There are many different forms of online gambling, from sports betting to virtual poker. However, there are three main categories. These are casinos, sports betting and virtual poker. Currently, about half of the states have some form of legalized online gambling. It is expected that more will follow.
Gambling is defined as placing a bet on an uncertain event. Gambling may include sports betting, bookmaking, pool-selling, lotteries, and maintaining slot machines, dice tables, and roulette wheels.
The first online gambling venue was the Liechtenstein International Lottery. Various states have enacted online gambling laws, with Washington prohibiting websites that advertise gambling. Moreover, some countries have regulations regarding online gambling. In addition, there are several federal criminal statutes that are implicated in illegal gambling on the internet.
A recent case involving the United States v. K23 Group Financial Services, charges money laundering and violations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Sports betting was also legalized at the federal level in 2018.
According to CRS Report RS22749, “Unlawful Internet Gambling is a form of unlawful gambling. Illegal internet gambling is defined as receiving, transferring, or transmitting bets over the internet. Online gambling is primarily casino games, such as slots, video poker, and sports betting.”
In January, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threatened to discontinue the leasing and maintaining of facilities for Internet casinos. Discovery Communications accepted ads from Tropical Paradise, a Costa Rican casino operation. They were then seized by U.S. marshals.