There are a number of federal laws on the books to govern the entire nation when it comes to gambling in general. Although the simple act of placing a bet is legal under these laws, the business of gambling is not. Through these national policies, each state has the opportunity to formulate their own local gambling regulations and Oregon is one such state that has done so. We have built this page to serve as a guide to all those in the Beaver State looking to inform themselves of how and where they may legally gamble through a variety of mediums.
The federal policies on gambling are clear but they leave much space in between the lines for each state to form their own decisions on gambling regulations. Oregon is one such state to have developed detailed gambling laws within their state constitution and we will cover some of the more notable points below.
167.117(7) - While this definition of ‘Gambling’ is standard to most states, Oregon does not define the act as unlawful. The constitution mentions ‘Unlawful Gambling’ later with penalties. However, it appears to be associated with conducting a gambling business of some sort.
167.117(16) - This is the most important definition in the Oregon gambling laws as it is what most of us fall under. Being a ‘Player’ is not a crime in the Beaver State and the legalese provides clear separation from those in the business of gambling.
167.117(21) - This is another great distinction for ‘Players’ in Oregon to be aware of as it effectively legalizes most forms of gambling for anyone who is not looking to make a cut other than personal winnings. Between being a ‘Player’ and only engaging in ‘Social Games’ when outside of state-licensed facilities, Oregon bettors will remain safe.
167.117(24) - This is a vague statement, however the constitution goes into detail concerning what is authorized. There are two tiers to unauthorized gambling. Unlawful gambling in the second degree that is a Class A misdemeanor and Unlawful Gambling in the First Degree is a Class C Felony. Both of these unlawful forms of gambling involve the conducting of a gambling business or taking profits other than personal winnings.
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Wire Act – The oldest and perhaps the most important federal law in action today is the Federal Wire Act of 1961. With a clear target on organized crime, racketeering and corruption, this act outlaws the business of gambling, facilitating bets for profit and spreading gambling information through electronic means over state lines. While the Wire Act does not prevent a casual bettor from making a wager, it does indeed erase most venues to do so.
PASPA – The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is another federal law that came into being in 1992 to strengthen the effects of the Federal Wire Act. Focused on the business of Sports Betting, it completely bans the practice from taking place all across the country with only Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon being exempt from its rule. While there are these exceptions, only Nevada has fully fledged sportsbooks where one may place a wager on their favorite team or player. Facilitating sports bets anywhere else in the nation will result in felony charges.
UIGEA – Capping off these all-encompassing federal acts is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Passing with the SAFE Port Act of 2011, this law was pork-barreled in with homeland security legislation, much to the chagrin of many citizens and lawmakers. The act, as with others, only targets the business of gambling while leaving the average citizen alone. The UIGEA completely prohibits any online banking transactions by an online betting operation on U.S. soil to users, rendering any online poker room, casino or sportsbook unable to operate within the United States.
What all of these federal laws have in common is that they only target gambling operations and not mere participants. More importantly, they only govern the territories of the United States while any entity outside of federal rule is not bound to comply with these acts. Since U.S. citizens are able to place bets legally, they are able to visit online gambling sites located outside of the country without worry or concern of breaking the law.
The age for gambling legally in Oregon age in the state is set at 18 years of age or older but it should be noted that many casinos within the state have set their age restrictions to 21 years of age or older. It is important for locals to call ahead and check on the age restrictions of a land-based venue before visiting however, any Beaver State local who wishes to gamble at a legal online poker room, sportsbook or casino will find the legal age set at 18 years or older.
There is no need to feel intimidated by federal or state laws when it comes to gambling, as there are plenty of exceptions and instances where one may place a wager without worry or concern. While Oregon may have expansive and detailed legislation in regards to gambling, the Beaver State remains as one of the more lax states in the union with plenty of leeway for recreational players to enjoy an evening out at a land-based casino or an evening in with an online sportsbook.
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