Despite the legality of online gambling in some jurisdictions, research has shown that it may actually contribute to problem gambling. In fact, half of problem gamblers attributed their problems to online gambling. The fact that the online world is a vastly different environment than the physical one has implications for the health and well-being of those who engage in it.
As far as what is the best way to go about regulating online gambling, the best answer is state-by-state. Currently, only Nevada and Delaware have legalized online gambling, but many states are considering online gaming legislation. In fact, New York Republican Congressman Peter King introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection Act of 2013, which would create an office of “gambling oversight” within the Treasury Department. This office would be tasked with investigating online gambling. It would also be responsible for enforcing laws and making sure that online gambling platforms are licensed and regulated properly.
The best way to detect an online gambling site is to check with the local authorities. For instance, in Belgium, the only casino operators allowed to operate are those licensed by Belgian authorities. This is because Belgium cannot prosecute foreign operators. Aside from that, playing on an illegal overseas based website can get you into some hot water. There is also the matter of banking information being at risk if you play on a site that is not secure.
The Internet has also led to the emergence of new online gambling sites. Many of these are overseas based and have onerous withdrawal penalties. In fact, American poker players pay an exorbitant price to access illegal overseas based websites. Luckily, many of these sites are subject to a loophole in the law that makes it difficult to prosecute. If you want to make sure that your banking information is safe, you should be prepared to pay a small fee to play.
However, research on the best way to go about regulating online gaming is not as straight forward as one might think. Rather, it is a mixture of federal regulations and state-by-state laws. The latter, in particular, is subject to many loopholes because of the evolving technology landscape. The best way to ensure that your money is secure is to play on a legitimate betting site that supports several different secure banking options.
Another possible solution is a uniform federal standard for all online gaming. This would make it much easier to regulate online gambling. In addition, there would be a lot less confusion on the part of online gamblers and casino operators alike. If this idea proves successful, then it might be the best way to ensure that online gambling is legal and safe.
While the best way to go about regulating online betting is to rely on state-by-state legislation, it is a good idea to be aware of what is and isn’t allowed. For instance, some states may ban gambling altogether. Some jurisdictions may also require that you be a certain age in order to gamble.