Online gambling is an activity that millions of people engage in every day. The Internet has made it easy for players to wager on games of chance, including sports betting, horse racing, and poker. Several states require gamblers to be of a certain age. Moreover, gambling is regulated by both state and federal legislation.
In recent years, the popularity of online gambling has grown exponentially. As a result, the industry has also become a focal point for litigation and a source of controversy. Currently, online gambling is illegal in most states, although Congress has proposed several bills that would soften the federal law.
First, there’s the “Gambling Devices Transportation Act,” or the Johnson Act. Also, the Wire Act. These acts prohibit unauthorized transmission of lottery tickets across state lines. It’s unclear if these statutes have anything to do with online gambling.
Secondly, there’s the UIGEA. This is a more comprehensive set of regulations designed to weed out low-level gambling cases, as well as to monitor and regulate the commercial activity. However, the actual law itself is a bit confusing.
Finally, there’s the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, which would regulate, tax, and license Internet gambling businesses. That’s a lot of legislation, but it’s the logical next step to take if the federal government wants to impose any sort of regulation on the industry.
For now, the most important thing to know is that online gambling is illegal. You can be fined or imprisoned for conducting an illegal gambling business.