Ask HN: Are online lotteries/sweepstakes/pools legal and can they be successful?

2 points·Baadier··2 comments

I had a random idea this afternoon for a quick weekend coding session involving online betting pools with a social twist, I'd like to know if these can or have been successful or are they best to be avoided. Additionally for a gambling website are you liable in your country of residence or in the country the website is hosted in? Would HN members ever play any betting games etc

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IAKAL, but my assumption is that each individual participant is liable to the country in which they reside. For example, as a US resident, there are specific laws regarding how I can and can't make deposits/play on online gambling websites.

On the other hand, you the company are liable in the country the business is registered in... I would think hosting means little, unless we're talking about jurisdiction to shut you down.

I've been naïve in thinking that the hosting would have any effect on it, though you're right with regards to the jurisdiction to shut it down. I'll have to investigate it further. I could register the business in another country but that would involve cost that I don't think I'm willing to front for a weekend project and has a certain dodgy feeling attached as well. With regards to the states, I would have to investigate each states legislation as well, before I could allow entry to participants to my understanding.

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