Dunno.
Playing chess online for money is illegal?
Sort:
Don't play chess for money. That's all you need to know about legal or illegal - just don't do it. It's a bad idea in the first place, made worse by the fact that people will cheat.
Just... don't do it.
I'm not that helpful, am I?
Well, I think, not know, that those statements are probably misleading. They conflict each other. I'm not an advocate for chessmoney or something so I don't know.
If that's true then it's illegal for chess.com to host death matches?
Indyfilmguy wrote:
You have broached some interesting questions probably better answered by an attorney who specializes in internet law.
I can't personally evaluate the issues here but I can tell you two issues that you might want to think about, as with many new legal issues there is no black or white answer.
Preemption: The federal government may have preempted the entire field of internet regulation, invalidating state laws regulating internet commerce or gambling if federal regulation in that field has been so historically dominant that it "occupies the field" of that law. For example, states laws that conflict with federal laws in the field of Occupational Heath and Safety, and in Radio/Television communications are preempted and thus invalid.
Dormant Commerce Clause: (U.S. Constitution) If a state law unreasonably hinders legal interstate commerce then it can be struck down. If the website cannot operate its legal business in several states due to invididual state laws, then there is a good argument that the state laws violate the Commerce Clause. (Example: The states cannot counter argue the obvious "well, the Commerce Clause doesn't apply to practices we consider illegal by our own law." Not too long ago, many states made it illegal for black people to eat at restaurants, etc, and those laws were invalidated under the Commerce Clause.)
I really wouldn't worry too much about the Yahoo answers thing, that just seems like a troll post.
I hope this helps.
Indyfilmguy you sure you don't have any friends who are lawyers that can help answer the question 
its not illegal, but it would quite stupid to do it. i mean how could you ever know that you opponent didnt cheat??
at least thats what i heard
The chessmoney.com website faq says that some states disallow online gaming for money even if the game is purely skill based and has no random chance. It lists the following states as disallowing playing chess for money: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisana, Maryland, Missouri, South Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Washington and Vermont.
https://www.chessmoney.com/cm/main?page=faq#faq11
I also found on Yahoo answers a question where the person said he made over $1000 on PlayE4 chess but couldn't withdraw the money because playing chess for money is illegal in Washington state.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090210183008AADK6Dy
Can anyone confirm if these statements are correct, wrong, or misleading?