The USA has a long history of illegal gambling in sports. Gambling scandals and political control have led to the prohibition and regulation of sports gambling in the USA. Laws that related to sports gambling along with other standards have already been changing and the changes are actually described as “Waves”. The earliest of such waves was during the Colonial Period that lasted up until the 1800s. The second wave took place following the US Civil war till the early 20th century. The 3rd of such waves started in the Great Depression till date.
Sports gambling has long been illegal in the US. Puritan attitudes during the Colonial era were adopted towards sports and other gambling, possessing cards, gaming tables, dice etc. Later on it was only allowed if it was not 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 always been linked to mobsters and organized crime in the United States. Illegal sports gambling was a huge business for gang mobsters while 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 of all the casino betting business. Mobsters controlled illegal nationwide wire services Trans America Wire and Continental Wire Service. Mobsters like the infamous Al Capone put in place their own wire services to prevent gamblers from taking any benefit of delays by making sure they posted winning wagers before official results were out.
The Federal Government of the US cracked down on mobsters and organized crime during the 1950s and drove them outside the Nevada Casino gambling industry. But this would not deter the organized crime mobsters who took over illegal bookmaking. Law Enforcement authorities do acknowledge that independent bookies are functioning within the nation yet it is evident that organized crime still manages all the big money in betting.
Animal fights furthermore have a long history in the US in spite of the bad reputation it has. Most animal fights include dog fights and cock fights that have become favored by street gangs and big amounts of weapons and money usually are present at the time of these fights.
History of illegal gambling in sports reveals that cockfighting was illegal and banned by most states the United States over the 1800s. It remains illegal currently in 48 states. The law in Minnesota makes any king of gambling bet Illegal. Thus any type of card game where you’ve got to pay to participate in a game and possess chances to win cash is a “bet” and therefore also considered to be illegal gambling. It is essential to note that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 only refers to the funding of internet gambling not the specific act of betting.
