Is It Considered Gambling?
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–Are you a huge bingo fan? Do you get a rush from marking those numbers, waiting to cover all those squares on your scorecard? If so, you do not have to leave the comfort of your home anymore to enjoy a bingo session. In fact, instead of going to a bingo hall, you can play this game on your computer or your smartphone. Online bingo is so easy to learn and you can enjoy it anytime, anyplace. Forget about bingo hall’s schedule and engage in some bingo action whenever you want.
Unfortunately, just as with any other type of sites out there, you need to make sure that you will pick trustworthy ones, otherwise you might end up getting scammed. Getting your financial information stolen is not something you wish to experience. Not to worry, useful reviews can help you avoid unpleasant situations. For example, you can click here to about Blighty Bingo and its features. If this type of entertainment sounds appealing to you, you are probably wondering whether it is considered gambling and whether it is legal. Here are a few things you should know about bingo before you start playing.
A type of social gambling
In this country when you are playing bingo in a hall, you are gambling in a social setting. Although it is still gambling, this form of setting makes it legal. States all over the country provide this type of gambling for a specific set of groups such as seniors or families. To completely understand whether bingo is a legal form of gambling, we need to look at the state and federal laws first. Even if a state law claims that a certain game is illegal, the federal laws take precedence. This means that you can use bingo as a social setting and play the game, but keep in mind that the federal government considers wire communications illegal when they are applied to a gambling setting. When a bingo event is organized in a hall, you have a location, an organizer, participants and employees. In case the organizer acquires profits from the games outside of employment income, the game will be considered illegal.
The Wire Act
Due to the changes made to the Wire Act by the United States Department of Justice in 2011, states are able to provide bingo as a legal form of gambling, or consider it illegal, depending on their preferences. Nowadays, many states will still let citizens play the games within state borders.
Online bingo
When it comes to online bingo, it is important to keep in mind that any type of online gambling can easily slide into illegal activities. Games that offer gambling opportunities on the web can stay legal if the owner lives outside the United States. Also, there are numerous gaming sites that won’t let players from the United States play due to the complications with payment methods and the possibility that the government will start looking into the company and the way it runs its business.
Where is online bingo not welcome?
In the United States there are ten states that consider online bingo illegal. This includes Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington and South Dakota. However, this doesn’t mean that playing the game in a social setting is illegal as well. On the contrary, these games may still let participants play and win money even if the online version is still illegal.
If you wish to play bingo even if it is considered an illegal activity in your state, keep in mind that you might need a criminal defense lawyer. They should research your case and help you understand the whole process when facing charges for illegal gambling.
