A New York City Defense Attorney Explains Gambling Fraud Crimes and Penalties
In the state of New York, most types of gambling are illegal. Online and in-person gambling are both prohibited outside of authorized gaming establishments. The New York Attorney General also warned online fantasy football betting websites that taking bets from New Yorkers constituted unlawful gambling.
Even when gambling is permitted, manipulation of gaming outcomes is unlawful. Anyone involved in a scam to fix the outcome of games of chance could find themselves facing criminal charges. This includes gamblers, those running gambling establishments, and sports-players, among others.
Gambling fraud crimes can result in serious penalties, and defendants need to understand what their rights are and what defenses they can consider raising in order to try to avoid being convicted of criminal offenses.
A New York City gambling fraud defense attorney can provide guidance on charges, and on options for plea bargaining, getting a case dropped, or trying to secure a not guilty verdict. Bukh Law Firm, PLLC provides legal representation to gamblers, as well as to those who run local or offshore gambling sites and who are facing U.S. criminal charges. Give us a call as soon as you have been accused of a fraud crime to get help with your case.
What is Gambling Fraud
Gambling fraud may be perpetrated in any game of chance, from sports betting to online poker. Some of the different types of gambling fraud that may occur include:
- Match-fixing, sports fixing, or game rigging. A game is played to achieve a pre-determined result that enriches scammers at the expense of bookmakers.
- Betting fraud. A scammer offers insider information and promises gambling profits in exchange for fees.
- Collusive gaming: Players use poker bots or otherwise work with others to develop collusive gaming policies.
- Circumventing gambling laws: Three online poker websites were charged by the S. Attorney General for the Southern District of New York with circumventing U.S. anti-gambling laws and misleading banks into processing billions of dollars in illegal betting profits.
Scammers may also target victims with fraudulent online gaming sites designed to obtain personal identifying information that may be used in identity theft or designed to obtain financial account information.
Finally, foreign lottery scams may be considered a type of gambling fraud. These scams involve charging sums of money to obtain prizes or to participate in lotteries. The prizes are not real and the lotteries do not actually exist, but victims may be told they have won and asked to provide more money to pay taxes or process payments.
Penalties for Gambling Fraud
Penalties for gambling fraud vary depending upon the specific types of fraud occurring, and whether state or federal charges are brought against defendants. In New York, for example, New York Penal Law Article 225.90 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to manipulate gaming outcomes at a lawful gambling establishment. Repeated offenses can become felonies. Defendants may also be charged with other crimes on the state and federal level, including money laundering and bribery.
All parties involved in a scam may be charged, including gamblers who paid off sports players or referees as well as those involved who threw a game or engaged in game-rigging.
How A Gambling Fraud Defense Lawyer Can Help Defendants
A New York City criminal defense attorney should be consulted whenever allegations are made that gambling fraud occurred. You need to begin building a strong strategy for defending against criminal charges as soon as you have been accused of wrongdoing. Call Bukh Law Firm, PLLC to speak with an attorney who has experience in gambling fraud cases.
