Online gambling is a huge part of the United States. Besides casinos, it also includes virtual poker and sports betting. The proliferation of mobile devices has made gaming available on a global scale. As a result, many Americans can now enjoy the thrill of gambling from the comfort of their own homes. Despite the popularity of online gambling, many states still have no legal gambling sites.
Ohio is the only state that does not offer online casinos. Nevertheless, the state is moving forward in terms of offering more robust gaming options. Currently, Ohio has eleven true gambling locations. One of these is the state’s first casino, which opened in 2012. Several types of gambling are already legal in Ohio. In addition, the state has approved the placement of slot machine-like video lottery terminals at seven racetracks.
However, Ohio voters approved a bill that will make sports betting a legal, albeit regulated, activity in the near future. In December, the state legislature passed House Bill 29. This legislation will allow the state to begin offering online sports betting on January 1, 2023. It was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. Since then, more than a dozen retail and online sportsbooks have announced partnerships and are preparing to launch.
There have been several legal challenges to the law that governs gambling. Some of these claims focus on the Constitution’s due process guarantees. Others cite the Commerce Clause. Regardless of which side of the debate you believe in, the UIGEA and other federal statutes that regulate this industry have garnered a lot of attention. Fortunately, these are not the only issues facing the nation’s gambling industry.
Several states have passed laws that permit various forms of gambling, but most are not yet able to wager on sports. For example, New York is still illegal to place a bet on a basketball game. Moreover, state officials have expressed concerns that the internet could be used to bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions. That said, the Internet has proven to be an effective way for people to place bets on sports and other activities, even if they live in a state where it is illegal to do so.
Although the Internet has been proven to be an efficient tool for placing bets, it has been used for other purposes as well. In December 2002, the Government Accounting Office released a report titled Internet Gambling: Overview of Issues. While the report does not cover specific types of online gambling, it does contain a list of notable gambling-related statutes. A number of states have legalized gambling, including Nevada, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Those are among the states that have legalized sports betting, but many more are on their way.
One of the biggest debates is whether the federal government can regulate the commercial activity of this new industry. In response, Congressional studies and reports have been produced. Specifically, the aforementioned CRS Report RS21984 cites several enumerated statutes, including the statutes that supposedly enumerate the main points of the UIGEA.