Gaming Criminal Trial Starts in U.S. Court in New York

On February 14, 2000, the criminal trial in the first federal prosecution of a sports gambling operation on the internet started with jury selection and will test the ability of national governments, especially the U.S., to regulate activities on the internet. The Office of the U.S. Attorney is prosecuting Jay Cohen, a former stockbroker who operates World Sports Exchange, an online betting operation in Antigua & Barbuda. The prosecution has charged Mr. Cohen with violating a 40-year-old law against using the telephone to gamble across state or federal borders…[more]