If there's anything we know about the U.S. online gambling ban, it's that
online sports betting and Costa Rica do not mix. Wouldn't you know it that yet
another online sportsbook based out of Costa Rica has been taken out by the U.S.
government. Yep, at least eight people with ties to a betting that apparently
serviced U.S. based bookies, have been arrested and thrown in the slammer.
I know. Innocent until proven guilty right? I'll give the culprits the
benefit of the doubt, but I have to say that I'm 90% sure the evidence is
stacked against them. Twelve people were named in an indictment out of New York
(where else right?) this last Monday, while the eight arrests went down in New
York, Massachusetts and Maryland. The U.S. Attorney from the Southern District
of New York, sent out the charges, saying the group had collected millions of
dollars from bookies since early 2005.
Apparently, what would go down is the group would set odds for sporting
events, get bettors, then send them to bookies, who would proceed to process the
bets via telephone or online betting sites. Even though it sounds like a
middle-man operation and no money was being exchanged with bettors, the group
was setting odds, which the big dogs at the New York Attorney's office could
very likely have a strong case against.
Okay, enough of the details. First of all, what were these people doing in
the U.S. anyways, let alone New York and neighboring states? Did they think what
they were doing was legal? I mean seriously guys, didn't anybody see what
happened with Neteller? Hello?! Those charges came out of New York. Is anybody
reading the news?
Look, I'm not sure what kind of punishment or "recompense" this group is will
get, but I do know they are now facing some serious charges of conspiracy and
illegal gambling. Why them and not somebody else? You got me. All I know is that
at this point, online casino gambling still appears to take a second to sports
betting on the U.S. Attorney's Office agenda. Oh, and for all you online
gamblers out there, never ever gamble at a gaming site licensed in Costa Rica.
If you do, you are out in the cold.