While online gambling has grown to be a multi-billion dollar business, there are various legal issues that need to be resolved. Gambling is legally accepted is some countries, while it lies in grey area is many others. This article will go on to talk about the legality in various parts of the world.
Legality in Europe
Europe has liberal gambling laws compared to the United States. Gambling is a huge industry in Europe and acts such as the UK Gambling Act ensure the industry is well regulated. According to the laws in the UK, there are no restrictions on gamblers. This is because the online casino operators get clearance only if they are located in jurisdictions that UK’s government recognizes.
Some of the jurisdictions recognized by the UK government include Malta, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and Alderney. Kahnawake and Antigua are other popular jurisdictions that have applied for the same status. Some countries like the Netherlands, France and Italy have outlawed online gambling, but these legislations are getting reviewed and the stance on the issue of legality may change soon.
Legality in the United States
The US has witnessed immense controversy regarding Internet gambling. The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), which was passed in 2006, illegalized playing with real money. This resulted in various companies abandoning the US market. This law has no stance about the players who gamble online. Also, very few states in the US have laws against gambling on the internet.
The Federal Wire Act passed in 1961 deems sports betting through wire communication as illegal. Because of all these restrictions, players in the US find it hard to play at some of the most popular online casinos.
Regulating casinos on the Internet
Regulation is often tricky because the player and the site operator are usually in different countries. This makes is hard for one country’s gambling laws to be implemented. For example, if you bet on a Portugal based site, it violates the Federal Wire Act, but no one can be punished. In case the player gets cheated by the site, suing the company is as difficult. The government in the US cannot take action against a casino based in a different country.
In order to avoid such situations, the market needs to be regulated. Ensuring that players are given their winnings is vital apart from factors like making sure the casino is giving its pay-out limit. Jurisdictions like Gibraltar and countries like Australia are popular because they follow strict standards. eCogra is one such body that ensures players’ rights are not violated.
Checking legality
The first stop should be checking whether online gambling is legal according to your government. Ask your casino if they are legally operating in your country. Customer support is a good point of contact for this information. You can even ask your local bank about prohibitions. Remember to always be responsible and first find out if you are playing legally or not.