The Legality of Online Gambling

The question of whether online gambling is, or in fact be should be, legal is a hot topic in not only in the United States but other countries around the world. Generally speaking, there is a sharp contrast between the European Union countries and the US with the former adopting a pro-gambling position and the latter trying to prohibit online gambling.

These recent debate in the US, however, seems to have overshadowed the fact that the rest of the world has moved in a completely opposite direction. An estimated 80 countries, such as the United Kingdom and many member states of the European Union, have recognized the numerous advantages of legal internet gambling.

For example, legalization means that industry standards can be developed and imposed and that problem gamblers can be more easily identified and offered assistance. Plus laws such as the UK Gambling Act which came into force in 2007 can act to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the potential harm of gambling. Legalizing online gambling also offers players greater consumer protection against crooked online casinos.

Those in favour of legal online betting also argue that people will continue to gamble online regardless of whether or not it is prohibited and that the government is missing out in millions of dollars of revenue. The financial windfall to the government from regulation and taxation can be enormous.

With respect to the US, Congressman Barney Frank is leading the fight to lift the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and considers that a prohibition against online gambling is an affront to personal freedom.