What is Online Gambling?

Online Gambling is an activity whereby people wager on a game of chance or skill in order to win money. The activity can be played on a computer, smartphone or tablet and can take the form of betting on sports events or playing casino games such as roulette and blackjack. In some countries online gambling is legal, whilst in others it is prohibited. Online gambling is regulated in some states of the United States, in some provinces of Canada, most nations of the European Union and in several Caribbean islands.

The popularity of Online Gambling grew rapidly in the 1990s as internet technology improved, and a website operator could establish a gambling site anywhere in the world. The growth of the internet and the proliferation of gambling websites posed new challenges for government regulation and policies on online gambling. The morality of gambling is a controversial issue and a major hurdle that must be overcome before new laws and regulation are introduced.

The majority of US states regulate online gambling, but two states – Utah and Hawaii – have bans in place. In Utah, the ban is due to the religious beliefs of its residents, while in Hawaii it is a result of public opinion and the state’s desire to limit the impact of gambling on families and communities. However, in both cases, the bans have been overturned on appeal.