Whether you’re an enthusiast or an elitist, you’ve likely heard of online gambling. It’s one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Millions of people play on various platforms every day. It can be addictive, and carries a high risk of criminal activity.
There are numerous sites offering sports betting and casino games. There are also online poker sites that are available for people across the globe. Some of the most popular sites include Partypoker and Full Tilt. Almost ten million people gamble on the Internet, and according to comScore, it’s the most popular category on the web in the fall of 2011.
The Internet is awash in online casinos, sports betting sites, and poker rooms. If you’re looking for the best places to play, you’ll need to check with your local jurisdiction. Some states have adopted the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and others have their own legislation. A number of jurisdictions are considering regulating online gambling. These developments have been greeted with some skepticism from both the public and lawmakers alike. However, the legal landscape is quickly changing. In May 2018, New Jersey’s court case involving the legalization of Internet gambling came to a head.
The Department of Justice had a go at trying to make sense of the Wire Act, the law that regulates wagering businesses. The agency’s lawyers tried to apply the law to all gambling, but the Fifth Circuit disagreed. The law allows for a limited exception. This exception applies if the act is legal in both the source and the destination locations. This is the most important distinction.
There’s also the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which governs gambling activities on Indian reservations. While the statute doesn’t specifically mention online gambling, it does include some key phrases related to gambling. Nevertheless, federal preemption has impeded state efforts to regulate gambling activities on Indian reservations within their borders.
The most recent survey by the National Gambling Impact Study Center found that more than 400,000 male youth in the United States played for money at least once a month on the Internet. Compared to their counterparts, these youth were more likely to report the health effects of problem gambling.
Despite the many laws and regulations, states aren’t enforcing them with the same enthusiasm. This is partly due to the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine, which theorizes that state law outside of its borders is unconstitutional. However, the federal government isn’t likely to back down from its stance on the Internet.
For example, Nagaland became the first state in the world to pass a law that includes provisions for Online Gambling. In the ensuing years, other states have added the rules to their books. Several have also offered a variety of tools and services to help combat the problem.
Some have also offered referral services to their local programs. A few have even shared data with researchers. The most interesting thing about Internet gambling is that it can be addictive.