This is The Mouthpiece, a guest contribution by Martin Owens. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

Sports betting is coming in in a big way, and there is much discussion of what legal issues will arise for state licensing authorities and the operators of the new format. But there are also some legal issues that affect the customers directly, and leave it up to them to protect themselves. Here are a few of the more prominent:

Who will be allowed to bet?

At least for right now, sports betting is licensed on a state-by-state basis. This will mean that only people physically located in that state will be able to place bets, whether or not they are legally residents. It will be very similar to the situation with Internet poker in New Jersey. If you are a non-resident visiting relatives in New Jersey, it should be possible for you to play while you’re there. But only while you’re there. If you are a permanent resident, even if you are registered with one or more licensed operators in the Garden State, even if using a mobile- friendly app to play, you will not be allowed to participate in any games as long as you (and your phone) are located outside the state borders. At the same time, players may deposit funds into  their respective accounts, or withdraw from them, at licensed sites from outside the state.