Online Casino Reported as Target of US Federal Inquiry
The Maryland warrants to seize bank accounts reported recently on Online Casino Advisory are apparently part of a multi-state law enforcement investigation into Golden Casino. According to an article by Gambling911, the US Attorney's Office in Maryland coordinated efforts to investigate what it deems illegal gambling operations by the online gambling site.The site reports that federal agents, acting in conjunction with Louisiana police to use the Louisiana state law against online casino gambling, attempted numerous times to open accounts at the gaming site. Finally, after being rejected multiple times by customer service for residing in an area not allowed service, a law enforcement representative successfully accessed Golden Casino.
Also involved in the investigation are the US Customs Department and the US Attorney in New York.
Agents have also documented that payment processors targeted small banks and convinced bank officials that online gambling funds could legally be processed.
A court decision this month held that the UIGEA ban on illegal gambling payments did not make any gambling illegal, but backed state laws concerning gambling. The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that the federal Wire Act of 1961 applied only to sports betting, so in states without Internet gambling laws, processing funds would be legal.
By using Louisiana as a base and then pursuing multiple attempts to induce criminal activity, the US Department of Justice continues to find ways to attack businesses like Golden Casino, which clearly was trying to act honorably and prevent Internet gaming by residents in states whose laws forbid such activity.
