In the past decade, online gambling has become a very popular pastime. The main advantage of playing at an online casino is the convenience of being able to play from the comfort of your own home. You can also enjoy a larger selection of games than you would in a land-based casino.
While the internet has made gambling more accessible to the average Joe, it has also raised legal issues. Since it’s impossible to physically gamble in some locations, it’s important to be aware of the laws that apply to the game. These laws are mainly state-specific, and in many cases, federal law is reinforcing the state’s laws.
One federal law that has been enacted to regulate the internet is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This law, enacted in January 2011, bans a number of activities related to online gambling, including allowing or receiving bets, or offering or providing financial transaction providers. As such, the U.S. Attorney General has advised all financial services firms that they may face prosecution if they provide services to customers who engage in UIGEA violations.
Similarly, the Travel Act has its own regulations to govern interstate commerce. While these regulations are not intended to affect Internet gambling operations, they can have a negative effect on state enforcement policies. Moreover, it is possible that the Federal Communications Commission could stop providing or leasing facilities to Internet gambling operators.
Another example is the UISM. While it is not a new concept, it is an interesting acronym. It is an attempt to highlight some of the most important elements of the Internet, including its capabilities, functions, and uses. Among other things, it explains that the “state” is a broader term than the individual states. Essentially, the state is any territory or possession of the United States. That includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other locales as well.
However, it does not go as far as the obtuses and obscurities, such as the aforementioned CRS report RS21984 or the aforementioned CRS report RS22749, if we are talking about the same thing. For one, the aforementioned CRS report RS21984 was an abridged version of the original. The aforementioned CRS report RS22749, on the other hand, was a comprehensive and exhaustive study of the various technologies and innovations that are incorporated into the Internet.
Although the most popular gambling activities are limited to state laws, the best gambling sites have a variety of options, from the simple sports betting to the more complex virtual poker. Some websites even offer daily fantasy sports, in which a person can draft teams and enter contests. All in all, gambling has truly migrated from being an old-school activity to a new one.
Ultimately, it seems that the commercial nature of the Internet gambling industry is the best way to reconcile the Commerce Clause concerns, particularly since the federal government is not involved in the business of running a casino.