This effectively wipes out Americans’ access to true online gambling. banks and credit card companies to settle transactions for patrons of Internet gambling sites. 30, 2006, and President Bush signed the bill into law on Oct.

Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act on Sept. how to play Texas Hold’em or how to bet on sports? It depends. Should I accept advertising for online sites that purport to “teach” people how to gamble, e.g. Thus, the three elements of a lottery are present - prize (the trip), chance (the random drawing), and consideration (buying the ads). If buying an advertising package is the “cost” of entering the contest, this would constitute consideration. Is this legal? Yes, as long as (1) the snowmobile club is organized as a non-profit organization, and (2) the club has a license from the State Police to conduct the game.Ĭan I put my advertisers’ names in a hat and conduct a drawing for a prize, such as a trip? Probably not. (Indian casinos, such as Foxwoods, are governed by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and it has always been legal to advertise them.)Ī local snowmobile club wants to hold a “poker run,” in which snowmobilers collect cards at various checkpoints and then win prizes based on the best poker hand. In a private letter opinion issued to MAB in March 2001, the Maine Attorney General’s Office indicated that the Maine criminal prohibition against “advancing gambling activity” would not be enforced against Maine radio and television stations advertising lawful casino gambling activities. The US Supreme Court, in the Greater New Orleans Broadcasters Association case (1999), struck down the federal ban on casino advertising, as long as no state laws would be violated as a result. As long as the activity is legal where it is conducted, and as long as the actual gambling activity does not occur in violation of Maine statute, stations may advertise casino gambling.

The Maine Gambling Control Board does have rules governing the content of such ads read the rules here (scroll down to chapter 14).Ĭan stations in Maine advertise other casino gambling, for example Atlantic City casinos? Yes. Federal law permits the airing of ads for casinos as long as they are legal in the place where they are conducted (see below). Can my station air ads for Hollywood Slots or Oxford Casino? Yes.

Online gaming laws for maine