Gambling Law: An Overview

• Online Gambling Age Nj

Gambling, though widespread in the United States, is subject to legislation at both the state and federal level that bans it from certain areas, limits the means and types of gambling, and otherwise regulates the activity.

Congress has used its power under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate gambling, international gambling, and relations between the United States and Native American territories. For example, it has passed laws prohibiting the unauthorized transportation of lottery tickets between states, outlawing sports betting with certain exceptions, and regulating the extent to which gambling may exist on Native American land.

Each state determines what kind of gambling it allows within its borders, where the gambling can be located, and who may gamble. Each state has enacted different laws pertaining to these topics. The states also have differing legal gambling ages, with some states requiring the same minimum age for all types of gambling, while for others, it depends on the activity. For example, in New Jersey, an 18-year-old can buy a lottery ticket or bet on a horse race, but cannot enter a casino until age 21. Presumably, the age 21 restriction is due to the sale of alcohol in that location.

When it comes to online gambling and demographic statistics, a UK study concludes that 17% of the population gamble online, resulting in £5.3 billion revenue for the online market alone. Pennsylvania online sports betting dates back to the early days of the legal US market and features numerous options for wagering on your devices. With eight different companies operating platforms for legal sports betting in PA, bettors continue to benefit from competition to acquire customers in the form of introductory promo offers. Pennsylvania legalized online gambling as of the summer of 2019, making it the fourth state to join the party after New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. The Keystone state comes just second to Nevada with the largest gambling market in the United States.

• PA ONLINE CASINO SITES 2020. In the past 2 years there has been a ton of attention in Pennsylvania on the launch of online sports betting. While quietly PA online casinos went live in July 2019. Currently, 6 online casinos are live in PA, along with online Poker via PokerStars PA.
• The states also have differing legal gambling ages, with some states requiring the same minimum age for all types of gambling, while for others, it depends on the activity. For example, in New Jersey, an 18-year-old can buy a lottery ticket or bet on a horse race, but cannot enter a casino until age 21.

A standard strategy for avoiding laws that prohibit, constrain, or aggressively tax gambling is to locate the activity just outside the jurisdiction that enforces them, in a more 'gambling friendly' legal environment. Gambling establishments often exist near state borders and on ships that cruise outside territorial waters. Gambling activity has also exploded in recent years in Native American territory. Internet-based gambling takes this strategy and extends it to a new level of penetration, for it threatens to bring gambling directly into homes and businesses in localities where a physical gambling establishment could not conduct the same activity.

Internet Gambling

Federal Regulation

In the 1990s, when the World Wide Web was growing rapidly in popularity, online gambling appeared to represent an end-run around government control and prohibition. A site operator needed only to establish the business in a friendly offshore jurisdiction such as the Bahamas and begin taking bets. Anyone with access to a web browser could find the site and place wagers by credit card. Confronted with this blatant challenge to American policies, the Department of Justice and Congress explored the applicability of current law and the desirability of new regulation for online gambling.

In exploring whether an offshore Internet gambling business taking bets from Americans violated federal law, attention was focused on the Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1084 (2000). The operator of a wagering business is at risk of being fined and imprisoned under the Wire Act if the operator knowingly uses a 'wire communication facility' to transmit information related to wagering on 'any sporting event or contest.' 18 U.S.C. § 1084(a). An exception exists if that act is legal in both the source and destination locations of the transmission. § 1084(b). The Wire Act’s definition of “wire communication facility” appears to embrace the nation's entire telecommunications infrastructure, and therefore probably applies to online gambling. See § 1081.

The Department of Justice maintains that, under the Wire Act, all Internet gambling by bettors in the United States is illegal. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers, 110th Cong., Nov. 14, 2007 (testimony of Catherine Hanaway, U.S. Attorney (E.D. Mo.), Dept. of Justice). The Fifth Circuit disagreed, ruling that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting, not other types of gambling. In re MasterCard Int’l Inc., 313 F.3d 257 (5th Cir. 2002).

In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which made it illegal for wagering businesses to knowingly accept payment in connection with unlawful Internet gambling (though it does not itself make Internet gambling illegal). 109 Pub. L. 109-347, Title VIII (Oct. 13, 2006) (codified at 31 U.S.C. §§ 5301, 5361–67). It also authorizes the Federal Reserve System to create regulations that prohibit financial transaction providers (banks, credit card companies, etc.) from accepting those payments. See 31 U.S.C. § 5363(4). This Act, along with threats of prosecution under the Wire Act from the Department of Justice, has caused several Internet gambling businesses to withdraw from the U.S. market.

In response, House Representatives introduced multiple bills in 2007 to soften federal Internet gambling law. If passed, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act and the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act would license, regulate, and tax Internet gambling businesses rather than prohibit them from taking bets from the United States. Alternatively, the Skill Game Protection Act would clarify the Wire Act to exempt certain games such as poker and chess.

State Regulation

In addition to federal measures, some states have enacted legislation to prohibit some types of Internet gambling. In 2006, Washington State amended its Code to make knowingly transmitting or receiving gambling information over the Internet a felony. See Wash. Rev. Code § 9.46.240 (2006). Other states with similar prohibitions have made it a misdemeanor instead. See e.g., 720 ILCS 5/28-1 (2007).

States have not been particularly active in enforcing these laws, possibly due to a conflict with the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine. That doctrine theorizes that state law applying to commerce outside the state’s borders is unconstitutional because that power lies with federal, not state, government. In particular, federal preemption has obstructed states’ attempts to regulate gambling activity on Indian reservations within state borders. See Missouri ex rel. Nixon v. Coeur D’Alene Tribe, 164 F.3d 1102 (8th Cir. 1999). The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. § 29 (2000), governs gambling activity on Indian reservations, but the extent to which it and other federal gambling laws preempt state action in the Internet arena is uncertain.

menu of sources

Federal Material

U.S. Constitution and Federal Statutes

• U.S. Code: Title 15, Chapter 24: Transportation of Gambling Devices
• U.S. Code: Title 15, Chapter 57, Interstate Horseracing
• U.S. Code: Title 18, Chapter 50: Gambling
• U.S. Code: Title 18, Chapter 61: Lotteries
• 18 U.S.C. §1953 (Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act)
• 18 U.S.C. §1955 (Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970)
• 25 U.S.C. §§2701-2721 (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act)
• U.S. Code: Title 28, Chapter 178: Professional and Amateur Sports Protection
• Code of Federal Regulations: Title 25, Chapter 3: National Indian Gaming Commission, Department of the Interior
• Proposed Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1997 (not passed)

Federal Judicial Decisions

• Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association, Inc. v. United States, 527 U.S. 173 (1999)
• Ratzlaf v. United States, 510 U.S. 135 (1994)
• Chickasaw Nation v. United States, 534 U.S. 84 (1999)

State Material

Other References

• '14 Charged in Internet Betting' (Washington Post, March 5, 1998)

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How old do you need to be to gamble in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania has an unexpectedly rich gaming history – it’s one of the few states that legalized sports betting and moved quickly to instantiate it as fast as possible – and it’s no surprise that many within Pennsylvania tend to want to know what the legal age to gamble is. There are state-sanctioned sportsbooks available to Pennsylvania players, as well as online sportsbooks, poker, and many other types of gambling sites.

Basically, there are a lot of different types of gambling you can do in Pennsylvania, and each of these types of gambling is subject to its own specific rules and regulations. The age requirement for playing the lottery in Pennsylvania is different than the age requirement to play online poker in the state. All of these ages fall between 18-21, but that’s who this page is for: the people who want to gamble but don’t know if it’s allowed in Pennsylvania. With that in mind, on this page you will be able to find examples of where to gamble, what kind of gambling you can do, and what age you have to be to do it – so let’s get started!

What Is The Legal Gambling Age At Casinos In Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania casinos, the legal gambling age is 21 years old. Many places around the world, the gambling age at casinos became 21 due to the fact that casinos sold alcohol, and Pennsylvania is no exception, adhering to this trend and keeping the gambling age at casinos within the state at the general age of majority: 21.

Legal Online Casinos For Pennsylvania Residents

There are multiple methods for online casinos in Pennsylvania. The state-sanctioned casinos are run by several different companies, who provide the lines and partner with local casinos to offer online sports betting. The purely online casinos are operated in various jurisdictions and rely on being online to offer as many options as they possibly can for online gambling.

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Lucky Red - Tops In The Keystone State

Lucky Red Casino provides players with some of the best online gambling possible. Lucky Red Casino provides a Vegas style environment without any of the traveling. If the casinos in Pennsylvania are not enough, then Lucky Red should fill the gap. Lucky Red even offers a 400% match bonus, good for $4,000 dollars, to all players who first sign up when using the bonus code 4000FREE. Their deposit methods include VISA, MasterCard, and prepaid cards, so funding your account is always easy.

Legal Pennsylvania Online Casinos

Pennsylvania has an interesting history with sports betting. It is one of the few US states with fully functional state-sanctioned online sports betting. Pennsylvania residents also have access to the wholly online betting sites that are located in other countries, and thus are not subject to the overly rigorous regulation of certain state governments. Basically, Pennsylvania residents have access to the best of both worlds.

What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the legal sports betting age is 21 years old. There are multiple ways to bet on sports in Pennsylvania. First, you can go to a local brick and mortar sportsbook and place bets that way. Second, you can use one of that sportsbooks online partners, or third, you can visit one of the purely online sportsbooks. Whatever option you choose, it is incredibly important that you make sure you’re over the age of 21 when betting on sports in the state of Pennsylvania.

Legal Sports Betting Sites For Pennsylvania Residents

Pennsylvania online sports bettors have a wealth of options – they can use both the state-sanctioned online sports betting sites, partnered with some of the best companies in state-sanctioned sports betting, and they also can use the online sportsbooks, which are excellent in their own right, and cover more types of bets generally speaking.

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Bovada is one of the best sportsbooks on the planet – a titan of the industry. Bovada has bets on anything you can shake a stick at and has great odds on those bets as well. Want to bet on the Eagles? Bovada has got that. Want to bet a multi-team parlay in the NHL? They’ve got that too. But it’s more than functionality with Bovada – they have a single-minded focus on customer care. They streamlined their website to make it easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices, and they stripped down their deposit and withdrawal processes to make them easier for you, the customer, to use. All in all, an excellent choice for Pennsylvania players.

Legal Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

What Is The Legal Poker Age In Pennsylvania?

The legal age to play poker in the great state of Pennsylvania is similar to the sports betting age – 21 years old. Pennsylvania has many options for poker, also similar to sports betting. There is land-based poker, playable at casinos, there is online poker via the partnerships those casinos have made with online poker companies, and finally, there is purely online poker via online companies dedicated to it.

Legal Poker Sites For Pennsylvania Residents

For online poker, Pennsylvania residents have two main options, and we encourage them to explore both. First, they can use the online poker websites that are partnered with their in-state casinos. Second, they can use the online poker websites that are not – the ones that are located offshore and are part of fully functional online casinos, or the ones that are dedicated wholly to playing online poker. They are both excellent options.

BetOnline Poker - Preferred By Most Pennsylvania Residents

For many, online poker is a pastime. For players who are serious about the game, BetOnline is the number 1 site for you to join. BetOnline has stakes of all sizes, but their main selling point is their bonus. They have a 100% match bonus to $1,000 dollars, which gives players enough free money to participate in tournaments and cash games beyond the standard supply. BetOnline's deposit methods make it very easy for players to participate, as getting money into the account is no longer a hassle.

Legal Pennsylvania Poker Sites

What Is The Legal Gambling Age To Bet On Horses In Pennsylvania?

Horseracing is a type of betting that falls under the umbrella of pari-mutuel betting, which functionally just means that the bets are normalized to a two-dollar amount – you’re sort of buying stock in a horse’s chances to win, and the stock costs two dollars. The pari-mutuel betting age in Pennsylvania is 18 years old – notably younger than many other betting types in the state.

Horse Betting Sites For Pennsylvania Residents

Pennsylvania residents would be well served to take a look at both their local casinos and their partners, as well as the online racebooks and sportsbooks when looking to bet on horses. Shopping lines is essential – and it could be the difference between profit and loss. We encourage Pennsylvania sports bettors to check out all the options they have.

How Old Do I Have To Be To Play The Lottery In Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania state lottery is an institution, and, as it is run by the state, the age to participate is predictably lower than many other forms of gambling: 18 years old. That’s right if you are 18 in Pennsylvania, the lottery is available to you.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age For DFS In Pennsylvania?

Daily Fantasy Sports is a new type of sports betting adjacent activity, wherein fantasy sports are carved down to a daily contest type of competition, and people compete to pick the best team and score the most points. In Pennsylvania, the legal gambling age for Daily Fantasy Sports is 21 years old.

Online Bingo For Pennsylvania Residents

Bingo players have been turning to online bingo in order to participate in the games. Online bingo may not carry the social interactions of live bingo, but if you just want to play the games you can play online. Bingo online requires the same Pennsylvania legal gambling ages as live bingo - 18.

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Online Gambling Age Nj

If you are 18 years old, Vic's bingo is open for you to join. Vic's bingo is one of the most trustworthy bingo halls online, providing players with the ability to play the game of bingo in a very diverse setting. If you like bingo, than Vic's Bingo is your number 1 destination. They have a 150% bonus for both of your first two deposits, augmenting your bankroll to proportions that make it easy to play. If you exceed the Legal Gambling Ages for Pennsylvania, we suggest you give Vic's bingo a shot.