Online gambling is a billion-dollar industry. It starts from wagering on the outcome of a sporting event to playing from your favourite online casino games. There are plenty of things you should know about the US legislation and gambling market. This applies to either a player or only interested in the growth of the gambling industry. As with any industry, laws, and regulations exist to help control its conduct. Also, who owns right to engage in it? Recently, the online gambling scene took over across the globe with a huge interest. We take a look at the current regulations in different states.
Regulations
The federal government still has specific laws on the books. It aims at bank fraud and illegal online gambling. However, the Supreme Court continues to consistently rule that each state has the right to regulate or prohibit any form of gambling within its borders. This means more than 50 different sets of rules and regulations in regard to gambling. Some states continue legalizing some forms of gambling while others remain outlawed it together. The age at which you can legally gamble varies from state to state. For example, Nevada allows 18-year-olds to gamble while New Jersey requires players to be 21.
The primary federal law prohibiting online gambling is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which started operations in 2006. This federal law makes it illegal for banks or credit card issuers to facilitate payments related to online gaming. However, this law does not prevent players from placing bets online. It simply prevents gambling sites from accepting payments processed through US banking institutions. Many states have also passed legislation that criminalizes explicitly operating an online gambling site within their borders. However, this doesn’t prevent players from playing at these sites, and several offshore sites continue to operate in states.
Is it Legal in Different States?
The Supreme Court has now made sports betting legal across the country. It is unclear how fast states will move to legalize sports gambling, but some will likely do so within a few months. The next question is where you will bet on your favorite team or sport. That depends on where you live and what you want to bet on. Some states will restrict online gambling activity to a state-run website, while others will allow licensed casinos and poker rooms to offer online gambling in their respective states. Some will permit both. It continues to be an ongoing revelation.
In the end, there is a ton of hype surrounding the future of online gambling in the United States. But in the coming years, we could see any number of scenarios play out in this ongoing online battle. What is more, we should likely expect more legislation to be passed within states. Also, on the federal level that attempts to either open up or restrict online gambling. Ultimately, though, only time will tell. Online gambling could follow in the footsteps of other forms of online entertainment within the United States. Moreover, will the US government ban internet gambling once again?
