| GamblingPhD menu | Online Gambling in California?
September 13, 2008 It seems that the Pauma Band of Mission Indians has launched their own online gambling site, and some are wondering exactly how that works. With the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, online gambling is illegal � right?
Well, it would seem not necessarily so. The Pauma Band is offering free play on video slot machines, table games and card games � and since the online gambling is free � they say it should be legal. But both pro and anti online gambling sides are taking sides regarding the site.
The online gambling site, according to the tribe is simply a marketing tool. They say that it is offering fee play which players can earn credits. These credits can then be redeemed at their land based casino. Players can also get cards at the land casino that they can use at the online casino � and then use those credits at the land casino.
They say that they are simply trying to bring in business to their land based casino, but others are not as excited about that possibility � nor do they think that this is what they are doing. As state regulators have not yet said whether the site is legal or not, it is hard to say where they stand.
However, anti online gambling groups say that it is clearly a violation of federal law, and that it is online gambling. They say that since you are earning credits and you can use those credits in the land based casino � you are participating in online gambling. They want the site shut down for the lack of licensing and violation of the law.
Pro online gambling groups say that the site should be legal. They say that as you aren�t winning or losing money online, it is not actually online gambling. They say that you play for free � so there is no risk involved for the player.
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