Online Gambling is a type of gambling that takes place over the Internet. It can include sports betting, live casinos, slots, lotteries and other games.
Online gambling is legal in many countries, including the United States. However, it is illegal in some.
The US prohibits online gambling on federal land, and the federal government has imposed UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) regulations on gambling sites operating in the U.S. These rules are strict and make it difficult for US-based online gaming operators to operate.
UIGEA is challenged on constitutional grounds, with arguments that it violates the Commerce Clause and restrictions imposed by the First Amendment. Those objections, however, have not gained much traction.
Laws to regulate Internet gambling in the United States vary widely between the various state governments. Some states outlaw all forms of online gambling while others have limited their laws to certain types of online gambling, such as horse racing wagers.
Some states, such as California, also ban televised casino poker and lottery games. Some, such as Connecticut and New Jersey, have only regulated Internet sports betting.
Legislation to regulate online gambling in the United Kingdom is less strict than in the United States. In 2008, the UK Gambling Commission launched an advertising campaign to encourage consumers to play responsibly.
The legality of online gambling in the United States has been a long-standing question, with some constitutional objections to its prosecution greeted by congressional efforts to prosecute offshore Internet casinos. Those concerns have been primarily based on questions of the Commerce Clause, restrictions imposed by the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech, and due process considerations related to regulating financial transactions with individuals in the United States.