Illegal Gambling Situations
- Whether (gambling) is legal or illegal, the rule is still going to be there. First of all, it was illegal when he did it. But more importantly, we’re always going to have that rule applicable to.
- Participate in illegal activities (e.g. Forgery, fraud or theft) in order to finance your gambling? Jeopardize or lose a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of gambling? Rely on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?
The primary laws that apply to box breaking are state anti-gambling statutes. Virtually every state has some form of these laws. They provide that if a game, sweepstakes, lottery, giveaway, or sale of a product or service has: 1) a prize, 2) an element of chance in determining the winner, and, 3) consideration, i.e. Some type of payment.
Ever wondered if your March Madness office pool is harmless fun or an illegal gambling ring? Could you be prosecuted for participating? The smell of freshly-pressed bracket sheets fills the office air. The water cooler talk of upsets, sure things, and Cinderella stories remind us that March Madness, college basketball's championship tournament, is here again.
by Maynard Ontario
updated July 17, 2014 · 3min read
Illegal Gambling Situations Meaning
Ever wondered if your March Madness office pool is harmless fun or an illegal gambling ring? Could you be prosecuted for participating?
The smell of freshly-pressed bracket sheets fills the office air. The water cooler talk of upsets, sure things, and Cinderella stories remind us that March Madness, college basketball's championship tournament, is here again.
For many Americans, the March Madness office pool is a sacred tradition. According to online gambling site LazerWager, 2008 March Madness office pools were worth more than $2.5 billion with 27% of American employees participating. But while you study the match-ups and make your picks, you may be asking yourself: 'Is my office pool legal?'
In short: No. Betting on college sports is legal only in Nevada, where it now brings in more than $600 million a year. Though the FBI may not be conducting 24-hour surveillance on your cubicle, participating in or organizing inter-office gambling, like all unlicensed sports betting, is illegal. In most states, involvement in such pools can result in a misdemeanor charge and up to one year in prison.
In reality, the likelihood of facing prosecution for participating in an office betting pool as an employee or employer is virtually nonexistent. Employers, however, face significantly higher risk than employees. And if you're the company owner, the liability risk may be more than you're willing to accept. Many bosses and owners may laugh at the fact that their 'little office pool' is actually illegal. And although the risk of prosecution is low, if you own the company, you need to be aware that March Madness can pose serious legal liabilities.
Though you may have to be the party pooper, it is up to the company owner to set certain rules regarding gambling at work. A clear, concise section in your company's employee handbook should explain the legalities involved in inter-office betting. If you decide to prohibit or restrict gambling at the workplace, explain both the workplace and legal consequences so employees are aware that you take the issue seriously.
If you own the property where your workplace is located, you have even more liability risk. The owner of the premises where gambling is conducted is subject to the same criminal liability as the organizers and participants whether or not he or she is involved in a single bet.
The other side of the coin is that office pools usually carry low bet amounts and can create camaraderie among employees. The possibilities of long-shots and underdog victories make March Madness one of the most exciting events in sports; even non-sports fans are easily swept up in the enthusiasm. Following a team, trash-talking with friends, and putting a little money down add to the fun and can help foster a sense of community among employees.
If you do decide to organize or allow an office pool, you can reduce your liability risk by keeping the stakes low and separating gambling and work. Avoid online brackets and keep your pool on paper. Prevent disruption at work by prohibiting game-watching over the Internet and encouraging pool participation only during breaks and lunch. Rather than using the typical buy-in bracket model, allow everyone to participate for free and simply provide prizes for the winners. Organize after-work parties to watch the games together. Make it fun—you may be able to build camaraderie without the added risks.
Good luck with your brackets!
There are many different types of illegal gambling, and some gambling activities may be legal in one context but not another. Often, different areas have very different rules about what types of gambling are allowed, sometimes resulting in a concentration of gambling facilities in certain areas. Certain types of gambling may be illegal in an area, or the game must adhere to certain regulations in order to be legal. Illegal gambling often takes the form of otherwise legal games put on in illegal venues, which complicates the issue even further.
One of the most common types of illegal gambling involves games that may otherwise be legal in illegal venues that do not have permission from the state to operate. This may include card games, video poker machines, and even simple games involving coins and dice. Generally, informal games between friends are seen as different than underground gambling rings, but in certain cases even social poker games played for money can be seen as unlawful gambling. When a game is not run with the explicit permission of the government in the form of licenses and other documents, it is generally considered illegal.
Certain types of gambling activities are illegal in many areas no matter who is in control of the venue. For example, cock fighting and dog fighting are often illegal because these games are considered unsafe and cruel to animals. Most games that involve animal death or injury are against the law, but betting on games like bull fighting, dog racing, or horse racing is usually considered a different category of activity.
There are a variety of illegal gambling activities that do not involve playing games but rather predicting the outcome of future events in the public sphere like sports games. Any activity can become a gambling activity of this type, including elections, award shows, and the weather. Sports games are usually considered the most popular because there is an element of chance involved in all games. People who take and give out money for this type of gambling are sometimes called bookies, and in some areas must register with the government in order to be legal.
Illegal Gambling Situations Against
At different times and in different places, various gambling activities have been against the law. In some areas, all games involving the exchange of money are considered illegal, and in certain religious areas, any activity that resembles gambling even without money involved is questionably legal. Illegal gambling can take nearly any form, so long as money or other resources can be exchanged. Certain types of hidden illegal gambling can be very difficult to catch or identify, but all forms involve financial risk of some sort.