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At the request of MMORPG Second Life creator Linden Lab, FBI investigators have visited some of the virtual casinos in the virtual world, but just how gambling in Second Life stands from a legal viewpoint is still in question. This according to reports from Reuters.
Casinos offering poker, slot machines, and blackjack can be found pretty much everywhere in Second Life. Linden Lab is currently seeking guidance from the FBI regarding all of this virtual gaming activity in their virtual creation. The company has yet to receive any clear rules from U.S. authorities, however.
"It's not always clear to us whether a 3-D simulation of a casino is
the same thing as a casino, legally speaking, and it's not clear to the
law enforcement authorities we have asked," said Ginsu Yoon, who until recently was Linden Lab's general counsel and is currently the company's vice president for business affairs.
Reuters reports that while most lawyers agree that placing bets using Linden dollars - Second Life's own form of virtual currency - "likely
violates U.S. anti-gambling statutes, which cover circumstances in
which 'something of value' is wagered." What remains uncertain is the degree of Linden Lab's responsibility in the matter.
"If you're buying money on the Lindex (a virtual currency exchange) and
utilizing it for gambling purposes, Linden could have a much higher
level of responsibility," said Sean Kane, a lawyer at New York's Drakeford & Kane who has studied the legal issues of virtual worlds. "If they would be found in
violation, that's difficult to say, but I can see a much stronger case
being made."
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