The GGMR – The Most Important Gambling Legislation in the US

Online Gambling

Taking advantage of a technologically advanced world, people have started gambling online. In the US, online gambling is primarily comprised of sports betting and poker.

However, many states have not been as proactive in enforcing laws against online gambling. This is a problem because interstate or foreign elements can complicate the state enforcement policies.

As a result, the United States government has explored the topic of online gambling regulations. This has been done in the form of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (IGRTEO). The statute would impose taxes on the internet gambling business and regulate it. The law would also provide licenses to internet gambling businesses.

The aforementioned IGRTEO would also include a statute that would clarify the Wire Act. This law prohibits illegal gambling on contests and sporting events. However, it is unclear whether the act would apply to the entire telecommunications infrastructure or just the wires leading into the destination state.

Other federal statutes that could be implicated in the illegal internet gambling loophole include the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA), the Travel Act, and the Wire Act. The IGRTEO and the Travel Act prohibit illegal gambling on interstate commerce. However, the wires leading into the destination state are largely unregulated.

The GGMR is a citation from the CRS Report RS21984 and the corresponding abridged version is available. The GGMR is the acronym for the “most important gambling legislation.” It is not a complete list, but it is a useful starting point.