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By my most literal interpretation of this law my inlaws can now be arrested for our march madness bracket. This seems absurd that we've let even this level of

By my most literal interpretation of this law my inlaws can now be arrested for our march madness bracket. This seems absurd that we've let even this level of ambiguity come to pass in a country that used to pride itself on personal liberty; especially when the law was paid for by clear corporate cronyism and special interests to benefit from its passage. Can anyone legally versed tell me why I shouldn't be this incensed?

bsenftner 8y ago
Well, clearly we can not infringe upon the personal liberty of the corporate person that is paying for this law to be enacted. That would be wrong, in today's 3/5ths equality between humans and corporate persons.
- pnw_hazor 8y ago
  In WA it was the Indian Tribes that paid progressive Democrats to make Internet gambling a felony.
andrewla 8y ago
Part (b) of the same section adds this nugget: > (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of information for use in news reporting of sporting events or contests, or for the transmission of information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest from a State or foreign country where betting on that sporting event or contest is legal into a State or foreign country in which such betting is legal. So if it is legal in your state to you to have casual betting (which is often the case, for example New York State excludes "casual" bookmaking [1]) and it is legal in the other state to have casual betting, then there's likely no conflict with the Federal law. [1] https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/225.00 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/225.00, General Definitions, 9. "Bookmaking" means advancing gambling activity by unlawfully accepting bets from members of the public as a business, rather than in a casual or personal fashion, upon the outcomes of future contingent events.
the_watcher 8y ago
Yes, in some places, a March Madness bracket and Super Bowl squares are illegal.
pnw_hazor 8y ago
Its been illegal in Washington State since 1973 "Bracket pools, office sports pools, and fantasy sports have never been authorized as gambling activities in Washington State and are illegal." https://www.wsgc.wa.gov/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/sports-wagering-faq https://www.wsgc.wa.gov/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/...

bsenftner 8y ago

Well, clearly we can not infringe upon the personal liberty of the corporate person that is paying for this law to be enacted. That would be wrong, in today's 3/5ths equality between humans and corporate persons.

pnw_hazor 8y ago
In WA it was the Indian Tribes that paid progressive Democrats to make Internet gambling a felony.

andrewla 8y ago

Part (b) of the same section adds this nugget: > (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of information for use in news reporting of sporting events or contests, or for the transmission of information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest from a State or foreign country where betting on that sporting event or contest is legal into a State or foreign country in which such betting is legal. So if it is legal in your state to you to have casual betting (which is often the case, for example New York State excludes "casual" bookmaking [1]) and it is legal in the other state to have casual betting, then there's likely no conflict with the Federal law. [1] https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/225.00 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/225.00, General Definitions, 9. "Bookmaking" means advancing gambling activity by unlawfully accepting bets from members of the public as a business, rather than in a casual or personal fashion, upon the outcomes of future contingent events.

the_watcher 8y ago

Yes, in some places, a March Madness bracket and Super Bowl squares are illegal.

pnw_hazor 8y ago

Its been illegal in Washington State since 1973 "Bracket pools, office sports pools, and fantasy sports have never been authorized as gambling activities in Washington State and are illegal." https://www.wsgc.wa.gov/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/sports-wagering-faq https://www.wsgc.wa.gov/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/...