View source for Online gambling

{{short description|Gambling done through the internet}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}

[[File:PokerTableOpenSource.jpg|thumb|An online poker game]]
'''Online gambling''' (also known as '''iGaming'''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Naraine |first1=Michael L. |last2=Bradish |first2=Cheri |date=2022 |title=Analytics and iGaming |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7290/jasm143aqi |journal=Journal of Applied Sport Management |page=23 |doi=10.7290/jasm143aqi |issn=2327-0187}}</ref> or '''iGambling''') is any kind of [[gambling]] conducted on the [[internet]]. This includes virtual [[Online poker|poker]], [[Online casino|casinos]], and [[sports betting]]. The first online gambling venue opened to the general public was ticketing for the [[Liechtenstein]] International [[Lottery]] in October 1994.<ref>{{Cite report|last1=Williams|first1=Robert J.|last2=Wood |first2=Robert T.|date=30 August 2007|title=Internet Gambling: A Comprehensive Review and Synthesis of the Literature |publisher=Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre |location= Guelph, Ontario, Canada |hdl=10133/432 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Today, the market is worth around $40&nbsp;billion globally each year, according to various estimates.<ref name="market-volume-of-online-gaming-worldwide">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/270728/market-volume-of-online-gaming-worldwide/|title=Global online gambling industry size 2009-2024|website=Statista|language=en|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edisongroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GamingSectorReport2019.pdf|title=Online Gaming Sector Report|date=10 July 2019 |website=Edison Investment Research |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200923170537/https://www.edisongroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GamingSectorReport2019.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

Many countries restrict or ban online gambling. However, it is legal in some states of the United States, some provinces in Canada, most countries in the European Union, and several nations in the [[Caribbean]].

In many legal markets, online gambling service providers are required by law to have some form of license to provide services or advertise to residents there. Examples of such authorities include the United Kingdom [[Gambling Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about/|title=What we do|website=www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk|access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> or the [[Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board]] in the US.

Many online casinos and gambling companies around the world choose to base themselves in [[tax haven]]s near their main markets. These destinations include [[Gibraltar]], [[Malta]], and [[Alderney]] in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2019/03/13/under-the-microscope-gambling-tax-havens/|title=Under the microscope: Gambling tax havens|date=2019-03-13|newspaper=Euro Weekly News |language=en-GB |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> In Asia, online gambling is legal in the Philippines with the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation or [[PAGCOR]] as the regulator while the Special Administrative Region of [[Macau]] was long considered a tax haven and known base for gambling operators in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-12-07/quick-take-is-macau-a-tax-haven-you-bet-eu-says-101181976.html |title=Quick Take: Is Macau a Tax Haven? You Bet, EU Says |website=Caixin Global |access-date=20 February 2024 |date=7 December 2017}}</ref> However, in 2018, the EU removed Macau from their list of blacklisted tax havens.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.macaubusiness.com/macau-city-stays-off-eu-tax-haven-list/|title=Macau {{!}} City stays off EU tax haven list |date=2019-03-13 |website=Macau Business|language=en-GB|access-date=20 February 2024 |author=Yi Wei Wong}}</ref>

==History==
In 1994, [[Antigua and Barbuda]] passed the Free Trade & Processing Act, allowing licences to be granted to organisations applying to open online casinos.<ref name=spectrum>{{cite web|title=Internet Gambling Developments in International Jurisdictions: Insights for Indian Nations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324092325/http://www.indiangaming.org/info/alerts/Spectrum-Internet-Paper.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2012 |url=http://www.indiangaming.org/info/alerts/Spectrum-Internet-Paper.pdf|access-date=19 March 2012 |date=4 October 2010 |publisher=Spectrum Gaming Group}}</ref> Before online casinos, the first fully functional [[gambling software]] was developed by [[Microgaming]], an [[Isle of Man]]-based software company. This was secured with software developed by [[CryptoLogic]], an online security software company. Safe transactions became viable; this led to the first online casinos in 1994.<ref name=spectrum/>

1996 saw the establishment of the [[Kahnawake Gaming Commission]], which regulated online gaming activity from the [[Kahnawake|Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake]] and issues gaming licences to many of the world's online casinos and poker rooms.<ref name=spectrum/> This is an attempt to keep the operations of licensed online gambling organisations fair and transparent.

In the late 1990s, online gambling gained popularity; there were only 15 gambling websites in 1996, but that had increased to 200 websites by the following year. A report published by [[Frost & Sullivan]] revealed that online gambling revenues had exceeded $830&nbsp;million in 1998 alone. In the same year, the first online poker rooms were introduced.<ref name=spectrum/> Soon afterward in 1999, the [[Internet Gambling Prohibition Act]] was introduced as a bill in the US Senate; it would have meant that a company could not offer any online gambling product to any US citizen. But it did not pass.<ref name=spectrum/> Multiplayer online gambling was also introduced in 1999.

In 2000, the first Australian federal government passed the [[Interactive Gambling Act 2001|Interactive Gambling Moratorium Act]], making it illegal for any online casino not licensed and operating before May 2000 to operate. This meant Lasseter's Online became the only online casino able to operate legally in Australia; however, they cannot take bets from Australian citizens.<ref name=spectrum/>

By 2001, the estimated number of people who had participated in online gambling rose to eight million, and growth continued, despite continuing legal challenges to online gambling.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wood |first1=Robert|date=2007|title=Internet Gambling: Past, Present and Future |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/185287561.pdf|journal=Research and Measurement Issues in Gambling Studies|pages=491–514 |hdl=10133/422|isbn=978-0-12-370856-4 }}</ref>

In 2008, H2 Gambling Capital estimated worldwide online gambling revenue at $21&nbsp;billion.<ref name=spectrum/>

In 2016, Statista predicted that the online gambling market would reach $45.86&nbsp;billion, growing to $56.05&nbsp;billion by 2018.<ref name="market-volume-of-online-gaming-worldwide"/>

In 2022, online streaming platform [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] banned popular gambling streams from their site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miceli |first=Max |date=2022-09-22 |title=Is gambling content banned on Twitch? |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/is-gambling-content-banned-on-twitch |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Cryptocurrency]] casino operators like [[Stake.com]] had been sponsoring streamers broadcasts of their live gambling sessions for several years.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Cecilia |last=D'Anastasio |date=2021-07-18 |title=Twitch streamers rake in millions with a shady crypto gambling boom |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/twitch-streamers-rake-in-millions-with-a-shady-crypto-gambling-boom/ |access-date=20 February 2024|website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Forms==
The internet has allowed new types of gambling to be available online. Improvements in technology have changed betting habits just as [[video lottery terminal]]s, [[keno]], and [[scratchcard]]s changed the gambling industry in the 20th century.

Gambling has become one of the most popular and lucrative businesses on the internet. In 2007 the UK [[Gambling Commission]] stated that the gambling industry had achieved a turnover of over £84&nbsp;billion. This is partly due to the wide range of gambling options available to many different types of people.<ref name=gambling_commission>{{cite web|title=Report of the Gambling Commission 2006/07 |url=http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/annual%20report%20and%20accounts%202006%202007.pdf|access-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110132412/http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/annual%20report%20and%20accounts%202006%202007.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2009 |website=The Gambling Commission |date=11 July 2007}}</ref> An article by Darren R. Christensen, Nicki A. Dowling, Alun C. Jackson, and Shane A. Thomas said that a survey recorded in Australia showed that the most common forms of gambling were lotteries (46.5%), keno (24.3%), instant scratch tickets (24.3%), and electronic gaming machines (20.5%).<ref name="Christensen 1317–1335">{{Cite journal |last1=Christensen|first1=Darren R.|last2=Dowling|first2=Nicki A. |last3=Jackson|first3=Alun C.|last4=Thomas|first4=Shane A.|date=1 December 2015 |title=Gambling Participation and Problem Gambling Severity in a Stratified Random Survey: Findings from the Second Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania |journal=Journal of Gambling Studies|volume=31|issue=4|pages=1317–1335|doi=10.1007/s10899-014-9495-9 |issn=1573-3602 |pmid=25167843|hdl=11343/283028|s2cid=23762935|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Online gambling sites also started to hire celebrities as their brand ambassadors, such as [[Mike Tyson]], [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], [[Conor McGregor]], and [[Peter Crouch]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 5 sports starts who are gambling ambassadors |date=29 September 2021 |url=https://1010xl.com/post/top-5-sports-stars-who-are-gambling-ambassadors/ |publisher=[[WJXL (AM)]] |access-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108081717/https://1010xl.com/post/top-5-sports-stars-who-are-gambling-ambassadors/ |archive-date=8 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Revealed: star football pundits promote World Cup gambling despite ban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/20/revealed-star-football-pundits-promote-world-cup-gambling-despite-ban#:~:text=Former%20England%20striker%20Crouch%20is,donated%20to%20the%20charity%20Stonewall. |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=The Guardian (UK) |date=20 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122080257/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/20/revealed-star-football-pundits-promote-world-cup-gambling-despite-ban |archive-date=22 November 2022 |first=Jon |last=Ungoed-Thomas |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Poker===
{{Main|Online poker}}
Online [[poker]] tables commonly offer [[Texas hold 'em]], [[Omaha hold 'em]], [[seven-card stud]], [[Razz (poker)|razz]], [[HORSE (poker)|HORSE]], and other game types in both [[poker tournament|tournament]] and [[cash game]] structures. Players play against each other rather than the "house", with the card room making its money through "[[rake (poker)|rake]]" and through tournament fees.

===Casinos===
{{Main|Online casino}}
There are a large number of [[online casino]]s in which people can play [[casino games]] such as [[roulette]], [[blackjack]], [[pachinko]], [[baccarat]], and many others. These games are played against the "house" which makes money because the odds are in its favor.

=== Sweepstakes online casinos ===
{{Main|Sweepstakes casino}}
Sweepstakes online casinos represent an alternative approach to online gambling, providing a platform for casino-style gaming within jurisdictions where traditional online gambling faces legal constraints. These platforms are characterized by a [[sweepstake]]s model, differentiating them from standard online casinos by enabling users to participate in gaming without directly wagering real money.

The operation of sweepstakes casinos is facilitated through a dual currency system. This system comprises "Gold Coins" for recreational gaming, which possess no real-world value, and "Sweepstakes Coins," which are employed in contests that offer participants the chance to win actual monetary prizes. Such a model is designed to comply with the sweepstakes laws in the United States, aiming to ensure a legal and secure gaming environment. For example, a sweepstakes casino [[Stake.com|Stake.us]] working in the US, adapted online gaming to the sweepstakes framework. Stake.us offers an array of casino-style games, making legal and safe gaming accessible to residents in most U.S. states. The implementation of the dual currency system at Stake.us and similar platforms both meet legal stipulations and respond to the demand for modern online gaming options.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Stake.us Legal in the US? |url=https://www.americancasinos.com/en/sweepstakes-casino/stake-us-legal-20230420-0002/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=American Casinos |language=en |first=Mia |last=Wright |date=22 November 2023}}</ref>

===Sports betting===
{{Main|Sports betting}}
Sports betting is the activity of predicting [[sport]]s results and placing a wager on the outcome. Usually, the wager is in the form of money.

Many online sports betting websites offer in-play gambling, which is a feature that allows the user to bet while the event is in progress. A benefit of live in-play gambling is that there are much more markets. For example, in [[Association football]] a user could bet on which player will receive the next [[Yellow card (sport)|Yellow card]], or which team will be awarded the next [[corner kick]].<ref>{{cite news|title=William Hill, Bet365 vie to lead in-play betting-survey|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/betting-survey-idUKL6E8CC5X620120117|access-date=22 March 2012 | work=Reuters|date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160306101219/http://uk.reuters.com/article/betting-survey-idUKL6E8CC5X620120117 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |first=Matt |last=Scuffham}}</ref>

===Bingo===
{{Main|Online bingo}}
Online bingo is the [[game]] of bingo ([[Bingo (American version)|US]]|[[Bingo (British version)|UK]]) played on the internet.

===Lotteries===
Most [[lotteries]] are run by governments and are heavily protected from competition due to their ability to generate large taxable cash flows. The first online lotteries were run by private individuals or companies and licensed to operate by small countries. Most private online lotteries have stopped trading as governments have passed new laws giving themselves and their own lotteries greater protection. Government-controlled lotteries now offer their games online.

====UK National Lottery====
The [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] was started in 1994 and is operated by the [[Camelot Group]]. Around 70% of UK adults play the National Lottery regularly, making the average annual sales over £5&nbsp;billion apart from the year 2000–2001 where sales dropped just below that. In its first 17&nbsp;years, it has created over 2,800 [[millionaire]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our UK National Lottery Operation|url=http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/business/our-uk-national-lottery-operation/|publisher=Camelot Group|access-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120411224314/http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/business/our-uk-national-lottery-operation/ |archive-date=11 April 2012 }}</ref>

In 2002, Camelot decided to rebrand the National Lottery main draw after falling ticket sales. The name National Lottery was kept as the general name for the organisation and the main draw was renamed Lotto. The advertising campaign for the new Lotto cost £72 million which included ten [[television advertisement]]s featuring Scottish [[comedian]] [[Billy Connolly]] and one of the largest ever poster campaigns. The new brand and name had the slogan:

{{Blockquote|Don't live a little, live a Lotto<ref>{{cite news|last=Bowcott|first=Owen|title=Rebranding of 'tired' Lottery aims to halt slide in ticket sales|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/30/marketingandpr.lottery|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 February 2024|location=London|date=30 April 2002}}</ref>}}

===Horse racing betting===
[[Horse racing]] betting comprises a significant percentage of online gambling wagers and all major Internet bookmakers, betting exchanges, and sports books offer a wide variety of horse racing betting markets.

Horse wagering using online methods across state lines is legal in several states in the United States. In 2006, the [[NTRA]] and various religious organizations lobbied in support of an act in Congress meant to limit online gambling. Some critics of the bill argued that the exemption of horse racing wagering was an unfair loophole. In response, the NTRA responded that the exemption was "a recognition of existing federal law", not a new development. Interstate wagering on horse racing was first made legal under the Interstate Horseracing Act written in 1978.<ref name="15usc">{{cite web|url=http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter57&edition=prelim|title=15 USC Ch. 57: INTERSTATE HORSERACING|publisher=[[United States House of Representatives]]|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref> The bill was rewritten in the early 2000s to include the Internet in closed-circuit websites, including [[simulcast racing]], as compared to simply phones or other forms of communication.<ref name="theapa">
{{cite news |date=11 July 2006 |title=Online Wagering Under Attack in Congress |newspaper=[[Quad-Cities Online]] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.qconline.com/news/local/online-wagering-under-attack-in-congress/article_c43980a3-06f4-5ea4-b2d8-36000eb1c122.html |access-date=20 February 2024|first=Nancy |last=Zuckerbrod}}</ref>

===Mobile gambling===
{{Main|Mobile gambling}}
Mobile gambling refers to playing games of chance or skill for money by using a remote device such as a  [[tablet computer]], [[smartphone]] or a [[mobile phone]] with a wireless Internet connection.

===Advance-deposit wagering===
{{Main|Advance-deposit wagering}}
Advance-deposit wagering (ADW) is a form of gambling on the outcome of horse races in which the bettor must fund his or her account before being allowed to place bets. ADW is often conducted online or by phone. In contrast to ADW, credit shops allow wagers without advance funding; accounts are settled at month-end. Racetrack owners, horse trainers and state governments sometimes receive a share of ADW revenues.

===Virtual sports===
{{Main|Virtual sports}}
Virtual Sports are [[electronic game]]s that generate visual feedback on a [[display device]]. The term "virtual sports" is often used to describe software simulations of sports used for betting purposes. Some betting house and [[racino]]s use this kind of software because clients use to bet more than with the normal sports.<ref>{{Cite conference |last1=Debnath|first1=Sandip|last2=Pennock|first2=David M.|last3=Giles|first3=C. Lee|last4=Lawrence|first4=Steve|date=2003-06-09|title=Information incorporation in online in-Game sports betting markets|url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=779928.779987|publisher=Association for Computing Machinery |conference=4th ACM Conference on Electronic Commerce |pages=258–259|doi=10.1145/779928.779987|isbn=158113679X|s2cid=6437374 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Funds transfers==
The money for online gambling can come from credit card, electronic check, certified check, money order, wire transfer, or [[cryptocurrencies]]. Normally, gamblers upload funds to the online gambling company, make bets or play the games that it offers, and then cash out any winnings. Gamblers can often fund gambling accounts by [[credit card]] or [[debit card]], and cash out winnings directly back to the card; most [[United States|U.S.]] banks, however, prohibit the use of their cards for the purpose of Internet gambling, and attempts by Americans to use credit cards at Internet gambling sites are usually rejected.<ref name="overview">{{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0389.pdf |website=United States General Accounting Office |title=Internet Gambling: An Overview of the Issues |date=December 2002 |pages=28 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> A number of [[electronic money]] services offer accounts with which online gambling can be funded.

==Legal status==

=== Argentina ===

While casinos are regulated and not penalized in Argentina, online apps that emulate online casinos work differently. Although these online casinos are not illegal in Argentina, its regulation is controlled by provincial jurisdiction as there is no federal law that prohibits online gambling.  This means that, as opposed to some other countries in the world that have a federal law to regulate this practice, each of the 23 provinces and Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires in Argentina are able to take their own measures and pass their own legislation when it comes to online gambling.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-22 |title=Regulación de los Casinos Online en Argentina |url=https://puntobiz.com.ar/actualidad/regulacion-de-los-casinos-online-en-argentina-202452211160 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Punto Biz |language=es}}</ref> which also forces users to stay informed about what is happening at provincial level.<ref name="eldiariodelarepublica.com">{{Cite web |title=¿Cuál es la regulación legal de los casinos online en Argentina? |url=https://www.eldiariodelarepublica.com/nota/2022-8-11-8-49-0--cual-es-la-regulacion-legal-de-los-casinos-online-en-argentina |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=El Diario de la República |language=es}}</ref>

Even though there was an attempt by Argentinian provinces to work towards the regulation of online gaming, there was no major progress in its development. Therefore, the need for a federal law arises. Although regulation will not put an end to the illegal operation of some platforms and websites, it will make a significant difference by blocking accounts tied to underground gambling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Argentina avanza en la regulación del juego online |url=https://abogados.com.ar/argentina-avanza-en-la-regulacion-del-juego-online/29207 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Abogados.com.ar |language=es}}</ref>

In response to the growing concern for the rise in online gambling in Argentina among young people, the Unión por la Patria bloc of councilors are moving forward to present a project to the Honorable Concejo Deliberante in Buenos Aires, calling for "campaigns in secondary schools aimed at young people and families, involving professionals, experts in addictions and mental health, as well as the educational community."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Se tratará en el Concejo Deliberante, un proyecto para implementar campañas preventivas por las apuestas online |url=https://www.alvearya.com.ar/nota-se-tratara-en-el-concejo-deliberante--un-proyecto-para-implementar-campanas-preventivas-por-las-apuestas-online-198081 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.alvearya.com.ar}}</ref>

==== Buenos Aires ====
In 2018, Buenos Aires was the first province in Argentina to pass its own law, No. 15079,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sistema de Información Normativa y Documental Malvinas Argentinas - Ley 15079 |url=https://normas.gba.gob.ar/ar-b/ley/2018/15079/2404 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=normas.gba.gob.ar}}</ref> that approved the legal operation of online casinos in the province and, up to 2021, it was the only province in Argentina to set forth the regulation of online gaming. Authorities agree that revising and modernizing the laws that are imposed on online casinos will combat illegal gambling, both for the safety of users and the transparency of operations.<ref name="eldiariodelarepublica.com"/> The regulation allows only individuals or legal entities holding a license issued by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos, a public authority overseeing gambling, to participate in online games and bets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2023 |title=¿Los casinos on line están regulados? |url=https://www.diariojudicial.com/news-95152-los-casinos-on-line-estan-regulados}}</ref>

In Buenos Aires, there are now two entities in charge of monitoring and providing licenses after careful inspection to anyone who wishes to bet: The Provincial Lottery (Buenos Aires) and the Buenos Aires Lottery (LOTBA). The Provincial Lottery is concerned with regulating lottery games in Buenos Aires and throughout the province, whereas “the Buenos Aires Lottery is a major body in the online gambling sector.” This body is concerned with promoting measures in favour of “responsible gaming” as well as “ allowing game providers to present their games to online casinos operating under its license”.<ref name=":0" />

==== Córdoba ====
In 2021, the Bill No. 34270 was passed and established the regulation of online gambling activities in the province of Córdoba. The legislators that proposed this law were Orlando Arduh, Silvia Paleo, Darío Capitani, Raúl Recalde and Alberto Ambrosio. The bill became law No. 10793 after legislators noticed the urgent need for regulation in online gambling. The legislator Silvia Paleo spoke about this law and said that new legislation is “the only possible step towards responsible gambling” and also that it is the “responsibility of the State” to make gambling secure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guillaumet |first=Cristian |date=2021-12-30 |title=Se sancionó la ley que regula el juego online en Córdoba |url=https://prensa.cba.gov.ar/informacion-general/se-sanciono-la-ley-que-regula-el-juego-online-en-cordoba/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Web de Noticias - Gobierno de Córdoba |language=es}}</ref>

The aim of Law No. 10793 is "to regulate online gaming (...) with the purpose of guaranteeing public order, eradicating illegal gaming and safeguarding the rights of those who participate in them"<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021 |title=Ley Nº 10793. |url=https://legislaturacba.gob.ar/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/29-12-2021-REGULAR-EL-JUEGO-EN-L%C3%8DNEA-LEY-10.793.pdf |journal=Legislatura de Córdoba}}</ref> including casino games, sports betting and lotteries.

In the province of Córdoba, the Córdoba Lottery is the body in charge of granting licenses, supervising all gambling operations and protecting players. In 2023, four online gambling platforms were granted a license to start operating for a 45-day trial period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-04 |title=Juego online en Córdoba: cuándo y cómo empezarán a operar las cuatro plataformas habilitadas {{!}} Política |url=https://www.lavoz.com.ar/politica/juego-online-en-cordoba-cuando-y-como-empezaran-a-operar-las-cuatro-plataformas-habilitadas/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=La Voz del Interior |language=es}}</ref> The platforms Boldt, Betsson, PlayCet and Jugadón received these licenses which are granted for 15 years and are non-renewable. As required by law, platforms that get a license in Córdoba must pay a monthly fee of 10% of the gross proceeds and the money is used to fund social programs in the province.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-25 |title=Juego online en Córdoba: por 45 días ya se pueden probar las plataformas |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/cordoba/juego-online-en-cordoba-ya-se-pueden-probar-las-plataformas-y-las-empresas-facturarian-unos-1400-millones-de-pesos-mensuales.phtml |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Perfil |language=es}}</ref>

===Antigua and Barbuda===
Many of the companies operating out of the island nation of [[Antigua and Barbuda]] are publicly traded on various stock exchanges, specifically the [[London Stock Exchange]]. Antigua has met British regulatory standards and has been added to the UK's "white list", which allows licensed Antiguan companies to advertise in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cigionline.org/articles/2009/08/rethinking-offshore-antiguas-internet-gambling-challenge |title=Rethinking the Offshore: Antigua's Internet Gambling Challenge |publisher=Cigionline.org |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110616182856/https://www.cigionline.org/articles/2009/08/rethinking-offshore-antiguas-internet-gambling-challenge/ |archive-date=16 June 2011 |first=Thomas |last=Agar |date=17 August 2009}}</ref>

The national government, which licenses Internet gambling entities, made a complaint to the [[World Trade Organization]] about the U.S. government's actions to impede online gaming. The Caribbean country won the preliminary ruling but WTO's appeals body somewhat narrowed that favorable ruling in April 2005.<ref name="wto">{{cite web|url=https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds285_e.htm|title=United States — Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services|date=25 April 2013|publisher=[[World Trade Organization]]|access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> The appeals decision held that various state laws argued by Antigua and Barbuda to be contrary to the WTO agreements were not sufficiently discussed during the course of the proceedings to be properly assessed by the panel. However, the appeals panel also ruled that the Wire Act and two other federal statutes prohibiting the provision of gambling services from Antigua to the United States violated the WTO's [[General Agreement on Trade in Services]]. Although the United States convinced the appeals panel that these laws were "necessary" to protect public health and morals, the asserted United States defense on these grounds was ultimately rejected because its laws relating to remote gambling on horse-racing were not applied equally to foreign and domestic online betting companies, and thus the United States could not establish that its laws were non-discriminatory.<ref name="wto"/>

On 30 March 2007, the WTO confirmed that the U.S. "had done nothing to abide by an earlier verdict that labeled some U.S. Internet gambling restrictions as illegal."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL3047306520070330 |title=WTO confirms U.S. loss in Internet gambling case |publisher=Reuters |date=30 March 2007 |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070921011216/http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL3047306520070330 |archive-date=21 September 2007}}</ref>

On 19 June 2007, Antigua and Barbuda filed a claim with the WTO for US$3.4 billion in trade sanctions against the United States, and in particular, the ability for the country to suspend its enforcement of U.S. [[copyright]]s and [[patent]]s and a punitive measure. On 28 January 2013, the WTO authorized the ability for Antigua and Bermuda to monetize and exploit U.S. copyrights as compensation for the country's actions; the country planned to form "a statutory body to own, manage and operate the ultimate platform to be created for the monetisation or other exploitation of the suspension of American intellectual property rights".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2007/06/070620_antwto.shtml |title=Antigua demands trade sanctions |publisher=BBC |date=20 June 2007 |access-date=20 February 2024 |website=BBC Caribbean}}</ref><ref name="networkworld-antiguacopyr">{{cite web|title=Avast, me hearties! Antigua to legally pirate US copyrighted works|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/746850/software-avast-me-hearties-antigua-to-legally-pirate-us-copyrighted-works.html|website=Networkworld|publisher=IDG|access-date=20 February 2024|date=24 October 2013 |first=Mark |last=Gibbs}}</ref><ref name="iw-antiguacopy">{{cite web|title=Antigua and Barbuda: The new Pirate Bay?|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2612726/patents/antigua-and-barbuda--the-new-pirate-bay-.html|website=Infoworld|publisher=IDG|access-date=20 February 2024|date=28 October 2013 |first=Serdar |last=Yegulalp}}</ref>

===Australia===
{{Main|Gambling in Australia}}
On 28 June 2001 the Australian Government passed the [[Interactive Gambling Act]] 2001 (IGA). The government said that the IGA was important to protect Australians from the harmful effects of gambling. The offense applies to all interactive gambling service providers, whether based in Australia or offshore, whether Australian or foreign owned. The IGA makes it an offence to provide an interactive gambling service to a customer physically present in Australia, but it is not an offence for Australian residents to play poker or casino games online. Sports betting online is legal in Australia, with many state government licensed sportsbooks in operation.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

=== Bangladesh ===
[[Gambling in Bangladesh]] is illegal. Online gambling busts are frequently conducted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Star Online |date=2020-02-13 |title=16 held for online gambling in Ctg |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/online-gambling-in-chattogram-16-held-1867453 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-02 |title=Online Gambling: Salim, partner got Tk 9cr in a month |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/online-gambling-salim-partner-got-tk-9cr-month-1808056 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Related laws include: The Public Gambling Act (1867),<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Public Gambling Act, 1867 |url=http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-16.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd}}</ref> Money laundering, the Foreign Currency Act, [[Digital Security Act, 2018|Digital Security Act]]. However, comprehensive laws regarding online gambling is lacking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=We need a clear legal framework to rein in online betting |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/thoughts/we-need-clear-legal-framework-rein-online-betting-704678 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> In some regions [[Cable television|cable TV]] is blocked to curtail online sports betting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-22 |title=Upazilla authorities in Feni block cable to stop IPL betting |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/upazilla-authorities-feni-block-cable-stop-ipl-betting-148615 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2022, national cricketer [[Shakib Al Hasan]] was accused of promoting gambling sites. Shakib cancelled the contract after pressure from the public and [[Bangladesh Cricket Board]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=Online gambling ads targeting Bangladesh |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/online-gambling-ads-targeting-bangladesh-482814 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>

===Belarus===
Online gambling has been legalized in Belarus since April 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pravo.by/novosti/obshchestvenno-politicheskie-i-v-oblasti-prava/2019/april/33540/ |trans-title=Online casinos legalized in Belarus since April 1 |website=Pravo.by |script-title=be:Онлайн-казино легализованы в Беларуси с 1 апреля |language=be |date=2019 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

===Bosnia===
Online gambling has been legalized in Bosnia since [https://www.igamingtoday.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina-market-research-report/#:~:text=To%20streamline%20the%20gambling%20framework,offer%20services%20within%20the%20country. 2011].

===Canada===
While the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|criminal code of Canada]] does not prohibit online gambling, it does prohibit any type of gambling at an establishment not owned or licensed by a provincial government. Not withstanding this fact, there are an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 offshore websites that make casino type games and other gambling activities available to Canadians.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Use of the Internet for Gaming|url=http://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/pdf/lpr/LPR_Report_15-Internet_Gaming.pdf|access-date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060627121132/https://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/pdf/lpr/LPR_Report_15-Internet_Gaming.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2006 |website=[[Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission]]}}</ref> For online gambling operations within Canada's borders, the [[Government of Canada|Canadian authorities]] are willing to prosecute, but as of this date, have only done so once, when British Columbia prosecuted Starnet Communications International ("SCI"), a Delaware corporation, run by residents of [[Vancouver]], where one of the company's servers was located. The court found that SCI had sufficient contact with Canada to be prosecuted under its criminal code. SCI was fined $100,000 and forfeited nearly $4 million in profits. It has since moved its operations overseas.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Crowne-Mohammed|first1=Emir Aly |first2=Sanjay |last2=Roy |journal=Canadian Gaming Lawyer Magazine |volume=3|issue=1 |pages=8–10|title=Maintaining Provincial Monopolies: The Legality of Online Gambling Sites in Canada|ssrn=1611862|date=19 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2004, the [[British Columbia Lottery Corporation]] launched Canada's first legal online casino, [[PlayNow.com]], which makes legal online gambling available to residents of [[British Columbia]] and [[Manitoba]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About PlayNow |website=playnow.com|url=https://www.playnow.com/about-playnow|access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> A survey conducted in 2007 showed that only about 2.3% of Canadians reported participating in online gambling.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Smith|first=Garry|title=Sports Betting in Canada|url=http://tmcw2k06.asser.nl/upload/documents/1172011_123702ISLJ%202009_1-2.pdf#page=108|access-date=9 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145454/http://tmcw2k06.asser.nl/upload/documents/1172011_123702ISLJ%202009_1-2.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2014|page=108 |journal=The International Sports Law Journal |date=2009}}</ref> However, in 2012, Manitoba Lotteries Minister Steve Ashton estimated that gamblers in Manitoba alone were spending $37 million a year at illegal online casinos.<ref>{{cite web|last=Peppin|first=Joan|title=Manitoba to Launch Online Gambling|url=http://www.casinoadvisor.com/manitoba-to-launch-online-gambling-news-item.html|access-date=20 February 2024 |date=7 April 2012}}</ref> [[Quebec]]'s lottery organization [[Loto-Quebec]] launched a similar service, known as Espacejeux.<ref name="gandm-quebecblock">{{cite news|title=Quebec plan to block gambling sites draws cries of censorship|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/quebec-plan-to-block-gambling-sites-draws-cries-of-censorship/article27259448/|access-date=19 March 2016|work=The Globe and Mail |first=Christine |last=Dobby |date=13 November 2015}}</ref>

According to John A. Cunningham, Joanne Cordingley, David C. Hodgins and Tony Toneatto a telephone survey was recorded in [[Ontario]] that shows there was a strong agreement that conceptions of gambling abuse as a [[problem gambling|disease or addiction]] were positively associated with belief that treatment is needed, while there was a strong agreement that disease or wrongdoing was positively associated with the credit that abstinence is required.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cunningham|first1=John A.|last2=Cordingley|first2=Joanne|last3=Hodgins|first3=David C.|last4=Toneatto|first4=Tony|date=1 December 2011|title=Beliefs about gambling problems and recovery: results from a general population telephone survey|journal=Journal of Gambling Studies|volume=27|issue=4|pages=625–631|doi=10.1007/s10899-010-9231-z|issn=1573-3602|pmid=21203805|s2cid=31461647}}</ref>

===France===
{{Main|Gambling in France}}
On 5 March 2009, France proposed new laws to regulate and tax Internet gambling. Budget minister Eric Woerth stated the French gambling market would expand to adapt to "Internet reality." He further stated "Rather than banning 25,000 websites, we'd rather give licenses to those who will respect public and social order."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/technology/05iht-gamble.4.20629506.html?_r=0 |title=French gambling plan seeks to stem illegal betting |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=31 December 1969 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref>  [[Betting exchange]]s, however, will remain illegal under the new plans.

===Germany===
The German Interstate Treaty on gaming, which came into force on 1 January 2008, banned all forms of online gaming and betting in the country, with the exception of wagers on horse racing. The European Gaming & Betting Association turned to the European Commission with the request to take action against the German legislation, because such stringent legislation violated EU rules.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pfanner |first=Eric |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/technology/15iht-gamble.4.9237098.html |title=EU moves toward ruling on German gambling law |work=The New York Times |date=5 January 2008 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref> In 2010, the European Court of Justice ruled that the monopolised gambling industry in Germany has to be liberalised. [[Schleswig-Holstein]] is the only German state that has already come up with their own gambling bill allowing gambling online. From 2012, casino operators can apply for an online gambling license in this state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casinoadvisor.com/german-state-passes-online-gambling-legislation-news-item.html |title=German State passes online gambling legislation |publisher=Casinoadvisor |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

===India===
{{Main|Online gambling in India}}
Online gambling is illegal in the state of [[Maharashtra]] under the "[[Bombay Wager Act]]". Other acts/legislations are silent with respect to online gambling/online gaming in India.  The most recent law to address gambling online was the Federal Information Technology Rules where such illegal activities may be blocked by Internet providers within India.  Another act is the Public Gaming Act of 1867.  States tend to operate on their own authority.

[[Online Gambling In India|Online gambling]] legal issues in India are complicated in nature as [[Gambling in India]] is regulated by different states laws and online gambling is a central subject. To ascertain the position of Indian government, the Supreme Court of India sought the opinion of central government<ref>{{cite web|url=http://groundreport.com/supreme-court-seeks-centres-response-on-online-rummy-and-card-games-in-india/|title=Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Response On Online Rummy And Card Games In India |website=Ground Report|date=19 September 2014 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> in this regard but the same was declined by the central government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/centre-let-sc-decide-if-rummy-poker-are-gambling/|title=Centre: Let SC decide if rummy, poker are gambling|date=26 September 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=20 February 2024 |author=Utkarsh Anand |location=New Delhi}}</ref> This has made playing of online cards games like rummy, poker, etc. legally risky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://groundreport.com/online-rummy-and-online-poker-remains-legally-risky-in-india/|title=Online Rummy And Online Poker Remains Legally Risky In India |website=Ground Report|date=13 September 2014}}</ref> Playing Rummy in India is legal as according to the verdict of Supreme Court of India, Rummy is a Game of skills and cannot be considered as Gambling.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sc-clears-air-online-rummy-not-gambling/ |title = SC clears air, online rummy not gambling|date = 13 August 2015 |work=The Indian Express |author=Utkarsh Anand |location=New Delhi}}</ref>

On 3 September 2015, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued a Circular titled "Clarification on Tax Compliance for Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets" under the black money act which directs the online poker players in the country to declare their money transactions on foreign poker sites through the e-wallets and virtual cards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/communications/circular/circular15_2015.pdf |title=Clarification on Tax Compliance for Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets |access-date=20 February 2024 |date=3 September 2015 |publisher=Government of India Ministry of Finance}}</ref>

===Israel===
The Israel gambling law (Israeli Penal Law 5737 - 1977) does not refer specifically to online gambling (land based gambling and playing games of chances is prohibited except in the cases of the Israel Lottery and the Israeli Commission for Sports Gambling). In December 2005, the attorney general ordered all online gambling operations, online [[backgammon]] included, to close their businesses and at the same time commanded credit card companies to cease cooperating with online gambling websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?id=1660&s=latestnews |title=Internet Law: The Israeli Police Orders Gambling Websites to Shut Down |website=Internet Business Law Services |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070513214354/http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?id=1660&s=latestnews |archive-date=13 May 2007 |date=24 January 2007 |location=Tel Aviv}}</ref> In May 2007, the attorney general had excluded the online backgammon website [[Play65]] from the ruling, due to "the unique circumstances of the site's activity", allowing it to return to full activity in Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.themarker.com/tmc/article.jhtml?ElementId=eaf20070520_1144&layer=hp&layer2=&layer3=law |trans-title=The Marker: Backgammon Site Play65 Returns its Activity in Israel |publisher=The Marker |date=20 May 2007 |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090607073314/http://law.themarker.com/tmc/article.jhtml?ElementId=eaf20070520_1144&layer=hp&layer2=&layer3=law |archive-date=7 June 2009 |title=אתר השש-בש PLAY65 של אינטרלוג'יק חוזר לפעילות בישראל |language=he}}</ref>

In 2012, the Tel Aviv Police Commander ordered local ISPs to block access to several online gambling sites. The District Court invalidated this order. The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in 2013, finding that the police do not have legal authority to issue such orders. The government responded by proposing a bill that will authorize such orders, referring to child pornography, drug trafficking and online gambling websites.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

===Kenya===
Kenya has a strong mobile payment services offering and a growing middle class.

===Nigeria===
Retail betting shops are very popular and mobile gaming is growing with internet. There is a strong network for sending and receiving payouts via SMS.

===Poland===
In December 2016 the amendment to the Polish Gambling Act was scheduled to come into force on 1 April 2017. Online gambling will be only possible on the sites with Polish license.

===Russia===
{{Main|Gambling in Russia}}
Russian legislation, enacted in December 2006, prohibits online gambling altogether (as well as any gambling relying on telecommunications technology).<ref>{{cite web|language=ru|title=Russian federal law "On state regulation of organization and management of gambling and changes to related legislation" ch.5|date= 29 December 2006 |url=http://www.akdi.ru/GD/PROEKT/099504GD.SHTM|website=www.akdi.ru}}</ref>

===South Africa===
The industry does have laws but are [https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/regulation/south-africa-opposition-introduces-remote-gambling-bill/ weakly enforced].

===Singapore===
In 2014, the Singapore parliament tabled the [[Remote Gambling Bill]] as a counter-measure against online gambling locally,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lim Yan Liang|title=Bill tabled to restrict online gambling in S'pore|url=http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/bill-tabled-restrict-online-gambling-spore|access-date=2 March 2018|work=AsiaOne|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=9 September 2014}}</ref> while parliamentary member [[Denise Phua]] spoke against legalised gambling in Singapore.<ref>{{cite web|title=Denise Phua: She wants to end segregation in schools |website=If Only Singaporeans Stopped to Think|date=26 January 2014|url=http://ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.sg/2014/01/denise-phua-she-wants-to-end.html|access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

===Ukraine===
Gambling was prohibited in Ukraine in 2009 after a fire occurred in an illegal gambling hall in [[Dnipro]] (former Dnipropetrovsk), in which nine people died.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/update-fire-in-gambling-hall-kills-nine-people-in-41075.html?cn-reloaded=1 |title=Fire in gambling hall kills nine people in Dnipropetrovsk |work=KyivPost |date=7 May 2009 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

The Law On Prohibition of Gambling Business, signed by then President of Ukraine [[Viktor Yushchenko]], made all forms of gambling, including slots machines, bookmaking and online gambling illegal in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/anot/en/1334-17 |title=On Prohibition of Gambling Business in Ukraine |publisher=[[Verkhovna Rada]] |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

Despite the 2009 law, many venues continued to operate using legal loopholes for many years. In early January 2020, over 900 such gambling operations were closed down in preparation for a legalised market.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Over 900 illegal gambling halls shut down as Ukraine prepares to legalize gambling | url=https://www.kyivpost.com/business/over-900-illegal-gambling-halls-shut-down-in-ukraine-as-government-prepares-to-legalize-gambling-in-2020.html | access-date=2021-12-19 | website=kyivpost.com | date=11 January 2020 | language=en}}</ref>

On January the 24th 2020, legislators in the [[Verkhovna Rada]] passed the first stage of the law to reintroduce legal gambling in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/ukraine-votes-and-approves-gambling-industry-prepares-to-launch-officially/|title=Ukraine Votes and Approves Gambling Industry, Prepares to Launch Officially|date=2020-01-21|website=Gambling News|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> In August 2020 bill 2285-D passed, making online gambling, bookmaking, slot halls and casinos legal in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Boyle |first=Daniel |date=2020-08-11 |title=Gambling legalised in Ukraine as Zelensky signs act into law |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/casino-games/gambling-legalised-in-ukraine-as-zelensky-signs-act-into-law/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=iGB |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], several Russian online casinos were accused of targeting Ukrainian customers in order to sell their data to Russian security services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Erik |date=2022-10-03 |title=Russian Gambling Operators Caught Stealing Data of Ukrainians |url=https://www.casino.org/news/russian-gambling-operators-caught-stealing-data-of-ukrainians/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Casino.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Born |first=Falcon |date=2022-09-30 |title=How the Russian bookmaker 1XBet created a network to collect personal data of Ukrainians: MelBet, PointLoto, FanSport, BetWinner |url=https://informnapalm.org/en/russian-bookmaker-1xbet-created-a-network/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=InformNapalm.org (English) |language=en-US}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
{{Main|Gambling in the United Kingdom}}
In 2003 [[Tessa Jowell]], then Culture Secretary suggested a change in the British Gambling laws to keep up with advances in technology.

{{Blockquote|Our gambling laws date back to the 1960s. Since then attitudes to gambling have changed and the law has failed to keep pace with rapid technological change. Gambling is now a diverse, vibrant and innovative industry and a popular leisure activity enjoyed in many forms by millions of people. The law needs to reflect that.<ref name=outlaw>{{cite news |title=Gambling law updated in the UK for the internet|url=http://www.out-law.com/page-4087|access-date=20 February 2024|date=20 November 2003 |work=Out-Law News}}</ref>}}

The Bill identified updates to the laws already in place in the UK, and also created the [[Gambling Commission|UK Gambling Commission]] to take over from the Gambling Board. The commission will have the power to prosecute any parties in breach of the guidelines set out by the bill and will be tasked with regulating any codes of practice they set forward. The Bill set out its licensing objectives, which are as follows:

* Ensuring no link between gambling and crime or disorder
* Ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly
* Protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm or exploitation

The Bill also set out guidelines stating that gambling will be unlawful in the UK unless granted a licence, permit or registration. It outlined the penalty for being in breach of these guidelines, that being a maximum of six months in prison, a fine, or both for each offence. Any person under 18 will not be allowed to gamble and it is an offence to invite or permit anyone under the age of 18 years to gamble.

The [[Gambling Act 2005|UK's Gambling Act 2005]]<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=UK Government |website=legislation.gov.uk |date=2005 |title=The Gambling Act 2005 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/contents}}</ref> passed in that year. In 2022, the Conservative government postponed (for the fourth time) the publication of a whitepaper detailing the process of an update to the 2005 act. A government spokesperson said that due to the departure of Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] the report would be delayed until a new leader's policies were in place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Dismay as UK gambling reform white paper shelved for fourth time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/14/dismay-as-uk-gambling-reform-white-paper-shelved-for-fourth-time |access-date=20 February 2024 |first=Rob |last=Davies|website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> The next Prime Minister [[Liz Truss]] appointed [[Michelle Donelan]] as [[Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]], whose voting record indicates pro gambling reform views.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=Daniel |title=Government Shake Up Means Uncertainty for UK Gambling Reform |url=https://www.cardschat.com/news/uk-gambling-laws-saga-continues-113034/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |website=Cardschat |language=en-us |date=8 September 2022}}</ref>

====Remote gambling====
The Bill defined remote gambling as,

{{Blockquote|Gambling in which persons participate by the use of remote communication.}}

This would be using the internet, the telephone, radio, television of any other device used for communication. Any operator must have a separate licence for remote gambling and non-remote gambling. The licence must state what form the remote gambling would come in and any conditions appropriate to each operator. Offences for breaching remote gambling guidelines are the same as breaching non-remote gambling guidelines.<ref name=outlaw/>

===United States===
{{Main|Gambling in the United States}}
Legislation on online gambling in the United States was first drafted in the late 1990s. [[Bob Goodlatte]] and [[Jon Kyl]] introduced bills to the Senate that would curb online gambling activities except for those that involved horse and dog races and state lotteries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/14/us/measure-to-curb-internet-gambling-gains-in-the-house.html |title=Measure to Curb Internet Gambling Gains in the House |newspaper=The New York Times |date= 14 July 2000|access-date=11 October 2017|last1=Broder |first1=John M. }}</ref> Those bills were not passed.

The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit]] ruled<ref>{{cite web |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-5th-circuit/1342249.html |title=In re: Mastercard International Inc. Internet Gambling Litigation |publisher=US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals |date=20 November 2002 |via=findlaw.com |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> in November 2002 that the [[Federal Wire Act]] prohibits electronic transmission of information for sports betting across telecommunications lines but affirmed a lower court ruling<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pub.bna.com/eclr/1321a.htm |title=In Re: MasterCard, United States District Court Eastern District of Louisiana ruling |publisher=Pub.bna.com |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref> that the Wire Act "'in plain language' does not prohibit Internet gambling on a game of chance."  But the federal Department of Justice continues, publicly, to take the position that the Wire Act covers all forms of gambling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cross-Border Betting: International Agreement on Protecting Local Residents |url=http://www.gamblingandthelaw.com/articles/259-cross-border-betting-international-agreement-on-protecting-local-residents.html |website=Gambling and the Law |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20101203030744/http://www.gamblingandthelaw.com/articles/259-cross-border-betting-international-agreement-on-protecting-local-residents.html |archive-date=3 December 2010 |date=2009 |first=I. Nelson |last=Rose}}</ref>

In April 2004 [[Google]] and [[Yahoo!]], the two largest Internet [[search engines]], announced that they were removing online gambling advertising from their sites. The move followed a [[United States Department of Justice]] announcement that, in what some{{who|date=August 2022}} say is a contradiction of the Appeals Court ruling, the Wire Act relating to telephone betting applies to all forms of Internet gambling, and that any advertising of such gambling "may" be deemed as aiding and abetting. Critics of the Justice Department's move say that it has no legal basis for pressuring companies to remove advertisements and that the advertisements are protected by the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstamendment.com/freedomtomarket.htm |access-date=9 August 2013 |title=The Freedom to Market |author=Lawrence G. Walters, Esquire |publisher=Weston, Garrou, DeWitt & Walters |website=Firstamendment.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221171757/http://www.firstamendment.com/freedomtomarket.htm |archive-date=21 February 2009}} [http://realcasinoclub.com/www.firstamendment.com/freedomtomarket.htm Alt URL]</ref>  In April 2005, Yahoo! instigated a restrictive policy about gambling [[advertisement|ads]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/ysm/sps/articles/editorial9.html |title=Editorial Guidelines: Unacceptable Content |publisher=Help.yahoo.com  |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20081219191941/http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/ysm/sps/articles/editorial9.html |archive-date=19 December 2008}}</ref>  The USDOJ has no authority to enact or interpret laws, including via announcement.

In July 2006, [[David Carruthers]], the CEO of [[BetonSports]], a company publicly traded on the [[London Stock Exchange]], was detained in Texas while changing planes on his way from London to Costa Rica.<ref>{{cite news|author=Simon Bowers and agencies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/frontpage/story/0,,1823090,00.html |title=FBI detains online betting boss on airport runway |work=The Guardian |date= 18 July 2006|access-date=26 November 2011 |location=London}}</ref> He and ten other individuals had been previously charged in a sealed indictment with violations of US federal laws relating to illegal gambling.  While as noted above, a United States Appeals court has stated that the Wire Act does not apply to non-sports betting, the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] previously refused to hear an appeal of the conviction of [[Jay S. Cohen]], where lower courts held that the Wire Act does make it illegal to own a sports betting operation that offers such betting to United States citizens.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Cy |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/gaming/2002/jun/21/062110471.html |title=US Supreme Court refuses to hear Jay Cohen appeal |publisher=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=26 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224033244/http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/gaming/2002/jun/21/062110471.html |archive-date=24 December 2007 |date=21 June 2002}}</ref>

The BetOnSports indictment alleged violations of at least nine different federal statutes, including 18 USC Sec. 1953 (Operation of an Illegal Gambling Business).<ref>{{cite news|title=USA v. BetonSports PLC |publisher=US District Court of Missiouri |url=https://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/technology/gambling-indict.pdf |access-date=20 February 2024 |via=The New York Times}}</ref> Carruthers is currently under house arrest on a one million dollar bail bond.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.piramind.com/david-carruthers-finally-released-today-million-dollar-bail/ |title=David Carruthers finally released today on million dollar bail |date=25 September 2014 |publisher=Freedavidcarruthers.com |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141001134007/http://www.piramind.com/david-carruthers-finally-released-today-million-dollar-bail/ |archive-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>

In September 2006, [[Sportingbet]] reported that its chairman, [[Peter Dicks]], was detained in New York City on a Louisiana warrant while traveling in the United States on business unrelated to online gaming.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/sep/09/gambling.newmedia |title=Sportingbet arrest threatens internet gambling |last1=Clark |first1=Andrew |last2=Bowers |first2=Simon |date=9 September 2006 |website=The Guardian|access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> Louisiana is one of the few states that has a specific law prohibiting gambling online. At the end of the month, New York dismissed the Louisiana warrant.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kollewe |first=Julia |date=30 September 2006 |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1772362.ece |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029220021/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1772362.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2006 |title=Former gambling chief Dicks is freed in US |website=The Independent |location=London}}</ref>

Also in September 2006, just before adjourning for the midterm elections, both the House of Representatives and Senate passed the [[Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006]] (as a section of the unrelated [[SAFE Port Act]]) to make transactions from banks or similar institutions to online gambling sites illegal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dilov-Schultheis|first=Diane |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/online-poker-legislation-safe-port-act-uigea-2006-145600043--spt.html |title=Online Poker Legislation – The SAFE Port Act and UIGEA of 2006 |date=May 29, 2012 |website=Yahoo Sports |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120603100933/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/online-poker-legislation-safe-port-act-uigea-2006-145600043--spt.html |archive-date=3 June 2012}}</ref> This differed from a previous bill passed only by the House that expanded the scope of the Wire Act. The passed bill only addressed banking issues. The Act was signed into law on 13 October 2006, by President [[George W. Bush]]. At the UIGEA bill-signing ceremony, Bush did not mention the Internet gambling measure, which was supported by the [[National Football League]] but opposed by banking groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-13-bush-bill_x.htm |title=Bush signs port security bill |work=USA Today |date=13 October 2006 |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061104141041/https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-13-bush-bill_x.htm |archive-date=4 November 2006}}</ref> The regulation called for in the UIGEA was issued in November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/bcreg/20081112b.htm |title=Agencies Issue Final Rule to Implement Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act |publisher=Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |date=November 12, 2008 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=R. Jeffrey |last=Smith |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202668.html |title=New Rules For Banks Target Online Gambling |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=13 November 2008 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref>

In April 2007, Rep. [[Barney Frank]] (D-MA) introduced HR 2046, the [[Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act]], which would modify UIGEA by providing a provision for licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Several similar bills have been introduced since then in the House and Senate.

In June 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice seized over $34 million belonging to over 27,000 accounts in the [[Southern District of New York Action Against Online Poker Players]].  This is the first time money was seized from individual players as compared to the gaming company.  Jeff Ifrah, the lawyer for one of the account management companies affected, said that the government "has never seized an account that belongs to players who are engaged in what [Ifrah] would contend is a lawful act of playing peer-to-peer poker online."<ref name = "NYTimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/business/10poker.html?_r=1|title=Web's Poker Winners Face Delays in Collecting|date=9 June 2009 |last=Richtel|first=Matt|access-date=29 June 2009 | work=The New York Times}}</ref>

On 3 December 2009, the [[House Financial Services Committee]] held a hearing on UIGEA and Rep. Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267) where experts in the fields of online security and consumer safety testified that a regulatory framework for Internet gambling would protect consumers and ensure the integrity of Internet gambling financial transactions. On 28 July 2010, the committee passed H.R. 2267 by a vote of 41–22–1.  The bill would legalize and regulate online poker and some other forms of online gambling.<ref>{{cite web|title=House Panel Votes To Approve Bill Legalizing Online Gambling|url=http://www.advfn.com/news_House-Panel-Votes-To-Approve-Bill-Legalizing-Onlin_43785926.html|access-date=20 February 2024 |date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dodge |first=Catherine |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-28/house-panel-passes-frank-backed-measure-to-legalize-some-internet-gambling.html |title=House Panel Passes Measure to Legalize Some Internet Gambling |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=29 July 2010 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref>

On 22 November 2010, the New Jersey state Senate became the first such US body to pass a bill (S490) expressly legalizing certain forms of online gambling. The bill was passed with a 29–5 majority. The bill allows bets to be taken by in-State companies on poker games, casino games and slots but excludes sports betting, although it allows for the latter to be proposed, voted on and potentially regulated separately in due course.<ref>{{cite news|last=Parry|first=Wayne|date=22 November 2010|title=NJ lawmakers pass smaller casinos bill|website=Boston.com |url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/11/22/nj_lawmakers_pass_smaller_casinos_bill/|access-date=4 April 2014}}</ref> However, a [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] [[PublicMind]] poll in April 2009 showed only 26% of New Jersey voters approved of online sports-betting.<ref>{{cite web|author=William R. Kennedy |url=http://publicmind.fdu.edu/sportsbetting/ |title=Legalized Sports Betting in New Jersey |website=PublicMind Poll |date=April 20, 2009 |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson University |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-date=2009-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921052859/http://publicmind.fdu.edu/sportsbetting/}}</ref> On a national level, two-thirds (67%) of voters polled by [[PublicMind]] in March 2010 opposed changing the law to allow online betting. Men were more likely than women (29–14%) and liberals more likely than conservatives (27–18%) to approve of changing the law to allow online betting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publicmind.fdu.edu/casino/final.pdf |title=US Public: Keep Las Vegas in Las Vegas |date=March 11, 2010 |website=Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

In May 2012, FDU's PublicMind conducted a follow-up study which asked voters if they favored or opposed online gaming/gambling and "allowing New Jersey casinos to run betting games online, over the Internet." The results showed that (31%) of voters favored while a sizable majority (58%) opposed the idea. [[Peter J. Woolley|Peter Woolley]], director of the PublicMind, commented on the results: "Online gambling may be a good bet for new state revenue, but lots of voters don't think it's a good bet for New Jersey households."<ref>{{cite press release |website=Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind |date=14 May 2012 |url=http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2012/wary/ |title=N.J. Voters Wary of Internet Gambling |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

On 15 April 2011, in ''[[United States v. Scheinberg|U. S. v. Scheinberg et al. (10 Cr. 336)]]'', three [[online poker]] companies were indicted for violating U.S. laws that prohibit the acceptance of any financial instrument in connection with unlawful Internet gambling,<ref name="Fox News">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/15/3-major-online-poker-companies-targeted-federal-crackdown|title=3 Major Online Poker Companies Targeted in Federal Crackdown|publisher=[[Fox News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=15 April 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110418003437/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/15/3-major-online-poker-companies-targeted-federal-crackdown/ |archive-date=18 April 2011}}</ref><ref>''See'' [http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t29t32+2095+0++%28%29%20%20AND%20%28%2831%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND%20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%285363%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 31 U.S.C. § 5363].</ref> that is, Internet gambling that involves a "bet or wager" that is illegal under the laws of the [[U.S. state|state]] where the bet is made.<ref>''See'' [http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t29t32+2094+0++%28%29%20%20AND%20%28%2831%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND%20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%285362%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 31 U.S.C. § 5362].</ref> The indictment alleges that the companies used fraudulent methods to evade this law, for example, by disguising online gambling payments as purchases of merchandise, and by investing money in a local bank in return for the bank's willingness to process online poker transactions.<ref name="Fox News"/>  The companies argue that [[poker]] is a game of skill rather than a game of chance, and therefore, online poker is not unlawful Internet gambling. There are other legal problems with the government's case, and the indictments did not mention the Wire Act.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rose|first=I. Nelson|title=Gambling and the Law: A Law Professor Looks at Poker's Black Friday |url=http://rose.casinocitytimes.com/article/gambling-and-the-law-a-law-professor-looks-at-pokers-black-friday-59764|website=Casino City Times |access-date=20 February 2024 |date=6 May 2011}}</ref>  On 31 July 2012, it was announced that two of the three companies indicted for [[money laundering]] and forfeiture settled with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney for $731 million without legally admitting guilt. The government also asked the judge to approve a settlement with the third defendant, Absolute Poker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces $731 Million Settlement Of Money Laundering And Forfeiture Complaint With Pokerstars And Full Tilt Poker |date=July 31, 2012 |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/july12/pokersettlement.html|publisher=The U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York|access-date=2 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805200217/http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/july12/pokersettlement.html|archive-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> In March 2016, PokerStars spokesman Eric Hollreiser said his company finally had established an important beachhead in the U.S. market by being able to operate legally in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Fiorvanti |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/poker/post/_/id/2509/pokerstars-launches-new-jersey-online-poker-platform|title=PokerStars launches long-awaited New Jersey online poker platform|date=22 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2024 |website=ESPN}}</ref>

The online gambling laws also apply to online gambling platforms which exclusively use cryptocurrency to handle deposits and withdrawals. This is demonstrated by the 2015 landmark case of Seals with Clubs bitcoin poker site's run in with the law.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/news/2015/nov/03/bitcoin-poker-site-operator-gets-probation/ |title=Bitcoin poker site operator gets probation |publisher=Las Vegas Sun |date=3 November 2015 |access-date=20 February 2024 |first= J.D. |last=Morris}}</ref> This was the first criminal investigation of an illegally operating bitcoin gambling platform on US soil. The owner of the site, who operated out of Nevada, tried to justify the clear violation of both federal and state law by saying that the platform and players only ever used cryptocurrencies to do transactions, and those are not recognized as a currency by the federal government. Therefore, this constitutes social gambling. He was sentenced to two years probation and a $25,000 fine.

====New Jersey legalizes online sports betting====
On 8 November 2011, [[New Jersey]] voters were asked to consider "Public Question No. 1", also known as the Sports Betting Amendment. New Jersey required a majority vote to amend its state constitution. The result was 671,797 "Yes" (63.91%) to 379,339 "No" (36.09%). The voters' approval allowed the New Jersey legislature to legalize sports betting.<ref>{{Cite web| title=New Jersey Sports Betting Amendment, Public Question No. 1 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey_Sports_Betting_Amendment,_Public_Question_1_(2011) |access-date=20 February 2024 |website=ballotpedia.org |language=en |date=2011}}</ref>

New Jersey state Senator [[Raymond Lesniak]] promptly introduced the Sports Wagering Act, S3113, on 21 November 2011. The act would decriminalize sports betting in New Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Senate, No. 3113 |publisher=State of New Jersey 214 Legislature |date=21 November 2011 |website=njleg.state.nj.us |url=https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S3500/3113_I1.PDF |access-date=20 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It passed the [[New Jersey Senate]] and [[New Jersey General Assembly]] on 9 January 2012. Governor [[Chris Christie]] signed the act into law on 17 January 2012.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Gov. Christie signs bill allowing gamblers to place bets on pro, college sports teams |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2012/01/gov_christie_signs_bill_allowi_4.html |access-date=2021-12-18 |website=nj.com |date=17 January 2012 |language=en |first=Matt |last=Friedman}}</ref>

=====Sports leagues sue Governor Christie Twice=====
On 7 August 2012, the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]], National Football League, National Basketball League, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball sued Governor Christie in {{em|NCAA, et al. v. Christie}}. The leagues contended that New Jersey's new Sports Wagering Law violated the [[Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992]].<ref>{{Cite web| title=Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n v. Christie | url=https://casetext.com/case/natl-collegiate-athletic-assn-v-christie | access-date=20 February 2024 | website=casetext.com | language=en |publisher=United States District Court, District of New Jersey |date=2013-02-28}}</ref>

The [[United States District Court for the District of New Jersey]] ruled for the NCAA and its co-plaintiffs. New Jersey appealed the district court's ruling to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit]], which affirmed the lower court's ruling. New Jersey then appealed the Circuit Court's ruling to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], which failed to grant [[certiorari]]. Thus, New Jersey's Sports Wagering Act was successfully enjoined from going into effect.<ref>{{Cite web| title=United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit – No. 13-1713 | url=https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/131713p.pdf | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=ww2.ca3.uscourts.gov | language=en}}</ref>

New Jersey tried to legalize sports betting again on 16 October 2014, when the Senate and General Assembly passed the Sports Wagering Law.<ref>{{Cite web| title=AN ACT allowing wagering at casinos and racetracks on the results of certain professional or collegiate sports or athletic events | url=https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/SportsBetting/SportsWageringLawPL2018c33.pdf | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=nj.gov | language=en}}</ref> This legislation would partially repeal laws that criminalized sports betting. The law permitted state-licensed casinos and racetracks to provide sports betting. Moreover, the state would not be involved in the licensing or regulation of sports betting itself. Once again, US sports leagues opposed the law.<ref>{{Cite web| title=New Jersey Vs Sports Leagues: The Garden State's Long Battle For Sports Betting | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2014/11/08/new-jersey-vs-sports-leagues-the-garden-states-long-battle-for-sports-betting/?sh=538b48c6e5cc | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=Forbes | language=en}}</ref>

On 20 October 2014, the NCAA filed suit against New Jersey again in {{em|NCAA, et al. v. Christie II}}. The plaintiffs asked the court to grant a preliminary injunction against the law, arguing it was a clear violation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n v. Christie | url=https://casetext.com/case/natl-collegiate-athletic-assn-v-christie-3| access-date=2021-12-18 | website=casetext.com | language=en}}</ref>

On 21 November 2014, the New Jersey District Court ruled for the plaintiffs, deciding that the Sports Wagering Law violated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Once again, Governor Christie appealed to the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which again upheld the lower court's opinion.<ref>{{Cite web| title=United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Nos. 14-4546, 14-4568, and 14-4569 | url=https://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/16-476-op-below-3d-cir.pdf | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=scotusblog.com | language=en}}</ref>

=====The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act overturned=====
On 7 October 2016, New Jersey appealed the Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision to the United States Supreme Court. The court granted certiorari on 27 June 2017, considering the question of whether a federal statute (i.e., the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) that prohibits modification or repeal of a state's law prohibiting private behavior impermissibly commandeers the power of the states.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Murphy v. NCAA - 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018) | url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-murphy-v-ncaa | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=lexisnexis.com | language=en}}</ref>

{{em|Murphy v. NCAA}} was argued before the Supreme Court on 4 December 2018. On 14 May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to reverse the Third Circuit Court of Appeal's decision, holding that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act's provision on banning state authorized sports betting violated the anti-commandeering doctrine of the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association | url=https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-476 | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=oyez.org | language=en}}</ref>

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was declared unconstitutional because it interfered with a state's right to repeal its own anti-gambling laws. Shortly thereafter, New Jersey offered legal sports betting to its residents.<ref>{{Cite web| title=How US Sports Leagues Evolved on Sports Betting | url=https://www.sportsbetting3.com/research/how-us-sports-leagues-evolved-on-sports-betting#paspaoverturned | access-date=2021-12-18 | website=sportsbetting3.com | date=12 November 2021 | language=en}}</ref> Many other states have since legalized online [[Sports betting]] for their residents.

=== United Arab Emirates ===
Despite the Sharia laws that restrict gambling tools and machines in the UAE, the country granted its first commercial gaming operator's licence to [[Wynn Resorts]] that was developing a luxury resort, including a 224,000 sq. ft. casino component, at [[Al Marjan Island]] in [[Ras Al Khaimah]]. In September 2023, the UAE established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), hinting towards its plans to legalize [[gambling]]. The GCGRA has outlined a comprehensive framework that includes licenses for casinos, [[slot machine]]s, and [[poker]] tables, as well as [[Lottery|lotteries]], [[Online game|internet gaming]], and sports wagering. The GCGRA mandates player management tools, including deposit limits and cooling-off periods for online gaming.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Corder |first=Josh |date=2024-07-28 |title=UAE Publishes Rules For Legal Gambling and Casino Licenses – Here's What They Say |url=https://skift.com/2024/07/28/uae-publishes-rules-for-legal-gambling-and-casino-licenses-heres-what-they-say/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Skift |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Corder |first=Josh |date=2024-10-06 |title=The United Arab Emirates Is Building Its Own Las Vegas |url=https://skift.com/2024/10/06/the-united-arab-emirates-is-building-its-own-las-vegas/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Skift |language=en-US}}</ref>

The first lottery license has been granted to The Game LLC, operating under the banner of the ‘UAE Lottery’. This move supersedes existing lottery operators like Mahzooz and Big Ticket, which are no longer legally permitted to offer their services. Players are required to engage only with licensed gaming operators to avoid severe penalties. The regulations also specify that operators must enable players to restrict themselves from online gaming platforms for a period of at least 72 hours upon request. This is part of the broader initiative to ensure a secure and responsible commercial gaming environment in the UAE.<ref name=":2" />

The UAE's move to legalize gaming is seen as a strategic step to enhance its tourism and entertainment sector, leveraging its existing infrastructure and business-friendly environment. This development is expected to attract major gaming operators and contribute significantly to the country's economy.<ref name=":2" />

The country does not have any formal gaming laws, and therefore the project details about the casino were not completely made public. Local citizens are not permitted for gambling, which remains a legal and cultural taboo.<ref name=":3" />

===Other countries===
Various forms of online gambling are legal and regulated in many countries, including some provinces and territories of Canada, most members of the [[European Union]] and several nations in and around the [[Caribbean Sea]].

==Online gambling industry statistics==
===UK===
In the UK, between 2009 and 2010, 4% of adults had bet online.<ref name=prevalence>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/British%20Gambling%20Prevalence%20Survey%202010.pdf |publisher=UK Gambling Commission |title=British Gambling Prevalence Survey |date=2010 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110222190115/https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/British%20Gambling%20Prevalence%20Survey%202010.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2011}}</ref> Between April 2010 and March 2011, online gambling which is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission yielded £660.74 million, a 5% increase on the previous year. The British regulated online gambling sector was worth a 12% market share of the British regulated gambling industry within the same time period. Most British consumer online gambling activity is on overseas regulated websites, and estimates place the UK consumer market for online gambling at £1.9 billion for 2010. (Approximately three times the size of the British regulated market). In the year to March 2011, 5000 adults were surveyed and reported that 11.2% of them had participated in at least one form of remote gambling in the previous four weeks. Approximately half of the respondents had only participated in National Lottery products. Another group of interviews conducted by the Gambling Commission.<ref name=indstats>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/docs/Gambling-industry-statistics-April-2008-to-March-2016.xlsx |title=UK Gambling Commission - Industry Statistics |date=2016}}{{dead link |date=February 2024 |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In March 2011, the UK online gambling industry employed 6,077 full-time employees. A number that has declined since 2008 where 8,918 full-time employees were in employment within the industry. Also, there were 291 remote gambling activity licences held by 225 operators at this date. Three of the sectors within online gambling are betting, bingo and casino which between them turned over £13,456.07 million between April 2010 and March 2011. During this time period, betting turned over a substantial proportion of this amount, turning over £13,081.44 million, with bingo and casino turning over £26.75 million and £347.87 million respectively.<ref name=indstats />

===European Union===
According to the [[European Gaming and Betting Association]] (EGBA), online gambling is a growing sector within the EU, with [[gross gaming revenue]] (GGR) expected to reach €29.3 billion in 2022. According to EGBA, the EU online gambling market was valued at €22.2 billion GGR in 2018 - growing 11% from €20 billion GGR in 2017 - and accounted for 49.2% of the global online gambling market. The EU online gambling channelled or white market accounted for €15.9bn, reflecting an average EU-wide channelling rate of 71.7%. Online gambling now represents 23.2% of the total EU gambling market activity, while offline gambling (lotteries, casinos, bookmakers shops, etc.) had a total GGR of €73.5bn, accounting for 76.8% of the overall EU gambling market. In 2018, the UK market (34.2%) accounted for the largest portion of the EU online gambling market, based on GGR, followed by Germany (11.1%), France (8.8%) and Italy (8.1%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.egba.eu/resource-post/european-online-gambling-key-figures-2018/ |title=European Online Gambling - Key Figures 2018 |work=Egba.eu |access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref>

=== United States of America ===
The American Gaming Association predicts that betting Americans will wager around $35 million on sportsbooks during the 2024 NFL season. This is expected to be the most wagered on NFL season in the past 7 years of legal betting within the sport.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 September 2024 |title=2024 NFL Wagering Estimates |url=https://www.americangaming.org/resources/2024-nfl-wagering-estimates/ }}</ref> 

Gaming generated 72B USD in 2024 [https://igamingbusiness.com/finance/aga-new-gaming-revenue-record-2024/ as per the AGA.]

==Problem gambling==
{{Main|Problem gambling}}

===Parts of the Brain Affected by Online Gambling===

Gambling affects two main areas of the brain, specially the ventral  striatum and the prefrontal cortex. The ventral striatum is the portion of the brain that processes rewards and emotions. The prefrontal cortex is the front portion of the brain that controls planning, complex problem-solving, personality and processing potential consequences. Scientists have also found that people with gambling disorders have reduced activity in their prefrontal cortex and increased connectivity to their reward system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-31 |title=How Gambling Affects Your Brain |url=https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/blog/how-gambling-affects-brain/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Gateway Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref>

Researchers have found that teenagers are vulnerable to online gambling because different parts of the brain mature at different rates. The prefrontal cortex is particularly late to develop, especially in boys.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Emily |last=Sohn |title=How gambling affects the brain and who is most vulnerable to addiction |journal=Monitor on Psychology |url=https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/07/how-gambling-affects-the-brain |volume=54 |issue=5| date=July–August 2023 |access-date=September 21, 2024 |publisher=www.apa.org}}</ref>

Gamblers have smaller volumes in the amygdala and hippocampus, two regions associated with emotional learning and stress regulation.

===Psychological Effects and Symptoms of Online Problem Gambling===

Some people become addicted when they gamble compulsively. Compulsive gambling is characterized by a compelling and intense desire to gamble and it is difficult to control. When people gamble, dopamine is released. This hormone produces feelings of pleasure and reward. When people win bets, they feel excited and their brains release feel-good chemicals. When people become addicted to gambling, these chemicals are no longer released by other pleasurable things.<ref name="las-apuestas-on-line-bajo-la-lupa-de-la-unlp">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-10 |title=Las apuestas online bajo la lupa de la UNLP |website=UNLP |url=https://unlp.edu.ar/investiga/bajolalupa/las-apuestas-on-line-bajo-la-lupa-de-la-unlp-80261/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=es-AR}}</ref>

Online gambling becomes a problem when it causes stress, anxiety and depression. Stressful life events such as losing a job, ending a relationship, or experiencing financial difficulties can contribute to this problem. In addition, people with antecedents of addictive behaviors may be more susceptible. Emotions also play a key role, such as using gambling as a social outlet, seeking the thrill of gambling, escaping negative emotions, or simply passing the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the damage-Compulsive gambling - Symptoms & causes |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-gambling/symptoms-causes/syc-20355178 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Mayo Clinic |language=en}}</ref>

Online gambling by young people can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. Due to their developmental stage, children and adolescents are at a heightened risk of developing this addictive behavior. Compulsive gambling can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and loneliness in young people. It can also lead to significant financial problems, as they may use their own money or their parents' credit cards.<ref name="las-apuestas-on-line-bajo-la-lupa-de-la-unlp"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=Niños, niñas y adolescentes y las apuestas en línea {{!}} Un problema que crece en la era digital |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/743719-ninos-ninas-y-adolescentes-y-las-apuestas-en-linea |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Pagina12 |language=es}}</ref>

This can lead to serious long-term problems. These behaviors can have a ripple effect, affecting not only the individual but also their families and the community at large.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardo |first=Por Silvia |date=2024-07-11 |title=Las apuestas online generan adicción en los adolescentes y actúan como una "droga digital" para evadir los problemas |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/2024/07/11/las-apuestas-online-generan-adiccion-en-los-adolescentes-y-actuan-como-una-droga-digital-para-evadir-los-problemas/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}}</ref>

The signs and the symptoms that characterize problem gamblers are an obsession with gambling, a need to bet larger amounts of money to feel excited, and repeated failed attempts to stop. People who are compulsive gamblers often gamble to escape problems or negative emotions. Some people also steal money from their family or at their work in order to gamble, which can lead to serious problems such as  financial ruin, relationship breakdown, and even illegal activities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signs and symptoms of gambling addiction |url=https://www.priorygroup.com/addiction-treatment/gambling-addiction-treatment/gambling-addiction-symptoms |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Priory |language=en}}</ref>

=== Gambling Like Activities and Its Effect on Children ===
While “Gambling like” is not technically gambling, they share many similarities and phycological effects.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zendle |first1=David |last2=Meyer |first2=Rachel |last3=Over |first3=Harriet |date=June 19, 2019 |title=Adolescents and loot boxes: Links with problem gambling and motivations for purchase |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=6 |issue=6 |at=190049 |pmc=6599795 |pmid=31312481 |doi=10.1098/rsos.190049|bibcode=2019RSOS....690049Z }}</ref> As the scope of the internet changes, it's important to watch as other areas of life evolve into the online world. With the popularization of new forms "gambling like activities", such as lottery style loot boxes, authors David Zendle and Heather Wardle gathered results from a cross-sectional online survey, where they found "the odds of problem gambling were 11.4 times higher among those who purchased loot boxes with their own money.”<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Wardle |last2=Zendle |first1=H. |first2=D. |date=9 April 2021 |title=Loot boxes, gambling, and problem gambling among young people: Results from a cross-sectional online survey |journal=Cyberpsychol. Behav. Soc. Netw. |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=267–274 |doi=10.1089/cyber.2020.0299 |doi-access=free |pmid=33103911 |pmc=8064953}}</ref> They believe young adults who willingly participate with loot boxes should considered as a high-risk group for problem gambling.<ref name=":1" />

==Personality Disorders and Compulsive Gambling==

According to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5), personality disorders are categorized into clusters.<ref>{{Citation |title=DSM-5 |date=2024-09-17 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5 |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=en}}</ref> Cluster A includes paranoid and schizoid disorders, among others; Cluster B includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic disorders and cluster C includes avoidant and obsessive-compulsive disorders, among others. Pathological gambling is a disorder characterized by a compulsive need to gamble, leading to significant harm in areas such as mental health, finances, relationships, and career.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vaddiparti |first1=Krishna |last2=Cottler |first2=Linda B. |date=January 2017 |title=Personality Disorders and Pathological Gambling |journal=Current Opinion in Psychiatry |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=45–49 |doi=10.1097/YCO.0000000000000300 |issn=0951-7367 |pmc=6044458 |pmid=27798487}}</ref> Cluster B personality disorders are the most prevalent among problem gamblers. Borderline personality disorder, corresponding to cluster B, is one of the most common personality disorders among compulsive gamblers. People diagnosed with borderline personality disorder tend to engage in high-risk activities due to challenges regulating emotional states to a healthy, stable baseline{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

===Possible Treatment===

Treatment for people with compulsive gambling begins with recognizing the problem. Compulsive gamblers often deny they have a problem or need treatment.<ref name="medlineplus.gov">{{Cite web |title=Compulsive gambling: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001520.htm |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=medlineplus.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The most common and successful treatment plans for problem gamblers include individual therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or support groups such as GA (Gamblers Anonymous). Treatments that prove effective  for substance and alcohol abuse are also considered to treat problem gambling.<ref name="medlineplus.gov"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Substance use: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001945.htm |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=medlineplus.gov |language=en}}</ref> As the gambler normally shows obsessive-compulsive conducts, abstinence is a primary step to begin treatment.

Antidepressants may help treat the symptoms of pathological gambling, but not enough evidence has been collected to prove this as an effective way of treatment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alcohol use disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000944.htm |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=medlineplus.gov |language=en}}</ref>

A 2015 review found evidence of higher rates of mental health comorbidites, as well as higher amounts of substance use, amongst  internet gamblers, compared to non internet gamblers. Causation, however, has not been established, and the review postulated that there may differences in the cohorts between internet and land-based problem gamblers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gainsbury|first=Sally M.|date=2015|title=Online Gambling Addiction: the Relationship Between Internet Gambling and Disordered Gambling|journal=Current Addiction Reports|volume=2|issue=2|pages=185–193|doi=10.1007/s40429-015-0057-8|issn=2196-2952|pmc=4610999|pmid=26500834}}</ref>

In the United States in 1999 the National Gambling Impact Study stated "the high-speed instant gratification of Internet games and the high level of privacy they offer may exacerbate problem and pathological gambling". A UK government-funded review of previous research noted a small scale patient survey leading to press reports claiming that 75% of people who gamble online are "problem" or "pathological" gamblers, compared to just 20% of people who visit legitimate land-based casinos.<ref name="laundry">Coates, S.  (2006). [https://archive.today/20110604094613/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2431354,00.html Online casinos 'used to launder cash']. [[The Times]]. Retrieved 1 November 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Publications/archive_2006/remote_gamblingreview.htm |title=Department for Culture Media and Sport: A Literature Review and Survey of Statistical Sources on Remote Gambling |publisher=Culture.gov.uk |date=6 November 2009 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref>

A study by the [[Gambling Commission|UK Gambling Commission]], the "British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010", found that approximately 0.9% of the adult population had problem gambling issues, more than shown in a previous study in 2007. The highest prevalence of problem gambling was found among those who participated in playing Poker at a pub or club (20.3%), Dog races (19.2%) and online slot machine style or instant win games (17%). Additionally the report noted a 15% increase in overall gambling since 2007, from a rate of 58% in 2007 to 73% in 2010. Significantly, the 2010 prevalence survey notes that whilst the overall gambling figure had increased, the prevalence among men at 75% was not dissimilar to the amounts in two previous surveys in 1999 and 2007 which were 76% and 71% respectively. However, the prevalence among women for 2010 was 71%, which was higher than 68% in 1999 and 65% in 2007.<ref name=prevalence />

In August 2014 the National Council of Problem Gambling (NCPG) partnered with the Gambling Integrity Services (GIS). The GIS will evaluate these recently regulated internet gambling operators in order to ensure they comply with NCPG's internet Responsible Gambling Standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncpgambling.org/ncpg-launches-responsible-gaming-compliance-program-for-internet-gaming-websites/|title=NCPG Launches Responsible Gaming Compliance Program for Internet Gaming Websites - NCPG|work=ncpgambling.org|access-date=9 September 2015|date=14 August 2014}}</ref>

A study released by the University of Buffalo in November 2014 states that the explosion of online gambling in the United States in the past decade has not given rise to more people with gambling problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/11/005.html|title=Expansion of gambling does not lead to more problem gamblers, study finds|date=5 November 2014|work=buffalo.edu|access-date=9 September 2015}}</ref>

According to Darren R. Christensen, Nicki A. Dowling, Alun C. Jackson and Shane A. Thomas a survey recorded in Australia shows that gambling severity rates were estimated at non-gambling (34.8%), non-problem gambling (57.4%), low risk gambling (5.3%), moderate risk (1.8%) and problem gambling (0.7%).<ref name="Christensen 1317–1335"/>

==Money laundering==
It has also been alleged that the largely unsupervised electronic funds transfers inherent in online gambling are being exploited by criminal interests to [[money laundering|launder]] large amounts of money.<ref name="laundry"/>  However, according to a US GAO study, "Banking and gaming regulatory officials did not view Internet gambling as being particularly susceptible to money laundering, especially when credit cards, which create a transaction record and are subject to relatively low transaction limits, were used for payment. Likewise, credit card and gaming industry officials did not believe Internet gambling posed any particular risks in terms of money laundering."<ref name="overview"/>

In 2011, the [[U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York]] filed ''[[United States v. Scheinberg]]'', a federal criminal case against the founders of the three largest online poker companies, [[PokerStars]], [[Full Tilt Poker]] and [[Cereus Poker Network]] (Absolute Poker/Ultimatebet), and a handful of their associates, which alleges that the defendants violated the [[Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act]] and engaged in [[bank fraud]] and [[money laundering]] in order to process transfers to and from their customers.

A BBC investigation in 2019 described how [[cryptocurrencies]] such as [[bitcoin]] were being used for under-age gambling, [[money-laundering]] and political corruption in the Caribbean island of [[Curaçao]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007bwl |title= How gambling interests bought a country|last= Jenkins|first= Jolyon  |date= 7 August 2019 |website= www.bbc.co.uk |publisher= BBC Radio 4|access-date= 23 August 2019 }}</ref>

Following the expansion of online gaming operations in Southeast Asia, focus has again fallen on the money laundering risk associated with the industry,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=January 2024 |title=Casinos, Money Laundering, Underground Banking, and Transnational Organized Crime in East and Southeast Asia: A Hidden and Accelerating Threat |url=https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2024/Casino_Underground_Banking_Report_2024.pdf |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> the presence of organized criminal organisations,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=October 2024 |title=Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud, Underground Banking and Technological Innovation in Southeast Asia: A Shifting Threat Landscape |url=https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2024/TOC_Convergence_Report_2024.pdf |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> targeting of people in countries where it is illegal to gamble,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown, Andy |date=17 January 2024 |title=A match made in heaven: The explosion of betting ads in European football |url=https://www.playthegame.org/news/a-match-made-in-heaven-the-explosion-of-betting-ads-in-european-football/ |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Play the Game}}</ref> and use of trafficked or coerced labour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lars |date=2024-05-15 |title=Another day in paradise |url=https://josimarfootball.com/2024/05/15/another-day-in-paradise/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=josimarfootball.com |language=en-US}}</ref> East and Southeast Asian organised crime groups are reported to be deeply involved in the industry.

In 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that Southeast Asia was facing “unprecedented challenges” posed by transnational organized crime and illicit economies, with the region becoming a testing ground for new technologies and a rapidly expanding underground banking and money laundering industry. UNODC has noted that casino junkets, originally based in Macau, had “effectively become bankers for organized crime”.<ref name=":4" /> Following tightening regulation on the junket industry, many of the actors behind them transitioned to e-junkets and online gambling.

Prominent organized crime actors, including the now imprisoned Alvin Chau<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-18 |title=Alvin Chau: Macau gambling kingpin jailed for 18 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64314043 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> and Levo Chan,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-21 |title=Macau junket boss Levo Chan jailed for illegal gambling, money laundering |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/macau-junket-boss-levo-chan-jailed-for-illegal-gambling-money-laundering |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> were identified in the junket money laundering space, and have since received lengthy prison sentences in China for a range of offences. The UNODC has also documented the convergence of East and Southeast Asian criminal groups around junkets, casinos, online, gambling, drug trafficking, and other serious criminal enterprises.<ref name=":5" /> Sanctioned Chinese businessman Zhao Wei, for example, established and chairs the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, which hosts numerous online gambling operators, and is also a known hub for drug, human and wildlife trafficking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Transnational Crime and Geopolitical Contestation along the Mekong {{!}} International Crisis Group |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/332-transnational-crime-and-geopolitical-contestation-mekong |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.crisisgroup.org |language=en}}</ref> As profits from the various regional illicit industries have grown, diverse and increasingly sophisticated channels are required to launder the proceeds, and land-based and online casinos have played a crucial role in what has been described as “a backdoor for organized crime to launder their growing supply of dirty money into the global financial system”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Jeremy |date=2019-02-14 |title=Asian organized crime doubles down on casinos |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/13/opinions/casinos-southeast-asia-intl |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

While both legal and illegal online gambling operations have taken root in the region, their activities have spread globally, with high profile law enforcement actions taking place as far away as the Isle of Man, targeting entities linked to suspected East Asian criminal groups engaged in online gaming and money laundering.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=April 2025 |title=Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia |url=https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2025/Inflection_Point_2025.pdf |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Darbyshire |first=Adrian |date=13 March 2025 |title=Police raid offices in international money laundering probe |url=https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/police-raid-offices-in-international-money-laundering-probe-774157 |archive-date= |access-date=29 May 2025 |work=Isle of Man Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=Chinese scammers used Isle of Man for 'pig-butchering' con |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6x1ql1yelo |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Player perception==
Players' attitudes towards sites plays an important role in online purchases and customer loyalty. Lack of trust in payment systems and security are primary reasons for avoiding online gambling.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mccole|first=Patrick|date=2010|title=Trust Considerations on Attitudes Towards Online Purchasing: The Moderating Effect of Privacy and Security Concerns|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47617661|journal=Journal of Business Research|volume=63|issue=9–10|doi=10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.02.025|via=Research Gate|pages=1018–1024}}</ref> Due to the virtual nature of online gambling, it is hard for players to verify the authenticity{{Ambiguous|date=October 2023}} of sites they are using.<ref name="sd" /> In the UK, the Gambling Commission (GC) mandates that the odds of winning must be clearly displayed for non-remote gaming machines, typically in the form of a [[return to player]] percentage (%RTP). This rule aims to encourage transparency and help users make better-informed decisions about the games.<ref>{{cite web |title=LA Bulletin August 2020 - Feature article How can gaming machines meet their %RTP if they are random? |url=https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/authorities/guide/page/la-bulletin-august-2020-feature-article |website=Gambling Commission |access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref> Unlike in physical casinos, randomness and deck shuffling cannot be verified by visual means unless the casino is provably fair. Players interact with other players through [[Graphical user interface|GUIs]], which connect to the gambling site's server in a non-transparent manner.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Golder |first1=Scott |last2=Donath |first2=Judith |title=Hiding and revealing in online poker games |conference=CSCW '04 Proceedings of the 2004 ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work |location=New York |date= November 2004 |pages=370–73 |doi=10.1145/1031607.1031668}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=October 2023|reason=Unclear how one verifies randomness visually and why connection to the server matters. Another, secondary, source probably needed.}} In an online survey{{when|date=January 2020}} of 10,838 online casino and poker players from over 96 countries, respondents reported a high level of mistrust of online gambling. 91.5% believed that reputable third party reports on randomness and payouts were important to gain their trust.<ref name="sd">{{cite journal |url=https://epubs.scu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1871&context=tourism_pubs |last1=Gainsbury |first1=Sally |last2=Parke |first2=Jonathan |last3=Suhonen |first3=Niko |title=Consumer attitudes towards Internet gambling: Perceptions of responsible gambling policies, consumer protection, and regulation of online gambling sites |journal=Computers in Human Behavior |date=January 2013 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=235–245 |doi=10.1016/j.chb.2012.08.010 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, contrasting research shows that seals-of-approval granted by these third parties does not have a strong influence on purchasing behavior, nor are customers usually aware of their existence.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Head|first1=Milena|last2=Hassanein|first2=Khaled|date=2002|title=Trust in e-Commerce: Evaluating the Impact of Third-Party Seals|journal=Quarterly Journal of Electronic Commerce|issue=3|citeseerx=10.1.1.465.9764}}</ref>

==Responsible gambling==
{{Main|Responsible gambling}}
Responsible Gambling Features (RGFs) are features that online gambling sites use to promote responsible behavior and reduce harm. These include limiting amounts that can be bet or deposited over a designated period of time, self-assessment tests for gambling problems, and warning signs of prolonged play or high expenditure.<ref name="sd" /> RGFs are usually opt-in features for players and are required by certain jurisdictions. For example, operators in Denmark, Germany, and Spain must provide deposit limits, but this is voluntary for Australian operators.<ref name=sd/> A sample of online poker players from Sweden indicated that RGFs increase their trust in a company and reduce their anxiety about winning from other players.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wood|first=Richard|date=2008|title=Why Swedish people play online poker and factors that can increase or decrease trust in poker web sites: A qualitative investigation|journal=Journal of Gambling Issues|volume=21|issue=21|doi=10.4309/jgi.2008.21.8|pages=80–97|doi-access=free}}</ref> However, in jurisdictions that mandate Responsible Gambling Features, only a small percentage of customers use them. In Australia, 0.8% used the deposit limit on SportsBet and 6% used deposit loss limits on BetFair Australia.<ref>Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform (2011). ''[https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Former_Committees/gamblingreform/completedinquires/2010-13/interactiveonlinegamblingadvertising/report/index Interactive and online gambling and gambling advertising]''. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Behavioral modernity]]
* [[Evolutionary mismatch]]
* [[Gaming control board]]
* [[List of mergers and acquisitions in online gambling]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
<!-- Wikipedia is not a link directory so please do not add links to one of the many online casino sites here. -->
{{Gambling}}
{{Digital media use and mental health}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Online Gambling}}
[[Category:Online gambling| ]]