Do you need a special license from game developpers to run a website like this? http://www.rivalspot.com/
In the U.S. it is not that you need a license, but rather that gambling is generally illegal. Further it is not only regulated by the Feds, but by all 50 states. Because your site is a game of skill and not a game of chance, is it really gambling? Courts go both ways on this issue. Just be aware that you are in an area froth with liability issues.
I really didn't know that the US had such a strong stance on gambling, Here in the UK I think you do need a license, and then theres gambleaware.co.uk, which isn't far off being a government entity to be honest.
Usually gambling sites will be licensed in the country in which their servers are located (Costa Rica, for instance, is very popular) As others have said, online gambling is pretty much illegal in the US. It would be interesting to know how the site you mention gets around this: it looks like their site is hosted in Dallas, and their "Äbout" page says that they are "THE portal that allows...wager cold, hard cash"
there is no way this is gambling. Gambling is matter of luck, this is a matter of skills. All i was asking is do I need a license from game developpers to organize such tournaments?
Perhaps the legality and need of a license comes down to whether "gambling" and "wagering" are synomomous. I have heard the argument that poker is a game of skill, not chance, and at this point playing online poker is illegal....whether you need a license from the game developers or not I recommend preparing yourself for the real possibility of legal "concern" from the government if you will be accepting wagers from people located in North America.
Even if he is outside of country, and he allows US citizens to gamble. Do not think the feds will not be able to reach you some way... They hate gambling sites, even though it would be good for taxes for the govt...
Ok lets say you set up like every other gambling site offshore but try to operate within the United States, guess how they get you? They go after your payment processor or when your customers start cashing out then work their way up to you. Follow the rules and you have nothing to worry about, but if you want to get rich quick have fun sitting in jail even if you're overseas because if your country has a MLAT (mutual legal assistance treaty) you're not safe. Most countries do have a MLAT with the United States
Have you been living under a rock? The DOJ took down the 3 top online poker rooms that were accepting US players.