potential penalties associated with them. This article will discuss some of the federal criminal issues involved in Internet gambling and will examine the criminal penalties involved. A more detailed discussion of the matters addressed in this article will appear in Interactive Gaming News in mid-March.
There are a number of federal criminal statutes of which an Internet
gaming site could potentially run afoul. These include: 18
U.S.C. ยง 1952 (Interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering
enterprise);