UIGEA & Legality of Being an Online Affiliate for Non-US Poker Sites

[ahardinjr]

Hello,

I have an informational poker website with an international user base of members across the world that discusses poker strategy and theory. I want to begin offering affiliate marketing advertising for Non-U.S. poker sites that do not allow U.S. players to my international community of users. Is this legal? I am located in the U.S. and I have a .com site.

Also, once U.S. state-regulated poker sites in New Jersey and Nevada begin allowing affiliate marketing, I plan to become a licensed vendor with the respective states to do so. There are non-US regulated sites that allow US players to play and I do not plan on promoting those sites.

I also have a question about poker staking, where an investor will provide a poker player funds for a % of the profits in return. I have had a group approach me about promoting / advertising their staking business on my website. Are there any legal concerns regarding that if they stake players that play online not in the U.S. and all other staking is for "live" games in regulated casinos such as Las Vegas? I would imagine, advertising staking online U.S. players for non-regulated poker sites would be an issue, but not for regulated "live" games and international sites not open to U.S. players.

Any direction, guidance and feedback would be greatly appreciated. I do not want to advertise or promote any online poker businesses that are illegal in the U.S. and illegal for me to do so. Thanks!

 

[army judge]

Hello,

I have an informational poker website with an international user base of members across the world that discusses poker strategy and theory. I want to begin offering affiliate marketing advertising for Non-U.S. poker sites that do not allow U.S. players to my international community of users. Is this legal? I am located in the U.S. and I have a .com site.

Also, once U.S. state-regulated poker sites in New Jersey and Nevada begin allowing affiliate marketing, I plan to become a licensed vendor with the respective states to do so. There are non-US regulated sites that allow US players to play and I do not plan on promoting those sites.

I also have a question about poker staking, where an investor will provide a poker player funds for a % of the profits in return. I have had a group approach me about promoting / advertising their staking business on my website. Are there any legal concerns regarding that if they stake players that play online not in the U.S. and all other staking is for "live" games in regulated casinos such as Las Vegas? I would imagine, advertising staking online U.S. players for non-regulated poker sites would be an issue, but not for regulated "live" games and international sites not open to U.S. players.

Any direction, guidance and feedback would be greatly appreciated. I do not want to advertise or promote any online poker businesses that are illegal in the U.S. and illegal for me to do so. Thanks!

You seem like a very clever person.
You're definitely not naive.

So, why would you solicit information tha on the internet that could land you in federal gulag, or cost you a small fortune?

You don't really know who you're communicating with, their agenda, or their qualifications.
That might not matter if you';re asking about a "minor in possession" citation, someone caught with a partially smoked joint, or a landlord trying to evict a bad tenant.
You don't go to prison for that stuff.
You don't lose lots of money, and none of those things can raise the interest of a federal persecutor on a mission to clean up the planet!
That said, I suggest you retain a trusted, experienced attorney knowledgeable in the areas that interest of puzzle you.
Pay that person for proper legal advice, upon which you can then make smart business and personal decisions.

Your ideas are interesting, but many can get a person in deep poopoo if done incorrectly.