Account Deposit Wagering and Internet Gambling

• On November 2, 2001, Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan issued an opinion that Account Deposit Wagering is illegal in Illinois.
• Account wagering allows people to gamble from their homes. This is an expansion of gambling that would allow citizens to lose their home without ever leaving their house.
• Legalizing Account Deposit Wagering also legalizes Internet gambling on horse racing. An advance deposit wager could be placed by a telephone-type device or any electronic means. The federal Interstate Horse Racing Act allows gambling on horse racing on the Internet if a state allows people to place bets over phone. In 2006 Congress passed the Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The Act made an exemption for people to gamble on horse racing and state lotteries over the Internet.
• Gambling would be a phone call away. People would no longer have to attend races at the track or go to an off-track betting parlor to place bets. People could call in a bet anywhere from a cell phone or by using wireless devices.
• Impact on Youth. There are no safeguards to prevent children and underage youth from gambling over the phone or on the Internet.
• Home betting will make it easier for problem gamblers to hide their addiction. Gamblers will not have to travel to a race track or OTB parlor. There will be no betting slips or racing forms for family members to know what is going on. Some home-bound people may also become addicted.
• Identity Theft and Fraud. People could set up accounts and gamble under false names or with another person's credit card number.