Online Gambling is the act of placing bets, or receiving bets, on a sporting event, or placing a wager, or gambling in a casino or poker room, online. These activities are illegal under the Wire Act, Illegal Gambling Business Act, and several other federal criminal statutes.
The United States has prosecuted two companies for their involvement in illegal Internet gambling. Discovery Communications and K23 Group Financial Services were charged with violations of 18 U.S.C. 1955. The owners of these businesses were fined. They are also facing imprisonment for five years under this title.
The United States has taken several constitutional actions to prosecute online gambling. However, these efforts have not been successful. This is because the Commerce Clause of the Constitution has been raised. Although the commercial nature of the gambling business appears to satisfy the Commerce Clause objections, the question of legislative power has also been raised.
A few states, such as Nevada, have already legalized online gambling. New Jersey leads the pack with a number of regulated markets. In addition to online casinos, they offer sports betting, poker, and live casino games.
Pennsylvania has also made a move toward online gambling. PA iLottery provides a payment method for online gamblers. Several banks allow wire transfers to be initiated online. Some banks also offer online bill pay. To enable this service, a user must first enroll in online banking portal.
New Jersey has also stepped up its game with a variety of payment options for online gambling sites. In addition to the United States-only options, the state offers a wide variety of global payment methods.
