Why does noone add sports?

[JamieB34]

Hi,
I was wondering why almost no poker affiliates add sports or casino betting to there sites?
Is it just that the interest just isn't there or is it due to gambling laws?
I have been thinking on adding a fairly large amount of sports and casino advertising to my site and appreciate any input from anyone here.

[Bryan]

Sportsbetting is clearly illegal in the U.S. It's directly covered in the 1961 wire act.

Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

This is also why some executives of major off-shore sportsbetting operations have been targeted and detained over the last year when entering the U.S.

This would also explain why most U.S. based affiliates steer clear of promoting online sportsbetting sites. Many affiliates however do promote many online casinos and I see it quite often on many affiliate sites. However some may not promote casino sites on their poker site because of the thinking that poker is a "game of skill" and casino betting is considered more of a "game of chance".

Bryan

[JamieB34]

Hi,
Thx for the info Bryan.
Basically what I am wanting to do is just advertise as I would poker rooms. Just banners and stats on my site.
Would that be considered illegal?
I wouldnt be accepting any bets or wagers and there would be no transmision of bets or wagers through my site. Just simply advertising?

[Jeremy]

This is certainly a gray area for any US based webmaster. But I imagine you would be more exposed to "aiding and abetting" if you promoted sportsbooks that accepted phone wagers from U.S. citizens.

I suppose it's no different than if I constantly reffered people to large Mexican Coke dealer and handed out his phone number. Even though I would'nt be selling it, the U.S. government would find a way to make me guilty since there is a concrete law on the books about it.........similar to the wire act.

[Bryan]

or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest

I would interpret this to mean providing ads and also information related to the promotion of sportsbetting. As Jeremy stated though... it is a gray area and I can't think of any affiliates to date that have been charged with anything related to this, but most U.S. based affiliates have now steered clear of this to prevent any future legal problems if the government does decide to crack down.

Bryan

[JamieB34]

Hi,
Thanks for all the great info.
I think I will stay clear of this as well at least until the US problems become a bit clearer for us in the months to come.

[absentx]

What about offering good sports content on your site though?

against the law or not..gamblers like to gamble.

I would keep sports info on my site just to keep gambling folk coming to my site, regardless if I have sports betting links or not.