Online Gambling has become a huge industry, with revenues estimated at $830 million in 1998. The rise in popularity began in the late 1990s, with 15 websites operating in 1996 and more than two hundred in 1997. The first online poker rooms began to open in 1998, and in 1999, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act was introduced in the US Senate, a bill that would have prohibited online gambling for U.S. citizens. In the meantime, multiplayer online gambling was also introduced.
France has recently proposed new laws to regulate online gambling and tax the industry. French budget minister Eric Woerth has stated that the new laws will “adapt” to the “Internet reality.” However, the proposed regulations will still prohibit betting exchanges. This is a serious issue for online gambling and should not be taken lightly. For all these reasons, online gambling regulations are necessary to protect consumers. Until they become more stringent, online gambling can be extremely addictive.
There is an enormous variety of gambling options online, and a quick search for “online casino” will yield a long list of results. While there are some legitimate online casinos regulated by regulators, the best ones may not be the first to pop up. Regulations have long seen online casinos as an unregulated industry that encourages operators to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. But there are many benefits to online gambling. Besides the accessibility, online casinos offer the opportunity to play hundreds of games, including slots, video poker, and poker.