Online sportsbooks - legal?

[jam26]

I've noticed two high profile online sportsbook CEOs have recently been arrested in the US. Is it illegal to bet online?
I use Canadian company Sportsinteraction and enjoy making the occasional wager. Should I be concerned about this crackdown?

[transplant99]

Is it illegal to bet online?

No. They were arrested under the suspicion of tax evasion I believe. The US Gov't thinks they are entitled to some of the profits of those two companies.

[ericschand]

"They are both charged with violating the 1961 Federal Wire Act, which can be broadly interpreted as declaring all forms of online gambling illegal in the U.S."

http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/06/09/07/2017201.shtml

The idea being that they allow Americans to gamble on their
site, so they are helping Americans break the law. It is illegal
to gamble online in the USA .

The State of Washington will even toss you into jail for it.

"...Washington residents who play poker or make most other types of wagers on the Internet will be committing a Class C felony, equivalent under the law to possessing child pornography, threatening the governor or torturing an animal."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...ambling27.html

This is all about taxes and that the US government(s) can't get their cut.
In Washington, you can't go a few miles without driving by a casino,
in which you more than welcome to drop your paycheque. But don't
do it online, that's bad.

ers