Online Betting

Anybody do any online sports wagering? I can't seem to find a straight answer on the legality of this, or any decent suggestions on which online books are better than others. Input?

 

Technically speaking, it's illegal in the US. But, of course, that didn't stop a bunch of Europeans and Americans from setting up off-shore companies in the Carribean and Costa Rica. The U.S. Government has decided now to start cracking down on some of them. I think the hope is, if they land a couple sharks, then the rest of the fish will go away.

BetonSports.com just got slammed when their CEO decided to make a trip to the States. He got arrested.

Go to BetonSports.com now and see what's going on.

 

I wagered on VIPSports.com last football season, but don't have as much expendable cash this year. That said, I read somewhere that it's not technically illegal to bet, but it is illegal to run the betting operation, which is why they're all set up in the Carribean. That's probably a bunch of BS, but oh well. Congress is actively working on legislation to make it illegal to gamble online, however.

Anyways, http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Ratings+on+over+400+Sportsbooks+/default.aspx?Show=Grade gives ratings for a buttload of different books. VIP never gave me any problems, and cashouts were always easy. Pinnacle is also very popular among bettors.

 

Bill Frist is playing deep political games right now, trying to crack down on credit-card funding
of offshore accounts w/a rider attatched to the Department of Defense bill currently
being discussed. His chances are slim, but he's a desperate man, trying to pander
to the whackazoid base in his longshot bid for the '08 GOP nom.

 

So I should feel relatively safe if I want to make a few wagers? Thanks for the responses so far.

 

Safe's a relative term. If the CEO of your offshore of choice lands in the states, and
the DOJ is clocking manifests, thinks they have a case, and decides to cuff your man, well . . . that's what
sank BetOnSports.

Virtually all major offshore execs are steering well clear of the states, these days.

 

I do not recommend bodog.com even though it appears to be a very popular site. Too often you'll have to risk 12 or 12.5 to win 10. Winning is tough enough without giving the house a little extra to boot.

 

BoDog also deals dual lines. If you display any evidence of harboring a sporting IQ higher
than Pat Robertson, you'll be dealt their "sharp" line, hostile to those playing wiseguy sides.

 

Sportsbook.com any good?

 

Another outfit currently being hectored by the Feds, based on some ancient, decades-old
charges out of Louisiana . . . unlike BetOnSports, they show no sign of turning tail, though . . .

 

Just got done researching Pinnacle. They seem really good. No gimmicky promotions so they are able to offer a little better odds (and money lines on NFL games).

 

Have fun. Aside from Pinnacle, you've touched on the guys most in the news, lately.
I'll let others who no doubt know far more about this field than I do, carry the ball
further . . .