Online gambling is a complex legal area, especially in the United States. As technology and gaming platforms have evolved, so too have the laws governing these activities. Here’s an overview of recent regulations, what they mean for operators and players, and how these laws could shape the future of online gambling in the US.
In 2006, the US Congress passed a law called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which made it illegal for financial institutions to process payments related to certain kinds of online gambling. This law had serious implications for operators and players within the US, as it effectively cut off access to payment processing services that were necessary for most forms of online gambling.
Recent changes to UIGEA legislation allow states to regulate their own online gambling operations. This means that individual states can now decide whether or not they want to permit various types of online gambling within their borders. In addition, some states have implemented novel methods for dealing with online betting; for example, Delaware has created a system for players to play against each other instead of against a casino operator.
However, there are still restrictions on what kind of gambling activities are allowed within individual states – particularly when it comes to sports betting. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that each state has the right to decide whether or not they want to legalize sports betting across its jurisdictions. Currently, sports betting is only legal in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware; however, more than 20 other states are considering legislation that would make sports betting permissible with proper regulation.
The future of online gambling in the United States will depend largely on how individual states choose to regulate it moving forward. It will also depend on developments at a federal level; if Congress ever moves beyond UIGEA towards establishing nationwide laws about online gaming activities then this could greatly shape how casinos operate within each jurisdiction. For now, though, it looks likely that operators and players alike will need to continue dealing with the varied regulations from state to state when it comes to running and participating in online gaming activities in America.
