13 replies to this topic

[BASHERS33]

Anyone have any clue if there is any legal issue with making a sports betting program that has nothing to do with real money? What if someone used it where people could use the points to buy thigns, but they never risk their own money? That wouldn't be considered gambling would it?

Im also confuseed what else to do to protect myself legally such as if people hack into it and do something, protect myself from misuse, and how in the world people think of names for products and it not be a name that can't be used.

And saying ask a lawyer won't help me any because what person making simple apps for forum software such as invision or vb seriously pays a lawyer? I see tons of programs released and I know good and well they're not paying a lawyer. We;'re not companies, we're modders.

[WingedPanther]

It depends on the country. I suspect at least a few countries would have a problem with people buying "credits" and redeeming those for "prizes".

You can make the app, of course, but putting it up could be a problem.

[BASHERS33]

I already made the app. It's all based on points. Theoretically you could pay for points, but that's not me or a feature of the app. What I mentioned though was if you could use the points to buy something, but you never paid at all. You received the points for free and simply win prizeds. i would assume to be considered gambling you have to actually risk something or it would really make no sense to call it gambling.

I never release anythign because I'm so confused what needs to be done to take any liability off of me for what others do or if soeone finds some exploit. Even the professional forum software always ends up having some exploit show up so you obviously can;'t guarantee a hacker can't figure something out.

I've seen sports betting systems before, so I would certainly assume it's not illegal when money isn't nvolved, but who knows. I couldn't list my site on MSN due to using someone's casino app and that had nothing to do with real money.

If others use it for whatever reason i can'tbe held responsible anyway assuming I know what to put in writing that they agree to as afr as me not being held liable. But I also use it on my own site so for my own good I need to know about that. I just see no reason it could be called gambling when its not money involved at all though.

It seems like NO APP can be made without all of these confusing concerns. I made a review system too and if people use photos of produts they are reviewing some say that can be considered not legal also which i think is stupid if true because people post pictures of products on ebay and other sites all the time. I've spent tons of time on these apps and it's annoying that it seems like nothing can be done without someone claiming it's bad in some way.

[WingedPanther]

In most countries, if the player never puts up any cash, you should be good. That said, in some countries it's likely that the "experience of gambling" could be illegal. You're asking for a rational answer to the confusing array of sometimes irrational laws related to gambling.

[BASHERS33]

But what others do is not my concern anyway. Someone could use an iphone to distribute something illegal and Apple isn't going to get sued. I just need to know the best way to word some user agreement and I am not experienced in doing that.

For my own site though it's in the U.S.. All I know is I've seen many programs of the sort used. Also a lot of my questions had to do with thigns not confusing, mostly how to word the user agreement to protect against someone suing if a hacker does something through a program or whatnot. I don't know if I have to put in an agreement that they accept it as is or what exactly needs to be said. I thought it's somethign obvious and easy on how to word it, but on no site do I just get a flat out answer on what needs to be said in them to be sure you're not held accountable for something.

I just think it's pathetic if I've spent years making apps and then it turns out lame laws treat them as if they're bad for just being made for fun and nothing to do with gambling. It's picking who you thinik will win sporting events and betting points on it. The world would sure end if someone does that.

[BASHERS33]

Now someone told me he thinks it IS against laws in some areas to bet on sports even with points. That seems stupid to me and I kind of doubt it would be the case as i see games on well known popular sites hosted in the U.S. and apparently nothing is done to them about it or it claimed as against some law!

[Alexander]

BASHERS33 said:

Now someone told me he thinks it IS against laws in some areas to bet on sports even with points. That seems stupid to me and I kind of doubt it would be the case as i see games on well known popular sites hosted in the U.S. and apparently nothing is done to them about it or it claimed as against some law!

Huh, Google actually has stuff:
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/Articles-Notes/internet-gambling-regulation-bill.htm

Seems you'll need a gambling license for any internet gambling, that makes sense. I'd look into qualifications and what it allows you to do online for your site.

[BASHERS33]

That is for gambling and sdports betting. My app is for betting with points for fun, not gambling. Someone I know happened to talk to a gaming attorney today and it was said that it's legal if no money changes hands. Someone also mentioned that it's no diffeent than Pogo's site. And I traced Pogo's site and it's server is indeed in the U.S. so they're not an offshore site and they have games involving points. None of this is gambling, it's points-based and you don't buy points, you receive them.

[toxifyshadow]

You may need a company's permision if you are going to talk about them, like say "You can bet 200 points on the 4:30 game on Espn tonight!"

[BASHERS33]

Ya never know, but I would certainly think not. A lot of sites will say things such as "this game is on espn tonight" or whatnot. I don't see a problem with that. But anyway I personally don't post things involving company names. I've mentione dteam names since it's a sports betting system, but I think names are public domain. I mean people post team names and company names in posts all the time. It may or may not be legal using their logos though. All of this is annoyingly complicated for somethign I made just for fun.

[toxifyshadow]

Oh, I kinda mean like including the logo and such. And their is a difference between mentioning a name once or twice and making a whole site dedicated to that company. Just saying.

[BellaVega]

I think as far a legal laws go, I would talk with a lawyer. It seems like it's still gambling unless the people didn't have to pay for the credits to start. If you could get sponsors to pay for the prizes then you wouldn't have to worry about collecting money from the customers.