While many states are currently debating whether to legalize online gambling, the United States has already taken a step in that direction. New Jersey and Delaware have both started the process of regulating this industry. Regulatory efforts will continue state by state. Until then, it will likely remain illegal to participate in online gambling.
There are many legal issues surrounding online gambling. Although most states regulate it, the federal government has a hand in it as well. For example, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 limits banks’ dealings with illegal internet gambling sites. In addition, the Federal Wire Act has historically prohibited all forms of online gambling. However, that law does not apply to online casinos, poker sites, lottery sites, and other types of online gambling.
Online casinos are divided into two types: download-based and web-based. Download-based casinos require a software client to be downloaded to your computer. They run faster than their web-based counterparts, as they do not need the support of browsers. However, the initial download of the software client may take a while, and there is the risk of malware.