Since the emergence of the internet, the gambling industry has been greatly impacted. It is now worth billions of dollars, with hundreds of different sites providing different products to customers. From playing poker to placing wagers on sporting events, anyone with an internet connection can get in on the action. This allows you to gamble whenever and wherever you want.
However, the legality of online gambling has been a debated topic in the US, and differs by state. Although the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) limits financial institutions from dealing with illegal Internet gambling sites, it does not define what constitutes legal online gambling. Until recently, it was commonly assumed that the federal Wire Act prohibited all forms of online gambling. However, the Wire Act does not apply to online casinos, poker sites, lottery sites, and other gambling activities.
Despite the widespread acceptance of online gambling, there have been numerous legal issues relating to this activity. While some states have prohibited online gambling, the United States, many provinces in Canada, and the European Union have legalized it. Some Caribbean countries have also made online gambling legal. To operate legally, online gambling service providers must have a license. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board are two examples of such licensing bodies.
While federal law has not yet been passed, individual states have taken the lead and passed laws regarding online gambling. Delaware is the first state to legalize online gambling, and other states have followed. The issue of regulation of online gambling is going to continue to evolve on a state-by-state basis.