Online gambling is a rapidly growing industry. Millions of people play games on different platforms each day. However, online gambling is not legal in every jurisdiction. You should check with your local gaming authority to find out whether online gambling is legal in your area. Some states, including Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, have already legalized online gambling. However, the process of regulating online gambling will continue on a state-by-state basis.
In India, gambling activities are illegal. The Indian Gaming Act does not have any specific provision for online gambling. However, the act does not prohibit games that involve prize money or stakes. Generally, games of skill with prize money are not gambling. Online gambling sites cannot join winning hands. If you are not comfortable with the risk of being busted, you should stay away from online gambling.
Enforcement of online gambling laws in the United States has faced a number of challenges. The Commerce Clause, the First Amendment guarantee of free speech, and the Due Process Clause have all been challenged. However, these arguments have met with little success. Commerce Clause doubts are answered by the commercial nature of the industry, while free speech objections are stifled by the limited protections granted under the First Amendment. Due process arguments are also weakened when financial transactions are involved.
Major credit card issuers stopped processing transactions for online gambling in November 2002. Neteller, which is based in the United States, continued to process these transactions. However, the founders of Neteller were arrested for conspiracy and money laundering in the United States. Consequently, online gambling sites have had to use an alternate payment method.