Online Gambling Legislation

Teenagers and college-age students can easily access online and real world gambling. Fortunately, this industry is subject to strict industry standards, making it safer than most land-based brands. Still, there are certain things to be aware of before you begin playing at an internet casino. The first thing to consider is your own level of risk tolerance. While it is easy to become addicted to internet gambling, excessive gambling can lead to a number of negative consequences. Such consequences include burning through your savings, anxiety, depression, and recklessness.

While many countries restrict online gambling, some states and provinces in Canada and the European Union have legalized it. Other nations, such as Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize, have legalized it. Most states in the US and Canada have made it legal for online gambling, and several Caribbean nations have legalized the activity as well. To operate legally in these jurisdictions, online gambling service providers must obtain a license from the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission and Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board.

Legislation was first introduced for online gambling in the late 1990s. Jon Kyl and Bob Goodlatte introduced bills to the Senate, which would have limited internet gambling to state lotteries and horse races. However, the bills were never passed. Barney Frank introduced HR 2046, which proposed a bill to amend the UIGEA. The new law would require the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to license Internet gambling facilities. Since then, several similar bills have been proposed, but there is no legislation in place to restrict this activity.