Legal Question in Technology Law in Missouri

Online Raffle

I am considering creating an online raffle website where users would buy tickets to win huge prizes. I was wodering would something like this be legal? I have researched and everything i can find does not apply to raffles or games run on the internet. Since the internet is not really located anywhere then the raffle is not really taking place in any one location. Please let me know how I could run this type of web site legally or if it is legal now. I also see online casinos and online bingos everywhere - if my site is illegal shouldn't theirs be also? Thanks for any help you can offer,

Bryan


Asked on 2/21/02, 1:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

Re: Online Raffle

Illegal. The online casinos are located outside the US so they can avoid US laws. You are here, so you are subject to prosecution if you try this without a gaming license. Apply for a gaming license from the state of Missouri if you want to be legal. I think you know you won't get one without spending more money than you can imagine.

Try your online big-time raffle and you may go to the big house. It is a really bad idea...unless, of course, you want to move to some lawless foreign country and become a shady Internet operator and have an army of mercenaries to protect you.

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Answered on 2/22/02, 7:40 pm


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