Gambling site or not??

[chrisrm311]

What is the name of your state? Texas

I own a website that I want to focus around the NCAA tournament basketball brackets. This is a site that fans can come and fill out their bracket online and play against their friends and others who have filled out a bracket. Much like CBSsportsline and ESPN do every year during March Madness. My question is this: What if the group of friends or office pool wanted to bet each other with the winner taking the "pot". What if we made a site that accepted payments from each player in each group, then they would fill out the bracket and my site tracks the standings. Then at the end of the tournament we would pay the winner of each group the money that the group players payed at the beginning. Obviously if my site took a percentage it would be considered a gambling site. But what if we did this for free?? Would it still need to be based offshore?? Would it be considered a gambling site if we didnt take a percentage, but a small fee from each player for our services?? Please advise. Thanks

 

[ceara19]

What is the name of your state? Texas

I own a website that I want to focus around the NCAA tournament basketball brackets. This is a site that fans can come and fill out their bracket online and play against their friends and others who have filled out a bracket. Much like CBSsportsline and ESPN do every year during March Madness. My question is this: What if the group of friends or office pool wanted to bet each other with the winner taking the "pot". What if we made a site that accepted payments from each player in each group, then they would fill out the bracket and my site tracks the standings. Then at the end of the tournament we would pay the winner of each group the money that the group players payed at the beginning. Obviously if my site took a percentage it would be considered a gambling site. But what if we did this for free?? Would it still need to be based offshore?? Would it be considered a gambling site if we didnt take a percentage, but a small fee from each player for our services?? Please advise. Thanks

You would like to start a website where people can log on and place monetary bets in exchange for the possibility of winning money ad you are actually asking if it would be a gambling sit? Do you know the definition of gambling?

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gambling

 

[acmb05]

Internet gambling of any kind is illegal in the United States.

 

[NYMinute]

You are incorrect. It is NOT illegal. It is a grey area.

 

[divgradcurl]

You are incorrect. It is NOT illegal. It is a grey area.

You are correct that internet gambling may in fact be a "grey area" -- but running a gambling site in any state without the proper licenses is illegal. Even in Nevada, or other states that allow gambling, you need a license. And if you are located within the U.S., you are in a state, and you need to be licensed by and follow the rules of the state in which you are located.