Online poker has been a popular pastime for many people in North Carolina for years. However, the legality of this game has always been in question. In this article, we will explore whether online poker is legal in North Carolina or not.
Firstly, it is important to note that gambling laws in North Carolina are quite strict. The state does not allow any form of gambling except for the lottery and certain forms of charitable gambling. This means that playing online poker for real money could be considered illegal.
The state law defines gambling as “any game of chance played with cards, dice or any other device for money or other things of value”. This definition includes online poker as well. However, there are no specific laws that mention online gambling or poker.
Despite this, players should be aware that federal law does prohibit online gambling under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. This law makes it illegal for payment processors to transfer funds from US citizens to offshore online gambling sites.
So what does this mean for players in North Carolina? Technically speaking, playing online poker is not legal in the state due to its strict laws on all forms of gambling. However, the chances of someone being prosecuted for playing online poker are very low.
Law enforcement agencies have much bigger fish to fry than busting casual players who play a few hands on their computer at home. Instead, they focus their efforts on shutting down illegal brick-and-mortar operations and large-scale illegal gambling rings.
Furthermore, many offshore online poker sites continue to accept players from North Carolina and other states where online gambling is technically illegal. Players can easily access these sites using a virtual private network (VPN) which hides their location and IP address.
In conclusion, while it may not be technically legal to play online poker in North Carolina due to its strict laws on all forms of gambling, the chances of being prosecuted are very low. However, players should still exercise caution and play at reputable offshore sites that are licensed and regulated in other countries.
To summarize the key points of this article, here is a bulleted list:
– Gambling laws in North Carolina are strict and do not allow any form of gambling except for the lottery and certain forms of charitable gambling
– The state law defines gambling as any game of chance played with cards, dice or any other device for money or other things of value, which includes online poker
– Federal law prohibits online gambling under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006
– Playing online poker is not technically legal in North Carolina, but chances of being prosecuted are low
– Law enforcement agencies focus their efforts on shutting down illegal brick-and-mortar operations and large-scale illegal gambling rings
– Offshore online poker sites continue to accept players from North Carolina and other states where online gambling is technically illegal
– Players should use caution when playing online poker and stick to reputable offshore sites that are licensed and regulated in other countries.
