History of illegal betting in sports
The United States has a long history of illegal gambling in sports. Gambling scandals and political control have ended in the prohibition and regulation of sports gambling in the USA. Laws that connected with sports gambling and other standards have already been changing and these changes are actually described as “Waves”. The first of such waves was during the Colonial Period that lasted up until the 1800s. The second wave came about at the end of the US Civil war till the early 20th century. The third of such waves started in the Great Depression till date.
Sports gambling has always been illegal in America. Puritan attitudes during the Colonial era were adopted towards sports and other gambling, possession of cards, gaming tables, dice etc. Later on it was only allowed if this had not been a trade but only innocent recreation. Early settlers had the view that gambling was only a harmless past time. Gambling was likened to the frontier spirit as both of them involved opportunism, risk taking and high expectations.
Illegal sports betting has become associated with mobsters and organized crime in the US. Illegal sports gambling became a huge business for gang mobsters in the 1920s and 1930s. Organized bookmaking systems were set up by organized crime throughout the nation. Horse racing betting shot to popularity during this period.
In 1931 Nevada legalized casino gambling and here too organized crime took control over all of the casino betting business. Mobsters operated illegal nationwide wire services Trans America Wire and Continental Wire Service. Mobsters like the infamous Al Capone set up their own personal wire services to stop gamblers from getting any benefit of delays by making sure they posted winning bets before official results were out.
The Federal Government of the usa cracked upon mobsters and organized crime over the 1950s and forced them outside the Nevada Casino gambling industry. But this would not dissuade the organized crime mobsters who took over illegal bookmaking. Law Enforcement authorities do acknowledge that independent bookies are operating within the nation but it is obvious that organized crime still manages all the big money in betting.
Animal fights also have a long history in the US despite the bad reputation it’s got. Most animal fights involve dog fights and cock fights that have become favored by street gangs and big numbers of weapons and cash are usually present in the course of these fights.
History of illegal gambling in sports reveals that cockfighting was illegal and banned by nearly all states in the US over the 1800s. It is still illegal currently in 48 states. Legal issues in Minnesota makes any king of gambling bet Illegal. Thus any type of card game where you’ve got to spend to take part in a game and have chances to win cash is a “bet” and therefore also considered to be illegal gambling. It is essential to keep in mind that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 only deals with the funding of internet gambling not the actual act of betting.