Littlewoods No Longer Accepts US Customers?

**aka23** · 12th September 2006, 08:15 PM

I received an email about this change earlier today. This is disappointing, as I liked Littlewood's monthly bonus and did quite well at this casino. Nearly half of Cryptologic casinos don't allow US residents any more:

US Friendly -- Intercasino, Omni, Sands, VIP, William Hill
US Banned -- Littlewoods, Totalbet, UK Betting, Ritz Club

Useless -- Peach

**Westland Bowl** · 12th September 2006, 08:25 PM

When are they going to get a clue that it is sports betting, not regular casino games, that are the focus of the US Justice Department actions? This point has been repeated and stressed time and time again in this forum and others. Can't they read the Wire Act themselves?

**Casinomeister** · 12th September 2006, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Westland Bowl

When are they going to get a clue that it is sports betting, not regular casino games, that are the focus of the US Justice Department actions? This point has been repeated and stressed time and time again in this forum and others. Can't they read the Wire Act themselves?

The problem is that there are some states where it is explicitly illegal to gamble online - period. Louisiana for instance. This has nothing to do with the wire act.

If you are operating an online casino that takes bets from these states, you become a target of these states, not the DoJ.

**Simmo!** · 12th September 2006, 08:40 PM

Littlewoods are inditrectly linked to sports betting via the soccer pools, but I suspect this is more to do with profile and safety for their execs. It's clear the US is targetting high-profile organisations for publicity as much as anything. And the UK bookies are notoriously cautious when it comes to preserving their reputations. It's one of the reasons why I would always trust a casino run byone of the bookies. They know their stuff and are very careful to be seen to be clean.

Probably not a great loss to US players as they insisted on UK Pound betting anyway.

Jackpot Joy are also announcing a similar thing incidentally. I would expect William Hill to follow soon too.

**vinylweatherman** · 12th September 2006, 08:41 PM

I expect they are waiting for the US Justice Department to become aware that the wire act is specific to sports betting

The latest arrest seems to be based on a company that USED TO accept sports betting but no longer does. I expect the executives would rather rid themselves of ALL US exposure rather than risk arrest should they inadvertantly wander into US Juristiction. For one elderly Brit, US Juristiction included SOUTH AFRICA; worse still, he was the WRONG MAN!

I doubt the US authorities worry too much, as deterring ALL internet gaming is their aim, and if they can achieve this by judicial "terrorism" ahead of the Goodlatte bill all the better. With the flurry of casinos now kicking out their US players, this approach seems to be working.

For the rest, it is a conflict between Fear and Greed, with the winner yet undecided.

**Westland Bowl** · 12th September 2006, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Casinomeister

The problem is that there are some states where it is explicitly illegal to gamble online - period. Louisiana for instance. This has nothing to do with the wire act.

If you are operating an online casino that takes bets from these states, you become a target of these states, not the DoJ.

I thought that it was illegal for Louisiana citizens to gamble online, which would have been quite hard to enforce and prosecute. So a state law is binding on a foreign (to US) entity? Since when?

So all Louisiana has to do is open a bunch of accounts and see which ones accepts bets and charge them? What do they think they are going to get out of it? Suppose a judgement favors the state, how is that going to be enforced? Huh? Would United Nations or World Trade Organization enforce it? A whole bunch of money will be spent by the state with no chance of recuperating it. But I guess state and federal thugs don't care.

**Casinomeister** · 12th September 2006, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Westland Bowl

I thought that it was illegal for Louisiana citizens to gamble online, which would have been quite hard to enforce and prosecute. So a state law is binding on a foreign (to US) entity? Since when?

So all Louisiana has to do is open a bunch of accounts and see which ones accepts bets and charge them? What do they think they are going to get out of it? Suppose a judgement favors the state, how is that going to be enforced? Huh? Would United Nations or World Trade Organization enforce it? A whole bunch of money will be spent by the state with no chance of recuperating it. But I guess state and federal thugs don't care.

If you offer games and accept these players, my guess is that you'd be aiding and abetting. If some district attorney can convince a judge that a crime has been committed, then they can issue a warrant. If you fly into the States and they check your passport, and an outstanding warrant pops up, and the warrant involves a felony, you're pretty much screwed.

**GrandMaster** · 12th September 2006, 10:25 PM

Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:90.3(E):

"Whoever designs, develops, manages, supervises, maintains, provides, or produces any computer services, computer system, computer network, computer software, or any server providing a Home Page, Web Site, or any other product accessing the Internet, World Wide Web, or any part thereof offering to any client for the primary purpose of the conducting as a business of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit shall be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both."

**Westland Bowl** · 12th September 2006, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by GrandMaster

Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:90.3(E):

"Whoever designs, develops, manages, supervises, maintains, provides, or produces any computer services, computer system, computer network, computer software, or any server providing a Home Page, Web Site, or any other product accessing the Internet, World Wide Web, or any part thereof offering to any client for the primary purpose of the conducting as a business of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit shall be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both."

So if the state of Virginia was to sell lottery tickets via an order page (Official Home of the Virginia Lottery ) to a person or sting in Louisiana, then Virginia state is liable? Should Louisiana arrest the Virginia Lotto Board? But I guess thugs don't prosecute family.

**soflat** · 12th September 2006, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Westland Bowl

So if the state of Virginia was to sell lottery tickets via an order page (Official Home of the Virginia Lottery ) to a person or sting in Louisiana, then Virginia state is liable? Should Louisiana arrest the Virginia Lotto Board? But I guess thugs don't prosecute family.

Can I buy lottery tickets by mail?

Yes, you can purchase Mega Millions and Win For Life Subscriptions. Subscription forms are available here or at Virginia Lottery retailers throughout the state.

Subscribers must have a Virginia mailing address. You can buy a subscription for $26 (3 months), $52 (six months) or $104 (entire year).