It used to be that the United States was late to react to online gambling. The advent of the World Wide Web made it easy for online gambling operators to set up shop in offshore jurisdictions. It seemed like a perfect end-run around government control. Essentially, anyone with a credit card could access online gambling websites and place a wager. However, in 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Safe Ports Act, making it illegal for US banks to provide services to offshore gambling sites.
The gambling industry is maturing and online casinos are regulated by governments. There are no unauthorized casinos online anymore. While legislators are finally catching up, rogue operators are still operating. Some websites are reviewed by third-party services which take a percentage of conversions from players. This ensures the safety of the gambling industry. In addition to these safeguards, online gambling can be a fun, safe, and profitable activity if done properly.
While gambling is generally legal at the federal level, each state has the right to regulate its own activities. Online gambling includes games of chance and skill. There are a number of states that permit residents to place bets on sports or online poker games through the internet. In these states, however, online gambling is regulated by a specialized government agency. A casino that is registered with a US gaming authority must have a gambling license in order to operate legally.