Is online gambling banned in America?

Online gambling refers to any betting, including virtual poker, sports betting, or casino games, done over the internet. Online gambling in the US has a long and complicated history, but the simple truth is that gambling is not banned in America. For the longest time before the existence of the internet, the Wire Act of 1961 governed the betting sector in America, passing laws that didn’t favor online wagering. However, in 2011, the Department of Justice permitted states to create and pass digital wagering laws and thus decriminalize the activity.

US gambling laws

According to America’s gambling laws, online betting is legal on a federal level, giving each state the power to regulate the sector. However, complicating the internet gambling issue further is the Unlawful Online Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which makes it illegal to run an online gambling website in the US. This government act doesn’t ban Americans from placing bets on online gambling websites; therefore, sites such as BetOnline and Bovada are popular with most American players. Online fantasy sports league platforms are exempted from the 2006 Act.

Online gambling is broad, and the list of states permitting each facet is equally long. For example, there are about 20 states that allow online sports betting and the most accessible form of internet betting in America. However, most states are not as liberal on online poker and casinos. New Jersey is the most libertarian state in online betting and was the first state to allow online casinos in the United States in 2013. Online gambling in New Jersey is governed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement and allows people to bet on sports, fantasy sports, internet poker, horse racing, and lotteries.

Gambling banned in Utah and Hawaii

Some form of gambling is permitted in 48 of 50 states in the US. However, there is a complete ban on gambling in Utah and Hawaii. Most of the people in Utah are Mormons, who are highly religious, and their religion prohibits gambling. In contrast, the Hawaii people aim to create a family-friendly atmosphere on their island, fearing that gambling would result in a negative aura. Nevada is the gambling haven where all licensed forms of gambling are permitted, except for lotteries. Colorado allows online casino games such as slots, bingo, blackjack, craps, and roulette but online poker and sports betting are only permitted under strict governance from the Colorado gaming division.

Sports betting legal in the US

Online sports betting is currently legal in 48 states in America. Before that, it was only legal in Nevada, and most states legalized it after seeing its vast revenue. Other legal online gambling avenues in most states include horse racing, lotteries, bingo, poker, and slots. However, since the state governs online betting, it is necessary to check gambling laws for the state you are in before engaging in any gambling activity.

In conclusion, no federal laws ban gambling in America except the law prohibiting online betting websites based in the US. States are allowed to regulate gambling, and most states have enacted some form of restriction. Therefore, online gambling is not banned in America except in Utah and Hawaii.