State Gambling Laws

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
July 11, 2006

Gaming and gambling have gone through a boom period the world over, and especially so in the U.S. During the recent years many states have expanded their laws of legalized gaming, or gambling what ever the case may be, this includes regulated casino games and lotteries. Gambling laws are enacted to prevent any form of cheating, as well as controlling gambling from taking on the form of an epidemic, and of course posing as a source of revenue for the administration being the huge business that gambling has grown into.

Definition of Gambling:

Gambling and gaming are terms that usually describe an activity that may in the event violate applicable criminal laws. Gaming is a term used for activities that have been specifically legalized by any applicable laws of the state or where such activity is exempted from such law. So playing for profit in the United States is referred to as gambling. Which goes to mean that gaming can turn out to be gambling and gambling can turn into a game. For instance, a game of cards is basically gambling, but if the game is played in a purely social setting where no one earns anything from the game it is not gambling.

Specific state laws of gambling:

Violations of gambling laws are views with little importance as compared with the more serious violations of other prevailing laws of the state. However, the five topics of state gambling laws are covered on a state wise basis as follows:

The question of social gambling pertains to whether playing for money in a social context is allowed, or in the least legally overlooked.Social context usually means that no player or other person, like a bookie, makes or earns anything other than on an equal footing with a player in the contest or game being played.

Internet probation refers to whether the state has expressly prohibited gambling activities over the Internet. The fact is that if the state laws ate silent with regards to the Internet usage for gambling and a gambling law has been violated then that particular law will apply.

The State may look at a violation as a misdemeanor or a felony. If viewed as a misdemeanor one may get off with a simple slap on the wrist and a fine but a felony is a serious crime as it may land you in jail.

Simple versus aggravated gambling is actually gambling versus professional gambling and may come into play in many states only on the second or the third violation of a criminal probation other than on an equal footing as a mere amateur.

Many states also impose the maximum amount a player can bet in a game and also the maximum number of games that a gambler can play. We are sure Gamblers Anonymous will definitely smile at these laws.

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