It is illegal to operate an online gambling website in the United States unless you are over 18. However, the government has been cracking down on companies that take advantage of Americans who enjoy gambling online. In April of this year, the Department of Justice announced its intention to fine companies that advertise online gambling without the appropriate consent. The case is an example of this. In order to prevent the proliferation of online gambling websites in the United States, the government is attempting to stop companies from advertising on TV and radio.
According to estimates published in 2005, sports book betting accounted for about one-third of Internet gambling revenue. The rest of the market was comprised of casino games. Online poker is rapidly gaining popularity and accounted for 18% of online gambling revenue in 2005. In fact, poker is now the fastest growing category of online gambling, with companies such as PartyPoker raking in $82 million in revenues in 2000. It is difficult to assess the future of online gambling, but the benefits for those who participate in it are significant.
While the laws against online gambling vary from state to state, many are intentionally broad. For instance, in Indiana, anyone who assists in the operation of an illegal gambling site can be charged with a felony. Meanwhile, in Washington state, those caught gambling online face charges of class C felonies. This is as legally egregious as possessing child pornography. In some states, online gambling is completely legal. In some states, however, it may be difficult to track individuals who engage in the activity.
Credit cards are often blocked for online gambling businesses. As a result, merchants have turned to alternative payment systems to avoid this problem. These online payment providers allow credit card users to transfer money to intermediary accounts that are used for gambling. However, since the money goes through intermediary accounts, it is impossible to trace money going in and out of them. PayPal, Neteller, FirePay, and ECash are all examples of online payment providers.
Although there have been many recent cases involving online gambling, most states have not yet enacted legislation that will prevent it. Until recently, the Wire Act was still the primary concern in most cases. Federal legislation is designed to stop online gambling from violating the law, but this was not an easy task for lawmakers. Ultimately, the federal government has made no progress in regulating the online gambling industry. In the meantime, states have begun to regulate it, and it is unlikely that online gambling will be completely banned in any state.
The availability of online gambling has triggered an increased number of problems for problem gamblers. People seeking an isolated and anonymous context may be tempted to try it online. Problem gamblers can resist traveling to land-based casinos or gambling sites, but it is much more difficult to stop them once they get hooked on online gambling. This is because online gambling is always there, making it more difficult for them to stop themselves from gambling. This is especially true if the game is offered 24/7.