When online gambling first emerged in the 1990s, it appeared to offer an end-run around government prohibition. Instead of needing to apply for and obtain a license from the state in which they operated, all an operator had to do was set up shop in a friendly offshore jurisdiction, then start taking bets. This blatant disregard for US laws and regulations led to congressional investigations and subsequent federal court rulings. Eventually, New Jersey became the first state to legalize online gambling, followed by Nevada and Pennsylvania. Today, forty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow some form of online gambling.
Some of these states are even allowing sports betting. However, a large number of states have not legalized casino games, and many still have restrictions on other forms of gambling. Hawaii and Utah are the only states that do not allow any gambling at all, in-person or online. Other states with significant restrictions include Alabama and Alaska. Interestingly, while most states prohibit online gambling, the country’s most populous state of California does not. However, the Golden State does allow players to wager on horse and dog races as well as state lotteries.
Most of the remaining states have some sort of gambling regulation in place, with Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, and New Jersey regulating online casino games and sports betting. New Hampshire is preparing to launch its own regulated online gambling site, and Pennsylvania has also recently passed legislation to do so. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is one of the six states that allows online casinos, with BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel providing a variety of options to players in the state.
A few other states, including Indiana and New York, have proposed legislation to legalize iGaming, but none have passed so far. Georgia, on the other hand, has legalized sports betting and may soon be ready to roll out a full-fledged online casino.
Legal online casinos are required to have high standards of security and privacy. This means that they must be able to protect player data and ensure that all information is kept confidential. Illegal sites, on the other hand, do not have to meet these strict requirements and often make predatory rules to attract new customers. For instance, it is common to see a playthrough requirement of 50x your deposit plus bonus amount on some illegal online casinos.
If you have questions about your gambling habits or are concerned that you’re being treated unfairly by an online casino, our lawyers can help. At the Rodriguez Law Group, we have experience fighting for our clients’ rights and freedoms. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation. We can provide the strong defense you need to fight for your reputation and your money. Our firm is located in Miami, Florida, and we represent clients throughout the United States. We can also assist with cases that involve offshore gambling sites. If you have been accused of gambling fraud, contact us immediately to find out how we can help you.