Since many potential online gamblers are already on the fence about trusting the Internet with their money, it’s only natural to assume they’d also be a little paranoid about the legal aspects of what they’re about to do. Many people have very skewed concepts of the legality of online gambling, so it can be a bit overwhelming to ask them to believe that everything is totally legit. The purpose of this short passage is to briefly summarize the different laws and standards that online casinos are held to, and to give you a better idea of exactly what you’re getting yourself into when you play.
Every country has its own laws pertaining to online gambling, so what is legal for your friends in Canada may not be legal for you in the U.S. The largest and most tolerant region is Europe. European Union members are allowed to choose for themselves whether to permit online gaming, meaning that statutes can vary greatly between neighboring countries. However, most European countries accept online gambling as a welcome form of recreation and prefer to supervise, rather than completely prevent, the practice. Some countries dole out licenses to casinos while a rare few forbid their nationals to bet in foreign online casinos. If you’re looking for a more detailed explanation of your country’s laws, we suggest that you research your local legislation.
In the U. S., the legal code is a bit unclear thanks to a combination of several rather vague laws. The fact of the matter is that until recently no federal law existed that explicitly banned U.S. citizens from gambling online. In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed, making it illegal for American financial institutions to authorize payment to online gaming operators. The new law is almost impossible to enforce, and most casinos will still accept new players from the U.S. Also, it should be noted that while U.S. federal law prohibits online gaming, state governments can individually determine how to enforce their laws regarding the practice, and while some will prohibit their citizens from playing, others treat UIGEA violations as blue-book crimes, only enforcing the law if more serious offenses have been committed. U.S. citizens should be prepared for the risks involved in Internet gambling, and should also check their local legislation before deciding to play. For our part, we here at PlayingExpert.com are prohibited from providing access to online casinos, but we certainly can’t stop you from accessing them through other channels.
While the legality of online gambling is still a bit fuzzy on a worldwide scale, the laws more often than not lean in its favor. Perhaps within a few years there will be a more consistent international consensus, but for now all we can do is stay on the right side of our respective laws and hope that more countries follow the EU’s lead.
