The online casino industry has reached new heights in the 2020s. If some recent surveys are to be believed, many more people will become interested in iGaming. Over 18% of the global population have admitted that they play the occasional game at a casino online. A decent chunk of people has said that they gamble pretty often.
This fact is not surprising at all. The incredible rise of the gaming industry is primarily attributed to the convenience and fun these sites offer. In 2023, you can play many of your favorite games, like slots, poker, blackjack, teen patti, etc., and you can also do so on various electronic devices. Gamblers can access online casinos through their PC, tablet, android, etc. And, of course, online casinos can even be played on iPhones nowadays without any issue.
Though it is worth noting that, despite its rise in popularity, gaming is still relatively new, which means that many folks still don’t understand how the industry works. Some even are under the misapprehension that gambling online is illegal. So, in this article, we will go over the legality of online gambling, how to find appropriate websites, and discuss offshore websites.
Is Online Gambling Legal?
The first thing we must simply get out of the way is the question of legality. Is online gambling legal? The answer is simple, though it is long. Online gambling is legal in many countries, especially in Europe. However, there are quite a few countries that have banned the practice. So, the question isn’t “Is online gambling legal?” but rather “Where is online gambling legal?”
The practice is legal in most countries in the European Union. Most prominently, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Malta, Gibraltar, and the Netherlands. Spain and the UK especially have a vibrant and heavily regulated online gambling industry, though we will discuss that later. Gambling online is also legal in various Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and India. Finally, New Zealand and Australia have also legalized the practice.
In the USA, laws regarding online gambling vary, as no federal laws prohibit or allow the practice. In other words, online casinos are legal in some states but not in others. And the same can be said about Canada and its municipalities.
Proper Online Casinos
Now that we know where the practice is legal, we should know how to find appropriate websites. We discussed that Spain and the UK have vibrant and heavily regulated online casinos. In large part, we have licensing companies like the UK Gambling Commission to thank for that. These organizations thoroughly examine the business goals, odds, games, and safety measures that online casinos employ and dole out a license if they meet their standards of excellence: Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar, and the United Kingdom issue, particularly notable and prestigious licenses.
In the United States, online casinos are legal in only seven states: Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and West Virginia. Residents of these states can find the top USA casinos and play all their favorite games. What can US residents outside these states do if they want to gamble online? Well, this is where offshore casinos come in.
Offshore Casinos
As the name implies, offshore casino websites are websites whose main headquarter is in a country outside the USA. You may wonder if playing at an offshore casino is legal. And the answer is yes. State laws prohibit online casinos from being situated within their border. However, they don’t necessarily prohibit residents from playing.
If you are interested in playing online, you can always try your luck at an offshore casino. As we said, always ensure you find a website licensed and regulated by a reputable authority. We mentioned them before, but it bears repeating. Look for licenses issued by countries like Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar, and the United Kingdom.
However, it is worth noting that many US residents might not have to deal with this problem for long. Recently, the US government passed a federal law legalizing online sports betting. The massive success of the sports betting industry, coupled with the vast success that iGaming has seen in states where it is legal, leads many analysts and experts to believe that, pretty soon, the practice will be permitted throughout the United States of America. Quite a few stock market analysts predict a fast rise in the iGaming market.
Conclusion
The iGaming industry has reached incredible heights. And it is only expected to grow in the future. So, we hope this article has helped some of you better understand the legality behind online gambling and how you can also find a great casino website.