Betting online while visiting the US

Quick question which someone may be able to answer. I am over in the states for the next two weeks for a work conference, of course this is clashing with cheltenham.

Now I know its illegal for US residents to gamble online etc, but will it be possible for me to use my PP account to bet during cheltenham or is the site actually blocked?

UrbanSea

It's a no go I'm afraid. Some sites you can at least go on but not bet, some are totally blocked,I couldn't even get on to Betfair to look up prices

Cheers, pestering people at home to put on bets it is so!

Juwwi

They have a landline phone number on the site you could try ringing that.

Rest of the World +353 1 9050131

UrbanSea

But won't take bets by people in the US,I'm pretty sure they'd know where you're calling from. Worth a try I suppose, though

okidoki987

AFAIK that only applies if you live in the States, not if you are visiting.
There's no way of PP finding out exactly where in the world you are, whether on business or holidays if you ring them, is there?
If there is, get someone else to do it for you.

UrbanSea

Off track gambling is illegal in many places in the states, online gambling has a total embargo. This doesn't just mean for citizens.

Karoma

okidoki987 wrote: »

AFAIK that only applies if you live in the States, not if you are visiting.
There's no way of PP finding out exactly where in the world you are, whether on business or holidays if you ring them, is there?
If there is, get someone else to do it for you.

Yes, there is a way.
It is illegal to do it even if you're visiting, but they wouldn't prosecute a tourist really...
Get a VPN account with an Irish gateway - you'd have to pay for 1 month at least,typically, but it's only a few euro. Do check that it's a reputable company though (While the web traffic is encrypted, it pays to be paranoid.)

shangri la

Ring them from a hidden number or from your own mobile.

Brian201888

Last time I was there some sites Betfair included restricted traffic from the States, Paddy Power let me on as normal though so should be ok

Cartel Mike

You could always just open up a 5dimes acc with your cred card online.
You'll be able to gamble online and in- play in the States that way. You'll be using American odds and currency though.

They're based in Puerto Rica I think so perfectly legal to gamble online from anywhere in the States.

UrbanSea

Eoghan they let you on, but did they actually take a bet from you?

Bluetonic

UrbanSea wrote: »

Eoghan they let you on, but did they actually take a bet from you?

I've placed bets with Hills and Boyles via their mobile sites whilst in the US. No problem. The device was on Wi-fi at the time. I've also placed via the RP app which is linked to Hills.

Most iPhone apps will have geo location blocking on them which is a requirement of the app store. The mobile sites won't.

UrbanSea

Interesting, I'd never tried that

Dodge

Cartel Mike wrote: »

They're based in Puerto Rica I think so perfectly legal to gamble online from anywhere in the States.

it is not perfectly legal to bet online in most parts of the US, no matter where the site is based.

Of course they're not going to prosecute a tourist making a bet on say PP or the likes, but its still illegal

mainly because of these two
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Wire_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006

and some more here if you feel like it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling

keysersoze0330

I gambled online with Boylesports while in the internet cafe in the hotel in Florida last year. Wasnt even aware this was an issue

Cartel Mike

Dodge wrote: »

Cartel Mike wrote: »

They're based in Puerto Rica I think so perfectly legal to gamble online from anywhere in the States.

it is not perfectly legal to bet online in most parts of the US, no matter where the site is based.

Of course they're not going to prosecute a tourist making a bet on say PP or the likes, but its still illegal

mainly because of these two
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Wire_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006

and some more here if you feel like it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling

It's not illegal federally to place a bet , it is illegal to accept a bet , then different states have different laws , some have none it's all a grey area.

No one has probably ever been arrested for online gambling on 5dimes and the government can't arrest the company for accepting bets so it might as well be fully legal even if technically isn't.

Anyway , Irish account , Irish bank/ cred card , passport what would it matter.

I guess it depends on what state the OP is in whether that state has blocked internet access to it, by which way you can use the phone account.

Dodge

keysersoze0330 wrote: »

I gambled online with Boylesports while in the internet cafe in the hotel in Florida last year. Wasnt even aware this was an issue

Most aren't, and as has been said, if you're a tourist no one in the US is looking for you.

its an interesting issue though

UrbanSea

I thought the same as you Dodge. I remember watching a programme called American Greed over in the states on this American fella who set up a gambling site but based it in Haiti. He got years in jail for accepting bets from Americans

I just tried there on the laptop, logged into PP no problem, balance is showing and site is appearing as normal no "glitches" or anything like it was trying to be blocked. I haven't tried a bet yet though. I will probably have a golf bet later in the week so that will test it out fully anyway.

Thanks for the replies btw.

ceadaoin.

Cartel Mike wrote: »

They're based in Puerto Rica I think so perfectly legal to gamble online from anywhere in the States.

Cartel Mike wrote: »

No one has probably ever been arrested for online gambling on 5dimes and the government can't arrest the company for accepting bets so it might as well be fully legal even if technically isn't.

They can make arrests. The CEO of betonsports, a US facing sportsbook based in Costa Rica was arrested a few years ago when he transferred from a flight in the US. All the company's assets were frozen so any money customer's held in their accounts was lost.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/69eebb30-18df-11db-b02f-0000779e2340.html#axzz1oKHFXx8O

http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/betonsports-customers-receive-measly-46-percent-payment-after-five-years-070511.html

Cartel Mike

Dodge wrote: »

Cartel Mike wrote: »

They're based in Puerto Rica I think so perfectly legal to gamble online from anywhere in the States.

it is not perfectly legal to bet online in most parts of the US, no matter where the site is based.

Of course they're not going to prosecute a tourist making a bet on say PP or the likes, but its still illegal

mainly because of these two
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Wire_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006

and some more here if you feel like it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling

Yip money laundering.
Which as I understand is the sole reason why your not allowed to own a licensed online sportsbook in the Us.It has nowt to do with the actual welfare of US citezens or anything like that.
They fear that a US version of Hills or Powers or whoever will lead to Money laundering and therefore it is illegal to accept an online bet if you are a licensed sportsbook in the US which of course you can't be because that's illegal to own .
Never heard of that firm myself obviously not very reputable.

The point remains that it's not illegal to 'place 'an online bet in the US so you can't be charged , sentenced or anything like that for gambling wheather your Irish American French or Chinese.

But I hear alot of democrats are pushing for it to be fully legalized and that all it needs is tight regulation, afterall it would bring in billions for the US government in taxes alone

Dodge

If you're interested in this thing, you shoudl download the "Behind the Bets" podcast from ESPN. its hosted by a guy called Chad Millman. Some weeks he talks to VEgas based handicappers about picks, sometimes to Vegas bookies and sometimes to other peopel involved in the betting industry, including senators/congressmen pushing for legalisation. This week is all about the industry following the arrest of the Bodog founder in Baltimore last week

Like I said, interested stuff

Just to report back, not only did I just do my golf bet but I did it using the PP iPhone app (using wifi). The same app that often takes ages to work when I'm at home as it can't verify my gps location is in the uk or Ireland.

Does not compute!