U.S. Government Cracks Down on Websites Advertising Gambling Sites

Hey Professor,
I found this over at Bet2Gamble’s forum this morning. What do you think about this article?

U.S. Government Cracks Down on Websites Advertising Gambling Sites
By Christopher Costigan

If you run a gambling portal or similar website, prepare to have all your records and banking information readily available when law enforcement comes busting through your door.

Reports have surfaced that a handful of sports services received a letter from the Department of Justice asking that they remove all internet sports gambling advertisements from their respective print publications. Don Best and Jim Feist are now complying.

However, we need to separate the fact from fiction. While not much is known about recent subpoenas issued against a handful of gambling-related websites and publications, the underlying motives do appear much more complicated.

For example, Sports911.com was the first to report that College Football News was subpoenaed last month. Immediately after law enforcement officers left the premises, CFN removed all sports book banners from their Illinois-based website. Illinois is the only state that makes advertising online gambling companies illegal.

According to Sports911.com sources, law enforcement may be reviewing a “tax” issue associated with the CFN subpoenas as well, though the folks at this publication are not exactly forthcoming with information.

Don Best is believed to have removed online gambling ads as a precaution and other sports services like Jim Feist probably followed suit. It is believed that both companies received a letter from the Department of Justice.

Interactive Gaming News also reported that at least one other gambling portal was subpoenaed last week in Missouri, though the information here continues to be sketchy. What we do know is that the business in question has operated since 1997.

This all comes at a time when a government agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City has already cashed a fat check to plaster offshore sports betting company BetonSports.com ads all over city buses.

As a public service to those involved with this industry, Sports911.com offers the following advise:

1) If you have online gambling ad banners and links posted all over your website, it is suggested that good organized records be maintained. Do not replace “ad” money with free betting accounts. Records of transactions are vital in case of audit. Don’t have money wired to Uncle Moe in Brooklyn either.

2) Pay your taxes and if possible pay an estimated tax before hand like Sports911.com does on a quarterly basis. You can never be too safe!

3) Do not contribute to illicit activity. Whenever possible, website owners should discourage activities they deem “suspicious” or not in accordance with U.S. law. Instruct your readers to what is lawful.

4) Don’t be foolish. Law enforcement agencies exist to protect all of us. We should never try to discourage law enforcement from reading sites such as Sports911.com as this would defeat the purpose of protecting society as a whole.

5) Find some relatives, roommates, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends who know friends who are police men and FBI agents. Get them drunk on their birthdays. Hook them up with a nice girl. Buy them a nice dinner. And pretend that you are a Mets fan even if you are not. Befriend a politician while you are at it.

6) Do not participate in affiliate programs. These can be misconstrued as revenue sharing, which technically it is. Sports911.com requires that all ad money be paid upfront for tax purposes.

7) Incorporate and get a good attorney. Sports911.com works with only the best attorneys. Yours Truly has already paved the way for setting legal precedence Read Here.

Do not collect cash from online gambling proceeds, even if it is for advertising.

9) Create as much paperwork as possible. Buy a bunch of filing cabinets and label each of them “A”. When law enforcement enters your office with their subpoena, point to the cabinets and tell them the rest of the alphabet is located in various storage facilities spread throughout different towns. They might leave.

Okay scratch out Number 9….but hopefully this list will help guide you to becoming a more lawful citizen. If you do not obey, see you in Alcatraz.