Gambling laws in America have proven to be confusing, and some misinformed people have spread rumors that scare potential players away from the legal avenues that are available. Massachusetts residents can rejoice in the fact that there are many legal gambling opportunities available out there. The advent of the internet has brought about many new gambling prospects, as well as new regulations.
In this page, we will cover the Massachusetts gambling laws, as well as the federal laws regarding gambling. After reading this article, you will be well aware of the legal gambling avenues that are available. There has never been a better time to get in on the action. The internet has brought forth a new age of gambling, and the frontier ahead looks to be bright and profitable.
Massachusetts gambling laws are similar to the UIGEA and the PASPA in that they regulate the operation of gambling houses. Most states in the nation take a similar stance. Average bettors are not the target of the restrictions, only the operators of such establishments. We will now look at the legal language that directly effects gamblers, and gambling.
Chapter 271: Section 16A - A lot like the UIGEA, this law means to battle criminal elements from organizing illegal gambling operations, and directly targets the operators of these venues. Further down in the chapter, it states, “"persons" shall not include bettors or wagerers who merely avail themselves of such facilities or services for the purpose of making a bet or wager…This section shall not apply to such bettors or wagerers.” As you can see, reading the state law all the way through is a worthwhile effort. Massachusetts bettors do not need to worry about using legitimate betting establishments.
Chapter 137: Section 1 - This section actually protects the gambler from scammers trying to steal their winnings. Tort treble is a law term that means “remedy in the form of monetary compensation to the harmed party,” which awards the victim compensation. Massachusetts recognizes the value of citizen gamblers, and has legislature preventing them from being stiffed by backward-dealing shysters.
Chapter 271: Section 2 - This stipulation regarding gambling in public or places of business is meant to limit private betting pools at work or at home. Massachusetts does not approve of private gambling operations in places that are not licensed by the state. This kind of regulation is commonplace in most of the country. It does not mean to scare friends away from playing small poker tournaments in their homes, or making sports bets with pals, but to do away with illegal backroom gambling rackets.
Chapter 271: Section 5A - This section attempts to waylay the organizing of an illegal gambling establishment by stopping the operators from buying the technology needed to set up such a venue. Many illegal gambling establishments transport slot machines, electronic dealing apparatuses, etc… from criminal sources. This is just one of many pieces of the Massachusetts gambling law intended to stop illegal wagering practices, and protect citizens’ rights.
There is nothing in the state law regarding online gambling, which is common for most states. The UIGEA effectively banned online gambling sites from setting up shop in the US, so the individual state laws rarely add to the regulations. Massachusetts residents are not in violation of the law by using one of the many legal online gambling sites located overseas.
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Wire Act – The federal laws that regulate gambling have a long history. The first major law regarding gambling was the Federal Wire Act of 1961. The Wire Act states that it is unlawful for bookmakers to use wired communication to transmit information relating to betting across state lines. Congress put the act in place to minimize the amount of organized crime that pervaded the gambling world. By criminalizing the use of wire communication devices, which the Supreme Court later concluded included the internet, the federal government hoped to dissolve the inter-state money transactions.
PASPA – The next major law involving gambling was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992. This law only regulates sports wagering, and band sportsbooks from operating in every state of the US except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. PASPA makes it unlawful for any state to sanction land based sports betting. This law only bans the operation of a sports gambling establishment in the states, it does not prevent the average sports bettor from using legal sportsbooks.
UIGEA – With the rise of internet gambling sites, the Wire Act’s glaring omission of any online gambling not sports betting related was amended. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 brought on a slew of new regulations regarding online gambling. The law is similar to the PASPA in that it bans the operation of online betting sites in America, only the UIGEA isn’t only limited to sports betting. The UIGEA does not criminalize the mere participation in online betting; only the sites from being set up stateside. Legal gambling in Massachusetts has never been more accessible than it is today.
The gambling age in Massachusetts is 21. Gambling age varies by state, and most are either 21, or 18. Most of the online gambling sites only require players to be 18, but we recommend that you follow the state law. A good rule of thumb is to check the state/online age, and always go with the higher number. Underage gambling carries harsh consequences, so don’t risk your freedom by breaking any of these laws.
The Massachusetts gambling laws are there to protect the average bettor, not to restrict him/her from playing. The federal/state laws mean to harness the criminal elements that pervade that gambling world, and keep them from proliferating. Massachusetts residents can take solace in the fact that there are many legal gambling options available. Check out the rest of our site to see which gambling sites are best for you.
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