Utah Warns Online Poker Players

[Fonzi]

The state of Utah has been sending out letters to online poker players warning they could be in violation of state laws.

A grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, charged seven people and four companies with multiple felonies related to processing credit cards for gambling Web sites this spring.

The defendants are accused of helping gambling sites process US $150 million in payments from U.S. bettors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Charged in the indictment are Baron Lombardo, 46; Richard Carson-Selman, 51; Henry G. Bankey, 49; Francisco Lombardo, 52; Count C. Lombardo, 43; and Kimberlie Lombardo, 43, all of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tina I. Hill, 32, of Sandy, Utah, and Las Vegas.

Companies facing charges are CurrenC Ltd., also known as CurrenC WorldWide Ltd., based in the British Virgin Islands; Gateway Technologies LLC, based in Draper, Utah; Hill Financial Services Inc., based in Draper, Utah, and Las Vegas.

The state has since received customer names and addresses from these companies of those online poker players residing in Utah.

In 2005, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and 28 other attorneys general wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman calling for a greater states' voice in future trade talks following a ruling that favored the Caribbean nation of Antigua's policy on Internet gambling.

"Antigua has no business trying to write Utah's gambling laws," Shurtleff said at the time. "The Trade Representative needs to know that we have too much at stake to remain silent."

Antigua went to the WTO claiming the Americans were in violation of a trade agreement where the United States had in 1993 signed off on cross-border supply of gambling and betting services. And Utah's prohibition against gambling was a central part of Antigua's argument. The WTO found in favor of Antigua and called the US actions "protectionism" since a law passed late last year exempts horse betting.

Utah, however, does not permit any forms of gambling or a state lottery. The state itself is likely in compliance with the WTO decision.

[nightmoves44]

I thought only online processing companies could only be charged under federal law.It also stated that individual players were not to be charged????..thats how i interpreted the fed statute.

[timotee1]

Where do you find the fed law at?

[Fonzi]

Originally Posted by timotee1

Where do you find the fed law at?

do a search on: UIEGA

[Fonzi]

Originally Posted by nightmoves44

I thought only online processing companies could only be charged under federal law.It also stated that individual players were not to be charged????..thats how i interpreted the fed statute.

It's a felony to play poker in the state of Washington. While there is a vague federal law, some states have their own laws. That's why we have a disclaimer on the bottom of every page.

[LottoLarry]

Hey all wel i for one am so tired of these countries butins ridiculous laws ran by idiotic government i say throw them all out of office and we restart just plain crazy dictators are what they are am ashamed as an american citizen thanks all for the info byw now