United States gambling legislation has lagged behind other countries when it comes to legalized online gambling. Some states have taken the leap already while others linger behind. One reason may be fear of running afoul of the Federal Wire Act which prohibits operators from accepting bets from US residents; this was one major stumbling block until 2011, when Justice Department decided to interpret this law differently and allow more online gambling operators to accept bets from US residents.
As soon as this ruling allowed lottery tickets to be sold online, other states began slowly following suit. Some took a more measured approach by watching how sports betting performed before going forward with full legalization; nonetheless, momentum has steadily been building ever since the Supreme Court decision opened up sports betting legislation in more states and legal operators have continued expanding rapidly.
Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware were some of the first states to legalize online gambling in 2015. They were then followed by Pennsylvania in 2017 and West Virginia in 2019. Although Mississippi does not allow users to place bets online casinos or poker sites directly, daily fantasy sports games are legal in this state.
Oregon’s restrictive gambling laws prevent players from engaging in real money online casino play; however, residents can enjoy legal sports betting and horse racing. Oregon also enforces stringent privacy regulations; thus players cannot use third-party apps or websites that connect to gambling platforms.
Rhode Island has also taken steps toward legal online gambling, passing an igaming bill which expands Bally’s current casino monopoly to cover sports betting and other forms of online gambling activities. Rhode Island’s new iGaming market will launch officially in March 2024 and residents will have access to various casino and sports betting games through regulated platforms.
In the UK, an expansive market exists for online casino and sports betting. The government oversees this industry and sets clear licensing requirements for operators. Furthermore, an independent body called the UK Gambling Commission investigates complaints against online gambling operators while issuing licenses to those who meet regulatory standards.
Europe is home to numerous countries that have legalized online gambling and its industry is flourishing. Denmark boasts one of the world’s largest iGaming markets and regulates it at both a national and local level, while Malta hosts top-notch licensed operators and has established an internationally-recognized regulatory body. Furthermore, European Union lawmakers are working toward creating a common framework for gambling regulations across Europe; this will help to ensure an industry that remains transparent and safe for players while also eliminating borders between different gambling markets and decreasing potential criminal activity and money laundering potential.