Mobile Gambling Laws

Posted : admin On 3/22/2022

The latest innovation in the world of sports betting is mobile sports betting apps. Mobile sportsbooks bring you the convenience of online sports betting with the flexibility of being able to use your smartphone. A Pew Research study found that 77% of Americans own smartphones, while more than 200 million people bet on sports each year. There is no denying that there is a definite demand for mobile sports betting, especially for sports fans that are consistently on the go without access to a computer. Mobile sports betting in 2021 will continue to grow as platforms are compatible with a wide range of devices, being able to bet from your iPhone, iPad, Android, or any mobile device with internet capabilities

Gambling is a significant public health issue, with around 80,000 to 160,000 (or 0.5 - 1.0%) of Australian adults experiencing significant problems from gambling and a further 250,000 to 350,000 (or 1.4 - 2.1% of adults) experiencing moderate risks that may make them vulnerable to problem gambling. Indiana joined the ever-growing list of states with legal sports betting in May 2019 with the passage of a law authorizing retail and mobile sportsbooks. Under state law, local casinos and off-track betting parlors (OTBs) may accept wagers in-person and online in partnership with third-party providers such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers and others.

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. (5) The term “gambling paraphernalia” includes every description of apparatus, implement, machine, device or contrivance used in, or in connection with, any violation of the lottery, gaming and gambling statutes, and laws of this state, except facilities and equipment furnished by a public utility in the regular course of business,. US Gambling Laws. Gambling is legal in some form across most of the USA. State-specific gambling laws regulate or restrict different types of gaming at the local level. The legislation varies around land-based casinos, charitable events, sports betting, lottery, keno, bingo, and skill games, depending on where you reside.

There are things you should know when researching apps for mobile sports betting such as which apps are best suited for certain devices and how to make sure an app is secure. While apps are similar to desktop sportsbooks, there may be slight differences in functionality and feature availability. Our goal is to fill you in on what to expect when using mobile sports betting apps so that you can get the most out of your legal sports betting experience.

State-Regulated Mobile Sports Betting

Many states have regulated sports betting that offer mobile betting apps to residents and tourists. With online sports betting, mobile betting is almost always the prime focus as a bulk of online wagers are made from mobile devices. IN fact in New Jersey, over 92% of sports bets taken during the NFL season happened with mobile sportsbooks.

Regulated mobile betting usually comes in the form of downloadable sports betting app. These apps offer the full-service sportsbook in the compact app form. The app’s availability is based on a state by state basis as individual states decide their own betting laws. Sticking with NJ, in order to partake in mobile sports betting in New Jersey, you must be located in the Garden State for wagers to be processed. Bettors can access their account and view the betting lines but wagers cannot cross state lines. This is true for all regulated sportsbooks, no matter the state. That is the core difference between state-sanctioned sportsbooks and mobile online sportsbooks.

Phone Betting On Super Bowl LV

Super Bowl 55

Sunday, February 7th, 6:30 EST

Kansas City Chiefs

vs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Super Bowl LV is coming up, and many people might be wondering how to wager on the game from their phones, so they can react in real-time to the events happening on the field. Live Super Bowl 55 betting goes right in hand with mobile betting on SB 55, and there are a lot of solid options for those who wish to take advantage of the betting opportunities. Mobile betting on SB 55 is one of the best ways to earn money wagering on the matchup between the Chiefs and the Buccaneers. Mobile bettors can bet on all the normal wagers in addition to putting money on the live lines. Make sure to take a look at the online sportsbooks that offer mobile betting from offshore locations, as they’re some of the best around.

One thing that mobile bettors will notice when betting on the Super Bowl from a mobile device is that it is as simple as betting on it from a computer or even at a land-based sportsbook. All of the odds that are found on the desktop version of these sportsbooks can be found right in the palm of your hands such as the normal moneyline odds, odds on the spread and odds on the total in addition to different Super Bowl 55 prop bets as well.

Are Mobile Sports Betting Apps Safe?

Using a mobile sports betting app is just as safe as visiting a betting site from a web browser. If a legal betting site provides a mobile betting app for its patrons then that app has the same options that would be found when visiting the betting site from a web browser. The apps are safe and secure as long as the sportsbook itself is safe and secure. You will not have to worry about your information being stolen or about unfair practices when it comes to collecting your winnings. As these apps are up to date and use some of the best technology available, you can safely wager knowing you are being protected.

If you are still worried about your information when betting with a sportsbook app, then here are some suggestions. When using the mobile betting app, make sure you are betting on a secure Wi-Fi connection. In places like bars or restaurants, you will find a plethora of public Wi-Fi hotspots available to connect with. The safest way to wager online is to avoid using any Wi-Fi connection that is not secured. Your smartphone or tablet will indicate to you whether or not a Wi-Fi connection is secure or unsecured.

Are Mobile Apps Available At All Online Sportsbooks?

Mobile Gambling Laws

When it comes to mobile betting apps, most regulated sportsbooks do offer downloadable apps that host the full betting experience. These mobile apps are usually downloadable from the App Store or the Google Play Store. International betting sites, however, tend to offer the full betting experience from the web browser of your mobile devices, forgoing the need to download an app. While these sites may not use a downloadable betting app, the full mobile betting experience is not lost as the entire website functions perfectly from the web browser. So although not all online sportsbooks offer mobile apps, they all offer a great mobile betting experience.

Does It Cost Anything To Join A Mobile Sportsbook?

There is usually no additional cost when it comes to betting on a mobile app. Once you sign up for the sportsbook, the download should be free. What you will be using real money for is strictly the wagers you are making. Other than that, you will find no entrance fee or any other fee associated with using the app. The app is a tool to help make the betting experience more convenient, and an additional fee isn’t convenient for anyone. You can bet on your favorite sports using a mobile sportsbook without the issue of paying extra to join.

Best Mobile Sports Betting Apps Of 2020

The best mobile sports betting apps share a few similarities in what they offer. For one, the mobile sportsbook will offer all of the same betting lines that you would find on the desktop site. You will still have access to the latest odds, a wide selection of sports, and all of the same wager types. You can even wager on live betting odds from your mobile device, just make sure you’ve got a strong internet connection.

Of course, your bet slip and other design elements will be simplified, but this is to ensure you can quickly navigate throughout the page. Whether making a deposit, placing a wager, or requesting a withdrawal, the mobile sportsbook will not lag and you can access your essential account features. Some of the best mobile sports betting apps in 2019 include SportsBetting, Bovada, BetOnline and BetDSI.

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SportsBetting.ag has been in the industry for over a decade and is always on the cutting edge of technology. It should come as no surprise that the online sportsbook now offers one of the top mobile sports betting apps that can be accessed from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. You will be able to bet on baseball, basketball, football, hockey, MMA, soccer, golf, and more. When you log into your mobile account, select your wager type, event, and the side you want to bet on. From there just enter your wager and confirm the amount to start winning.

SportsBetting.ag is known for having the biggest bonuses in the industry, and its 100% Cryptocurrency Match Bonus will not disappoint. The sportsbook will match your first Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, DASH, or Litceoin deposit by 100% for up to $1,000 in free play. Just used the code CRYPTO100 and you can deposit as little as $20 or as much as $1,000 to be eligible for the bonus offer. The free plays can be used only in the sportsbook but must be used within 30 days.

Bovada.lv Mobile Sports Betting App – 50% Bonus Up To $250 + User Friendly Mobile Platform

​Bovada is the most trusted name in online sports betting, and now you can also bet on your mobile phone. The Bovada mobile sportsbook is compatible with most mobile devices. From a smartphone to your tablet, you can access this website with nearly any device you have. While on the go, you can still get all of the exciting sports betting fun you are accustomed to. Bet on your favorite sports teams, or bet on entertainment and political betting odds. Your options are endless when you bet at Bovada.

Mobile sports bettors can take advantage of the $250 Welcome Bonus, exclusive to first time Bovada players only. When you make your initial deposit, the sportsbook will match the amount by 50% for up to $250 in free plays. The bonus is applied to your account within 30 minutes of your deposit being processed. With a low 5x rollover and the ability to wager on any sport, this exclusive offer is one to take advantage of. There is no promotional code for this promotion – just visit the promotions tab and make your very first deposit to redeem your Bovada offer.

BetOnline.ag Mobile App – Lifetime Bonus Guarantee​

BetOnline brings all of the best sports betting action directly to the palm of your hand. When you use the BetOnline.ag mobile betting platform, you will still have access to all the essential sportsbook features. You can bet on all of your favorite sports, including NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and NCAA events. The same wager types are accepted on the mobile platform, including moneylines, totals, point spreads, parlays, pleasers, and other exotics.

New members are entitled to a match bonus of up to 50% of their initial deposit up to $1000 with the promo code BOL1000. After that, loyal members are given a 25% match bonus up to $500 with every single deposit they make to their account. The promo code to receive a lifetime’s worth of free money to wager with is LIFEBONUS.

BetDSI.eu Mobile Betting App – One Of The Best Mobile Betting Platforms

BetDSI brings everything that you could ask for when looking for a mobile version of a sportsbook. Their platform is lightning quick, which allows for live betting to be made even easier with access from your any one of your mobile devices. Whether you use a smartphone or tablet, you can use it to place bets on your favorite teams. They accept many deposit methods and allow wagers on NBA, Boxing, Tennis, NASCAR, Baseball, NFL, and much more.

They are running a promotion where you can earn a 100% bonus when you make your first wager, whether you win, lose, or push. Signing up is easy and the site even offers three reward levels you can choose to enter. You automatically are enrolled in the Gold Reward Level and can work your way up through Platinum to Diamond by earning BetPoints over the course of the year. Gold level allows for an extra 15% play bonus when you deposit $300 – 500. Also, in the reward programs are a free Bitcoin payout per day when you deposit with Bitcoin. Use BetDSI and you will find their sports betting mobile app is convenient, reliable, and extremely easy to navigate.

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MyBookie is a way to bet on your favorite sports while on the go or at home from your phone. Betting through MyBookie will allow for you to receive some of the features and promotions that come with an online sportsbook. The sports betting mobile site offers odds on numerous professional sports and athletes from around the world. Not only are you able to bet on sports through the phone but you can also use the live betting feature to bet on game bet lines in real-time.

Mobile sports bettors can also take advantage of the 100% Sports Welcome bonus offered on the MyBookie sportsbook. The sportsbook will match 100% of your first deposit up to $1000. The bonus will be credited in Free Play credit to your account by using the promo code MYB100. The promotion is only awarded to your first deposit through the sportsbook.

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Gambling Law: An Overview

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.

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

Gambling

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.

Is It Illegal To Make A Gambling App

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

Georgia Gambling Laws

  • 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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