The advent of the internet has made it easy for people to gamble. Online gambling includes sports betting, casinos, and virtual poker. It is illegal in most jurisdictions, but some states and Canadian provinces allow online gambling.
In the United States, the debate about the legality of online gambling has been raging since the late 1990s. Two bills were proposed in the Senate in 1999: the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (IGPA) and the Goodlatte-Kyl Act. These bills would have made online gambling a federal crime.
However, a federal court judge determined that the IGPPA was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, state officials have expressed concerns that the Internet could be used to bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions.
Some argue that online gambling is a good way for governments to generate revenue. Others suggest that the commercial nature of the gambling industry is a legitimate defense to Commerce Clause questions.
As a result, the Department of Justice has begun to take action against online gaming operators. The government has been taking steps to seize their assets and impose penalties.
The best part is that it has been a relatively painless affair. In most cases, the government has only required online gambling operators to obtain a license.
Despite the challenges, the internet has proven itself a powerful tool for responsible gambling. There are now numerous sites and tools for players to moderate their play and limit their spending. For example, many sites offer time outs and self-set spend limits.