Is Online Gambling Legal in the US?
In the late 1990s, lawmakers in the US proposed legislation that would have made online gambling illegal. Senators Bob Goodlatte and Jon Kyl introduced bills in the Senate that would have prohibited online gambling activities except for state lotteries and horse races. These bills failed, but the debate has continued. Now, online gambling is legal in the US and in many territories.
For the longest time, online gambling in the US was governed by the Wire Act of 1961. It was created to work with anti-racketeering laws, but was not designed for digital wagering. In 2011, the Department of Justice ruled that states could pass legislation to decriminalize online gambling. The same year, the US Supreme Court overruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. That decision, however, affirmed that the 1961 Wire Act applies to legal sports betting in the United States.
While online gambling is legal in the US, many US States restrict its use or regulation. A few states have put in place rigorous regulations to prevent illegal activity. A gambling license is required to operate an online gambling website. Once a gambling license is granted, the gambling site must operate within the state. These restrictions vary by state, but many states now allow residents to place wagers on sports and poker online.
While traveling to a casino is always an option, gambling online is more convenient and cheaper. While a casino offers more variety and fun, online gambling allows you to play slots on your phone and place bets on your favorite sports team. In fact, some online casinos are now accepting bitcoin as payment. But there are other benefits to gambling online.
Online gambling offers hundreds of games to choose from. Several sites also have poker rooms, bingo rooms, and sportsbooks attached to their sites. Using the internet, a player can easily transfer funds from one tab to another. Moreover, real-money players in the US can also bet on big sporting events.
The state of New Jersey is a prime example of a state with the highest number of online gambling options in the US. It was one of the first states to legalize online casino gambling in 2013, and is home to nearly two dozen apps. Residents can access top-notch brands, while being protected by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.