Legalities : Fortune Telling

[Nobody]

Is it true that fortune telling is illegal in some countries ? If so, which ones ?
Is it illegal only if money is exchanged for the service or illegal regardless ?

Are only certain types of divination covered by such laws eg tarot or do they include all forms of divination ?

Would mediumship be covered as 'fortune telling' by such laws ?

 

[Bikewer]

Laws are highly variable and exist mostly at local levels. Some spell out precisely what "practices" are allowed, and most abuses fall under fraud, stealing by deceit, and so forth.
Some areas even try to regulate and license "psychics", "mediums", and so forth.

 

[jimtron]

There are several storefront psychics in my neighborhood in Chicago. I've wondered what regulations are in effect if any.

 

[Miss Whiplash]

Until 2004, fortune telling for profit was illegal in North Carolina under General Statute 14-401.5 - Illegal Practice of Phrenology, Palmistry, Fortune-Telling or Clairvoyance. This law was repealed in 2004 under pressure from Wiccans.

 

[TriangleMan]

I believe that any Islamic nation following Sharia law would probably ban fortune-telling. I think there is a verse in the Qur'an which states that no one can know the unseen except Allah, so I think by their reasoning any psychics or fortune-tellers are either frauds or socererors.

I have yet to see an advertisment for a psychic or astrologer here. I looked in the phone book as well and I couldn't find any. An English-language daily from Dubai has an astrology column though.