CRS Surveys Federal, State Web Gambling Laws

The Congressional Research Service surveyed the federal and state criminal statutes implicated by internet gambling—including the Department of Justice’s recent shift on the Wire Act’s application to online wagers on non-sporting events—in a pair of reports published Jan. 24.

The reports noted that illicit internet gambling implicates at least seven federal criminal statutes:

• the Internet Gambling Business Act, 18 U.S.C. §1955;
• the Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. §1084;
• the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. §1952;
• the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §1962;
• money laundering provisions of 18 U.S.C. §1956; ...