Increasing government pressure is pushing states to regulate online gambling and pass federal legislation. Despite the reluctance of many states to legalize Internet gambling, the Republican Congressman Joe Barton is poised to introduce legislation to make the game legal. Nevada Republican Senator Dean Heller is also working to pass legislation that would make online poker legal. While these efforts are in no way final, the trend towards uniform state gambling legislation is increasing. While states are primarily focused on revenue generation, the pressure is building.
Many countries ban online gambling, but it is legal in some U.S. states, several provinces in Canada, most European Union countries, and several Caribbean nations. Legal markets require online gambling service providers to have a license, including from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. These licensing authorities are responsible for ensuring fair competition and a positive gambling experience. To learn more about legal regulations, visit the National Institute for Online Gambling’s website.
The United States has a complex web of laws that regulate online gambling, but some states have legalized it. However, interstate online gambling is illegal under federal law and federal marketing and advertising laws. Intrastate online gambling is legal in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and three states have legalized online sports betting. Many other states are considering legislation. This article explores the legality of online gambling in each state. The United States is the largest nation of online gambling, with more than half of the population of the country using the Internet to gamble.