The laws governing online gambling vary considerably across the United States. Generally, all 48 states have legalized online gambling, with the exception of Hawaii and Utah. Both of these states have large Mormon populations and regulations based on personal beliefs. Residents of Hawaii and Utah are concerned that gambling could affect their family relationships. Neither state has much interest in legalizing online gambling, however. In addition, Idaho does not allow betting through its internet casinos.
Legislation governing online gambling has a long and rocky history. The United States and many other countries have passed legislation restricting its operations. Some states, including New Jersey, have legalized online gambling, while others have not. According to a 2007 report by Frost & Sullivan, online gambling revenues were estimated at $830 million. In 1998, the first online poker rooms were introduced, and in 1999, the Internet Gaming Prohibition Act (IGPA) was introduced in the US Senate. In 2002, a bill was introduced to prohibit the practice of online gambling for U.S. citizens. Another bill introduced in 1999 was multiplayer-based gaming.
Despite these legal restrictions, the online gambling industry continues to grow, with Research & Markets estimating that the industry will generate $92.9 billion in revenue by 2023. The growth rate has been fast in recent years, and a report from the Financial Services Association estimates that the industry will grow by 33% annually. In addition, technology advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Metaverse have been instrumental in making online gambling legal across the world.