Gambling News

“Online Casino Gambling May Become Legal in US”

Is online gambling poised to become legal in the United States? Some states are pushing for new legislation.

It is becoming more and more difficult, if not impossible, to ignore the massive success of the online gambling industry. Rumors about online gambling finally becoming legal on U.S. soil are beginning to fly. Supporting the rumors are renewed efforts by three states to pass legislation that would legalize gambling within their borders.

So far all internet gambling sites are “offshore”, set up outside the US in countries where offline gambling is legal. The U.S. fight against the offline gambling industry is based on the federal Wire Act of 1961 which prohibits gambling over the Internet because the bet is technically transmitted via a telephone line. This Act is limited as it was originally set up to stop sports gambling over phone lines. It does not specifically cover online casino games. Lawmakers in the U.S. have been trying for years to update the Act, but it still doesn’t specifically cover Internet gambling.

Now, as more and more states are beginning to realize the tremendous revenues that the online casinos generate, the illegal status of online gambling may soon change, as Jim Kasper, North Dakota’s state representative recently pointed out. Internet gambling would provide such an excellent source of revenue it could reduce or even eliminate the need to raise taxes. Kasper has already introduced legislation which has already passed the house that would allow Internet gambling in his state. In the U.K. a decision is awaited that will allow its land-based casinos to accept online wagers from American players. This too will influence thinking and legislation in the U.S.

Clearly, as online gambling obtains greater acceptance in countries that had previously been staunch critics of the industry, it becomes more mainstream in the U.S. and it seems it will become even more difficult for the U.S. not to follow suit.

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