Virtually every gambler who bets online asks the question “can I go to jail for sports gambling online” sometime or the other, because nobody really likes to be a law breaker. This really is since it is a known fact that illegal sports gambling can lead to you landing up in jail. However, the answer to this is just not simple because it depends on the conditions and situations the bettor finds himself in. There is a good distinction between making bets, taking bets, accepting advertising, paying the casinos as well as buying advertising etc that is why illegal activity varies. Besides, online sports betting an internet-based casino betting has differences.

Only Federal law and not the state laws need to be considered in the United States. These laws and their enforcement are constantly being changed and each day could have new laws being enforced. The best thing for gamblers or online sports bettors to undertake should be to seek right and appropriate legal counsel for his situation.

The online sports gambler has very little to fear because there is no actual federal law that is against online sports betting. Catherine Hanaway, an attorney at law in the United States admitted that placing a bet online is not against federal law, in a House hearing in 2007. It is a rare case that players tend to be found accountable for violating state laws.

Giant publishers like Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have previously faced penalties where they did not face criminal charges but only paid a fine. Others were warned against taking advertisement and therefore did not face penalties after they obeyed. Smaller publishers weren’t even warned against taking internet gambling advertisements.

Gambling operators don’t have trouble if they only manage casino and poker bets and operate outside of the Usa. It is essential to examine and look at all of the risks which are associated with every online gambling activity. This implies that you should be aware of what is likely to result in a fine or a jail sentence.

The following will help you to be savvy about the legalities of online sports betting. If you take a bet on a server that is in the US is an action which is very risky and you could be in trouble. Choosing a bet with a server that is offshore and then entering the US, or taking casino and poker bets from a US client with a site outside the US, helping clients to set bets on a site, accepting betting advertisements for online sports gambling etc implies that you are taking great risks and could land in trouble with the law.

Other parts which involve lesser risks are accepting or buying advertising in media which is small for online gambling, buying advertising as a casino, a US publication affiliate or poker room. The gambler who places bets himself over the internet faces little risk.

So finally all of it comes down to this. If you are still wondering “can I go to jail for sports gambling online?” then all you have to do is download material, guides, articles, reviews etc which is simple to get on the internet and determine the specific laws which correspond with your area, state and jurisdiction as to whether betting on the internet is legal or not.