It might be surprising to hear that there is actually a debate over whether or not online gambling is legal in the United States. After all, there are a large number of countries in the world that allow for the activity. The federal government remains hostile towards this industry, and has even taken action against operators of the online kind. In some states, like Pennsylvania, you can bet on sports and casino games online. But that doesn’t mean you can play them anytime you want, and it’s a bit risky to do so.
First off, let’s take a look at how online gambling came to be. Although it has been around for decades, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that the Internet became commercially available. That means, at least initially, you couldn’t gamble with real money in any of the many Internet casinos or betting sites you’d find.
The online gambling craze of the mid-2000s saw a huge increase in popularity. A Frost & Sullivan report estimated that the online gambling market was worth $830 million in 1998. While it didn’t make the list of the top 10 largest industries in the US, the industry still made some pretty big waves. At that time, there were roughly 200 websites offering some form of gambling.
For some reason, the Department of Justice decided to investigate whether or not the aforementioned oh-so-popular Internet gambling lingo was indeed legit. They found that the online gambling market was rife with fraud. Some of the alleged offender’s websites actually accepted money from customers and then marketed their virtual gambling operations to them in exchange. This led to some major settlements between the online gaming industry and the US government.
Another tidbit is the fact that the first state to allow legal online gaming was Nevada. It was also the first state to offer sports betting, albeit on an offline basis. However, Nevada’s position as the sole provider of sports betting in the country drew little attention from the federal government.
The Internet has certainly changed the way people interact with one another. One of the biggest advantages of the Web is its ability to make things happen quickly and efficiently. Online gambling sites can be accessed from anywhere on the planet with a computer and Internet access. There are several ways to deposit and withdraw funds from your online account, but the most popular method is using a credit card.
In fact, some countries have legalized the activity altogether. For example, some Canadian provinces allow their citizens to place bets online. Meanwhile, in other countries, such as France, lawmakers are proposing new legislation to tax and regulate online gambling.
It’s no secret that gambling can be a fun and social pastime, but it can also be an addictive hobby. Before you start gambling online, it’s a good idea to set a budget and be aware of the laws and regulations that affect the game. As a general rule, avoid gambling if you aren’t prepared to lose.