Hello again XXXXXXX and thanks for your replies.

The "legality" of online betting in the US is a murky issue for which there is no clearcut answer. See this website for an excellent discussion of the issue:

http://sportsgambling.about.com/od/sportsgambling101/a/betlegal.htm

As noted in that article, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 really addresses only the issue of funding internet gambling and does not actually prohibit it. Sportsbook sites such as Bodog are legal where they are situated (not is the US, obviously, where they would be illegal) and most US authorities consider it illegal for these sites to accept bets from US citizens. It is not at all clear, however, that it is illegal for US citizens to place the bets.

As things stand, thousands of Americans have accounts with these internet sportsbook sites (as well as many poker sites) and conduct their gambling or gaming activities without interference from the government. There is virtually no chance that such activity will cause you any legal problem.

Thanks for asking your questions here on JustAnswer. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood your question. I didn't realize you were talking about accepting bets on behalf of third parties.

Essentially, what you are suggesting is that you would act as a bookie and what you are describing would be illegal regardless of where you are laying off the bets (online or with a live bookie, such as in Vegas).

And let me reiterate that it is not even "most definitely not ... criminal" to bet on your own behalf online. As I said above, it's an open question (with international law implications), but individuals are not currently being prosecuted for it.

It would be legal for you to accept, place and payoff bets for third parties only if you have a gaming license. In most states, this is not possible at all. In Nevada, for example, gaming licenses are available, but not typically to individuals, only to corporate entities operating casinos.

In Pennsylvania, what you are proposing would be illegal. See this website for a summary of the Pennsylvania gambling laws:

http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Pennsylvania/

Note near the bottom section 5514, which would apply to the activity you have described.

Sorry I can't be more optimistic about this and thanks again for asking your question here on JustAnswer.