Non-Gambling Sports Betting Site Doesn't Last Too Long

from the gotcha.com dept

Tue, Jul 10th 2007 8:09pm — Joseph Weisenthal

A few weeks ago, we mentioned the launch of Betcha.com, a sports betting website that was attempting to skirt anti-gambling laws by making payments voluntary. The reasoning of the site's founders was that if players weren't technically obliged to pay up on losing bets, then they weren't actually gambling. Of course, the site had no assurances that the government would agree with its interpretation of the law, so the founders were literally putting their freedom on the line. Well, it didn't take long for Betcha.com to get busted. Authorities in Washington state have seized the company's computers (via Midas Oracle), as law enforcement officials felt that the site was in contravention of a 2006 law against online gambling. It's not particularly surprising that authorities didn't agree with Betcha.com's interpretation of the law, although it is very surprising to learn that the site was operating out of Washington, because of all of the states, Washington has taken the hardest line against internet gambling. Gee guys, isn't dealing with the federal gambling ban enough of a headache?

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Filed Under: gambline
Companies: betcha

11 Comments

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Paul, 10 Jul 2007 @ 8:34pm

Uhm
You would think they would have consulted a lawyer or something.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2007 @ 8:48pm

My local bookie said all payments to him were voluntary as well. And even though I didn't have to pay him, I still did, because those two large men standing behind him looked they really needed the money for some anger management classes.
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jinx, 10 Jul 2007 @ 8:58pm

makes you think
i underestimate people all the time, usually because i don't have all the facts; but who starts a company in washington unless they do it on purpose??

i would venture to guess this was all done for a reason. choose a state with strict interpretation of said law, break law, go to court, lose, rinse/repeat, appeal to u.s. supreme court. i wonder if some digging would reveal financial backers involved with larger gambling operations. seems something is afoot

just a thought. you heard it here first.
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suv4x4, 11 Jul 2007 @ 12:06am

On purpose?
jinx, I agree, there could be something bigger here. They were apparently paid to find or create a hole that would allow gambling online.

But then there's also Occam's Razor: they're just dumb as sh*t.
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Overcast, 11 Jul 2007 @ 7:13am

Freedom? We have Freedom in this country?

I think that's just a mis-conception anymore. In a free society people could run a business like this.

Just because the Government and Media say 'we are free' - it doesn't mean we are.
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One Card Monty, 11 Jul 2007 @ 7:36am

Could it be a ruse, or could it be.....stupidity....time will tell....I always err of the side of the dumbies out there!
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Matt Bennett, 11 Jul 2007 @ 7:57am

Yeah, I think they WANTED to get busted, too.
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http://www.allstarstickets.com/sports-betting-gamb, 13 Jul 2008 @ 6:49am

I thought all payments to him are voluntary?
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Robert, 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:23am

link Exchange request
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To place a link to my site please uses the following information:

Title: NFL PICKS
URL :www.sportsbetcapping.com

Please place our link and kindly let me know where you have put my link.

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Robert
Robert.projects@gmail.com
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brian, 10 Mar 2013 @ 7:42am

It is very interesting as well as good news for those who do not like sports betting or gambling. People were also using sports betting links for legal betting.
http://www.footballpredictionshq.com/betting/good-sports-betting-advice-can-be-a-winning-s trategy/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
brian, 10 Mar 2013 @ 7:42am

It is very interesting as well as good news for those who do not like sports betting or gambling. People were also using sports betting links for legal betting.
http://www.footballpredictionshq.com/betting/good-sports-betting-advice-can-be-a-winning-s trategy/
[ link to this | view in thread ]