The USA has a long history of illegal gambling in sports. Gambling scandals and political control have ended in the prohibition and regulation of sports gambling in the USA. Laws that related to sports gambling and other standards have already been changing and the changes are actually named “Waves”. The earliest of these waves was during the Colonial Period that lasted up until the 1800s. The second wave took place following the US Civil war up until the early 20th century. The 3rd of these waves started in the Great Depression till date.
Sports gambling has always been illegal in America. Puritan attitudes during the Colonial era were adopted towards sports and also other gambling, possessing cards, gaming tables, dice etc. Later on it was only allowed if this had not been a trade but only innocent recreation. Early settlers had the view that gambling was only a harmless hobby. Gambling was likened to the frontier spirit as both of them involved opportunism, risk taking and high expectations.
Illegal sports gambling has always been linked to mobsters and organized crime in the United States. Illegal sports gambling became a huge business for gang mobsters in the 1920s and 1930s. Organized bookmaking systems were put in place by organized crime throughout the nation. Horse racing betting became popular during this period.
In 1931 Nevada legalized casino gambling and here too organized crime took control of all of the casino betting business. Mobsters operated illegal nationwide wire services Trans America Wire and Continental Wire Service. Mobsters such as infamous Al Capone put in place their own personal wire services to prevent gamblers from getting any benefit of delays by making sure they posted winning bets before formal results were out.
The Federal Government of the usa cracked upon mobsters and organized crime during the 1950s and drove them out of the Nevada Casino gambling industry. But this would not dissuade the organized crime mobsters who took over illegal bookmaking. Law Enforcement authorities do acknowledge that independent bookies are operating in the nation but it is evident that organized crime still manages all the big money in betting.
Animal fights also have a long history in the US despite the bad reputation it’s got. Most animal fights include dog fights and cock fights which are today favored by street gangs and big amounts of weapons and money are usually present in the course of these fights.
History of illegal gambling in sports uncovers that cockfighting was illegal and banned by nearly all states in the US during the 1800s. It is still illegal currently in 48 states. The law in Minnesota makes any king of gambling bet Illegal. Thus any sort of card game where you’ve got to spend to take part in a game and possess chances to win money is a “bet” and therefore also thought to be illegal gambling. It is essential to keep in mind that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 only deals with the funding of internet gambling not the specific act of betting.