An overview and perspective into legal USA online casinos. All facets of the legalities are reviewed from a players view. Finding the right online casino reviews and bonuses start with understanding if you are actually allowed to play where you life! Learn more about gambling online in the US and how it can ripple in effect.
1. Online Casinos: A United States
Perspective
Gambling online has always been in a legal grey area, it has been
technically been banned in the USA, and it is also illegal for any online
casino website to operate within the physical borders of the US.
But individuals found a way to gamble online by transferring their money to online casinos
based offshore to one of about 70 countries
that legally allow online gambling, and it’s
not illegal in most cases technically. A lot of
potential U.S money is going offshore that
would have basically helped our economy
prosper. Individuals who do play online on a
different countries website are very difficult
to prosecute and convict as they are
gambling from their homes, but located in
other countries making it legal.
The DOJ has stated that they do not think the
Federal Wire act applies to online poker, as
online poker is considered a game of skill,
nor do they think it applies to casino games
where USA players may deposit real money.
Rather they stand by that it is illegal to bet
on sports online. Numerous cases have been
thrown out regarding prosecuting large
companies because it is a legal grey area.
Issues of authority of the central government and their state counterparts make gambling
laws even more opaque and confusing. The U.S wire wager act of 1961 which states that,
"Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire
communication facility (courts also include the internet under this definition) for the
transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting
in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of
a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of
bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall
be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both"
2. To make it simpler a casino that would be set up in Europe would be breaking a law if an
individual from the United States would place a bet on their platform. Even though the
government has knowledge that bets are placed on these international gambling platforms
they are not in a position to prosecute someone as the bet was placed in another country.
Since the players are not prosecuted and an illegal act has been committed we are left with
a loophole in the system that many people in the states take advantage of, an approximated
1700 offshore websites accepted bets with an approximate value of $4 to $6 billion
(American gaming association, 2001). Of course if one of those online gaming website does
try to cheat a player and online gambling is illegal in their locality, the player will have a very
difficult time suing the casino.
In February of this year a court of appeals has overturned the Federal Wire Act and now
states can legitimize online gambling for their own residents as soon as the ruling was
accepted. The state of Nevada allowed their residents and the visitors to the state to gamble
online at Ultimatepoker.com, and there is a possibility of online gambling being legalized
nation-wide as more states are looking towards legitimizing the practice.
As soon as the news of Nevada's progressive steps towards online gaming came into light
New Jersey also followed suit and legalized online betting for their residents. According to
the law the process for registering for the online games would be more complex than just a
check box to state age over 21 and an honour system basis of verification. The players have
to endure a rigorous account set up process which involves bringing their Social Security
Card and their Nevada ID to the casino in person.
There are many upsides to regulated online gaming, the Individuals who have not or cannot
visit casinos. The people who enjoy the atmosphere of a casino, and the people who just
enjoy the risk involved in gambling all these people now have a chance to wager online. The
state has the opportunity to gain additional revenue for itself which can be used locally
instead of it being diverted off to another country. It is a lesser known fact that the national
lottery, which is a form of gambling, actually funds public programs and public schools.
3. Analysts from the state
of Nevada have
forecasted the revenues
coming from online
gaming to be in the
range of four to eight
billion dollars per year,
casinos and private
company owners are
now looking into
opening their own online
casino sites to generate
more money.
Even though there are
many positive and
redeeming features of the legalization of online gaming it does not mean that there are no
downsides. The majority of casinos in Nevada and in New Jersey which are low-grossing
companies would have a hard time obtaining a license for this type of move. Therefore the
giants of the casino business would once again gain an advantage over the smaller casinos
because of their funding and also their brand recognition. In addition to this list, players may
see an increase in conservative states pulling out of online gambling entirely which will leave
some people in the dark completely.
Let us now observe what the future holds for internet gambling in the USA
The London stock exchange has estimated that there would be a compounded growth rate
of about 20% per year as internet use expands and the richness of the interface increases
and legalization takes place in more states. A strong growth in the traffic received by betting
exchanges would likely be better for the players as the odds would improve as the cost
structures for the operators lower.
There would probably be an explosive growth in the mobile gambling industry as it is an
extension of the online casinos. Also according to some researchers there would be an
increased prevalence of online counselling services as problem gambling may increase due
to the online gambling legalization act. Problem gambling would possibly increase as the
individual playing on the computer, like in the physical casinos would still be trying to bet
good money after the money they loose and also they would be highly involved and
immersed in the gambling experience that they would probably lose track of time and the
amount they spend. Another possible downside to the legalization could be the emergence
of scam companies that would look real on the surface but be cheats underneath. This has
happened in almost every country that regulates online casinos.
4. As Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware are legalizing
online gaming and pushing the envelope further, there
are also states that are enacting measures to block
online gaming completely. As of now the status of online
gambling remains solely in the hands of the state
governments and hopefully someday in the not so
distant future, everyone would be able to play online on
an interstate gambling platform.
For more information, read the latest USA online casinos
reviews at Casinobonusandfreechip.com and find your
real money casino bonuses to play the new slots and
games. A USA casino review can help players understand
more about the features and types of games offered, as
well as the best way to make a deposit and cash out, by
reading the unbiased opinions of other people. A casino
bonus is nothing more than a code used before making the first deposit that would either
add more money to the initial amount deposited, add free spins automatically, or a
combination of both. The sites featured there seem to comply with the laws in their country
and will simply not accept registrations from states that outright ban the practice.
*Although I love to write about gambling online, I am not a lawyer and none of this should be taken
as legal advice. I encourage you to research your local laws and only play at safe and trusted sites.