Gambling laws pertaining to online and mobile casino gambling differ greatly around the world. Because the World Wide Web transcends traditional concepts of betting and territories, many governments have struggled to respond effectively to the rapid rise in use of digital services. Some countries have paved the path and fully regulated the online iGaming industry, but most have relied on outdated legislation from an era prior to the Internet and have left their citizens confused or uninformed as to the exact legal status of gambling on computer and mobiles in their region.
Our international online gambling laws guide aims to help readers learn the varying laws and legislation currently active in countries around the globe, along with upcoming amendments and reform which may affect their ability (or inability) to legally and safely play online slots, poker, blackjack, roulette and other casino games on their computer or mobile devices.
An overview of offshore online casino websites
An offshore casino website is simply an Internet-based gambling venue which operates on foreign soil, fully licensed and regulated by advancing gambling jurisdictions. Despite any possible negative connotations with the term, offshore casinos abide by strict laws of the authorities governing their jurisdiction, and fair and responsible gaming requirements which protect gamblers. Many of these gambling bodies and authorities and their regulatory efforts have been recognised around the world as the gold standard when it comes to picking an Internet-based casino website which legitimately protects its players and provides safe and unbiased digital gambling experiences.
A large portion of online casino websites the average gambler will play at, no matter their country of origin, are usually based offshore. Most players will play at these foreign operators due to the complicated or ambiguous online gambling laws currently active in the majority of developed countries around the world. Every single player should always ensure an offshore mobile or online casino site they choose to play at is licensed and regulated officially by one of the following internationally recognised licensing jurisdictions, which you can read more about in the links below:
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Curaçao e-Gaming
- Gibraltar Betting & Gaming Association
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Australia
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Australia: Yes (Offshore only)
Prior to March 2017, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA 2001) governed all online betting and gambling activities in Australia. The Act made it illegal for online casino operators to set up shop in Australian territories and offer its interactive gambling services to Aussie citizens, and aimed to completely ban all forms of Internet casino gaming, including online blackjack, poker and pokies (the Australian term for slot machines). Ultimately, the legislation failed to effectively prevent its citizens from playing at offshore-based online and mobile casino websites due to the ambiguity in its wording and its lack of amendments over the years to reflect the rise of gambling on smartphone and tablets.
Elements of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 were passed in parliament and approved in March 2017, effectively closing loopholes in the IGA 2001: The legislative amendments will prohibit a person providing regulated interactive gambling services to Australians unless the person holds a licence under the law of an Australian state or territory. This means offshore casino websites can no longer offer their gambling services to Australians as they once did unless officially licensed in Australia.
Because Australia lacks an official government-run gambling regulation body which handles licensing and the new amendments give no clarification for online-based casino operators on how to obtain a license, there technically are no Internet casino websites which can 100% legally offer their services to Australian players any longer. There is nothing in the new laws punishing Aussie players, however.
Despite internationally recognised regulation bodies like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission licensing the vast majority of offshore casino websites which once serviced Australians prior to the amendments, the Australian government has mostly overlooked their existence and won’t allow any foreign gambling services to cater to Aussies. The Bill will officially go into effect in once it goes through the House of Representatives.
Unfortunately, the only option Australians might have in the near future to continue to enjoy their favourite online gambling activities is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) with an IP address located in another country or cease playing until new options in Australia are available.
Read our full guide for the best Australian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Austria
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Austria: Yes
The last major Austrian gambling bills passed in 2010 and opened up the Internet iGaming market to the country. Essentially, any online casino based in Austria must acquire an official licence to operate before they can legally offer Austrian players interactive gambling services. Offshore online casino websites operating and licensed in foreign jurisdictions are also allowed to advertise and offer their digital betting and gambling services to Austrian residents.
While getting an official license to run an online casino is Austria is an expensive and time consuming process, the Austrian government’s efforts to recognise Internet gambling makes it easier for Austrian citizens to legally enjoy online betting without worrying about ambiguous laws, and for casino websites to operate with total transparency.
In a nutshell, online gambling laws in Austria are strict for players, but fair. Austrian citizens can legally play at both nationally-based and offshore casino websites without restriction. The only slight restriction is casino websites based in the country can only accept Austrian citizens, but this affects operators, and not players.
Read our full guide for the best Austrian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Bangladesh
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Bangladesh: Yes (Offshore only)
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 and Bangladesh Gambling Law of 1973 currently governs all gambling-related activities in Bangladesh. The former law is over 100 years old and the latter many decades before the rise of the Internet and online gambling. While they impose fines and even imprisonment for citizens publicly participating in gambling (with the notable exceptions of horse racing betting and state-run lotteries) they do not take into account online gambling activities and thus do not technically ban or apply to citizens wishing to bet real money and play at online and mobile casino websites.
Religion has a major influence on the state of gambling in Bangladesh. The large portion of its population are Muslim and the Qur’an explicitly forbids all forms of gambling, considering it unlawful. Non-practising and non-Muslim residents need not worry, but Bangladeshi’s wanting to gamble online should take these aspects into account before playing.
Ultimately, there have been no recorded cases of Bangladeshi citizens being fined or punished for gambling at offshore casino websites. Because the current gambling laws have not been updated to regulate or address Internet-based gambling activities, it is not illegal to play at real money casino websites should you decide to.
Read our full guide for the best Bangladesh online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Brazil
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Brazil: Yes (Offshore only)
The Criminal Contravention Act currently governs all forms of gambling in Brazil. Enacted in the 1940s, it has outlawed nearly all forms of betting in the country except for bingo, lotteries and horse-racing, with no officially licensed land-based casinos operating in Brazil.
The CCA is vastly outdated and does not take Internet or mobile gambling into account, which means it is not illegal for Brazilian residents to gamble at offshore casino websites. Despite the legal gray area, the Brazilian government has attempted to outlaw online gambling due to the estimated $265 million industry created by the popularity of offshore casino websites with Brazilian citizens, most recently in 2010. All attempts have been unsuccessful due to a lack of support in congress.
In short: Yes, if you live in Brazil, you can gamble at the best online and mobile casino websites based in offshore jurisdictions. Just don’t be surprised if Brazil eventually attempts to regulate the online gaming industry in the near future, however.
Read our full guide for the best Brazilian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Canada
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Canada: Yes (Offshore only)
It had to be Canada, eh?
When it comes to online gambling, the Canadian government has not made it very easy for its citizens to understand thanks to a provincial approach to gambling laws. The restrictions and technicalities on Internet gambling varies between provinces and their local laws greatly, and all still have to abide by the 1892 Criminal Code Act which prohibits most forms of gambling (with many exceptions as always, such as horse betting and state-run lotteries) and has been updated to ban casino websites to operate or take bets from Canadian citizens without a state-approved license.
However, one thing is for certain: Nothing in the current legislation restricts Canadian players themselves from betting at online and mobile casinos. Because of this, playing at offshore licensed Internet gambling venues is perfectly legal for the time being, with no public records or news reports of any resident being punished for doing so.
Read our full guide for the best Canadian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Denmark
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Denmark: Yes (Licensed in Denmark only)
Unlike many other countries, the government of Denmark has made things clear in regards to online gambling in the country. As per the Danish Gambling Act, which aims to protect all Danish residents from gambling addictions and unsafe and unregulated gambling operations, players can bet real money at online casino websites and play slots, poker, blackjack, roulette and more – provided the site has a license to operate and that its license is received from the Danish Gambling Authority (known as Spillemyndigheden).
If you are a Danish resident and wish to play at offshore online casino websites instead of gambling sites licensed by Spillemyndigheden, be aware it technically goes against the Danish Gambling Act. Always use a VPN service when gambling online to ensure your privacy and security.
Read our full guide for the best Danish online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in France
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in France: Yes (State-regulated or offshore)
France has always had an odd history with gambling. You would think being the birthplace of roulette would be more open to it being played online, but apparently it and other similar games of chance (online slots) have been deemed too addictive by the government. The widespread consensus is only games of skill such as poker and sports-betting (the latter being extremely questionable) are allowed to be played on the World Wide Web.
In 2010, the French government legalised online gambling with the French Gambling Act and simultaneously set up the Autorite de regulation des jeuxenligne (L’ARJEL), an authoritative body which regulates the iGaming industry to protect its citizens. Unfortunately, it had the initial effect of pushing away several established online casinos due to the high taxes incurred from the new act and the favouritism for state-backed operators. Many offshore casino websites were also blocked by the French government at this time as well, after ARJEL published its list of recommended Internet gambling operators, with only worldwide names like PokerStars exempt from strict regulation and vetting.
Like many other countries, however, France has no specific laws addressing whether French citizens can or can not gamble at offshore online casino websites. For the time being, players can frequent operators based in foreign soil even if not listed in ARJEL’s recommended picks, but as always, keep informed of the site’s gambling jurisdiction and licensing before playing – and use a VPN for added privacy and security.
Read our full guide to French online casino websites for more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in India
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in India: Yes – with exceptions (Offshore only)
India is another country with outdated gambling legislation which needs to catch up with the rapid rise in popularity of online gambling. The Public Gaming Act of 1867 is clear about brick and mortar casinos or private venues being absolutely illegal to run in the country, but because this 150 year old law was long before the advent of the World Wide Web, it does not address online gambling in the slightest.
For Indian residents who want to play online slots and table games on their computers, laptops or smartphones, you are free to do so as it is not illegal – with a few notable exceptions. In the state of Maharashtra, there is actual legislation enacted which unequivocally outlaws Internet gambling activities. If you live in this state, you cannot by law access and gamble at online or mobile casino websites. In the state of Sikkim, it is the opposite case: The Sikkim On-line Gaming (Regulation) Act 2008 was enacted to allow the local government to grant licenses for Internet casinos.
Read our full guide for the best Indian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Ireland
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Ireland: Yes
The Irish government has been responsive to the rapid rise of Internet gambling in Europe. Gambling was once regulated solely by the Betting Act 1931, but has since been updated with the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 so the government could specifically introduce legislation to better regulate the online casino gambling industry and protect its citizens. The new amendment makes it mandatory that all Internet casino operators, offshore or based locally, pay taxes and fulfil licensing requirements if they want to offer Irish players their interactive gambling services.
So long as you play at an offshore or locally-based online casino website which has been issued official licensing from the government of Ireland, you can be sure it is a safe place to play and that it is 100% legal to gamble on the Web. Have a whale of a time.
Read our full guide for the best Irish online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Italy
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Italy: Yes
Italy has regulated the online casino industry since 2006, with amendments to their original gambling laws made in 2009 to allow foreign offshore casino websites to provide their services to Italian residents – provided they apply for and legitimately acquire Italian licensing. The Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies/ Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stado (AAMS) is the licensee which imposes strict requirements on these sites, including maximum betting limits allowed at virtual tables.
Italy has grown to become one of the biggest gambling markets in Europe, and Italian residents can gamble online safely and legally provided they play at offshore casinos with a license issued by the Italian government. It has not slipped past us that many of the most popular offshore Internet casino websites with Italian citizens, however, are those without licensing from the AAMS – play at those sites with a VPN or at your own risk.
Read our full guide for the best Italian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Japan
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Japan: No
Japan has had a healthy shake-up in the last two years as the legalisation of land-based casino gambling was officially passed and the industry prepares itself for a massive boom in the Asian country. We can’t say for the same for their laws regarding gambling at Internet casinos, however, which still remains illegal in Japan. Only certain horse races, lotteries, and sporting events can be bet on legally via the World Wide Web in the country.
While technically illegal, offshore casino websites are not blocked by the Japanese government and many of the world’s best licensed Internet gambling venues accept Japanese players openly. Because there have been few if any recorded cases of fines or punishments for Japan residents playing and betting at online casinos based on foreign soil, many players have opted to visit these sites and play blackjack, baccarat, poker, roulette and the slots without consequence, usually using a VPN service to safeguard their IP address and privacy.
Read our full guide for the best Japanese online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Jordan
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Jordan: No
Traditional concepts of gambling in Jordan are fairly clear-cut: It does not exist. There are no casinos, bingo halls or sports betting venues for citizens to frequent because gambling is 100% prohibited in public spaces. As a Muslim country under Sharia Law, the act of gambling is considered a negative force and a deeply frowned upon activity.
There are no Internet casinos operating within the country, or any licensing body to speak of. This is because online gambling is illegal as well, but it has not stopped many Jordanian residents from accessing and playing at offshore online casino websites. Because there is zero instances or prosecution and little to none Internet filtering of these sites by the Jordan government, many Jordanian players have successfully played at offshore casino sites with ease.
Read our full guide for the best Jordanian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Kenya
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Kenya: Yes
Kenya’s Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966 governs most forms of gambling in the country, with a board established to license and regulate the industry. Online casinos themselves were separately addressed years later and are legal but have to be licensed and approved by the state government. As of this time of writing, only one casino has been officially licensed by Kenya.
Kenyan players are widely accepted at offshore online and mobile casino websites. As Kenyan laws do not punish the player, they can freely do so without punishment – just know that it is at your own risk. As always, we only recommended Kenyans play at offshore sites that are licensed in the jurisdictions they operate within by reputable globally known regulators and you can bet real money online without any problems at all.
Read our full guide for the best Kenyan online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Malta
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Malta: Yes
If you live in Malta and like to gamble online, congratulations – you live in one of the most advanced countries in the world when it comes to effective regulation of Internet casinos, not to mention one of the most trusted jurisdictions that many of the world’s best online casinos operate from.
Malta is the home of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), a world-class and globally trusted gambling licensing jurisdiction body which issues licenses and regulates online and offline casinos in the country. As a Maltese resident, you can 100% expect online gambling to be legal, safe and filled with plenty of options to suit your bankroll and game preferences.
Read our full guide for the best Maltese online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Malaysia
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Malaysia: No
The Betting Act of 1953 and its numerous amendments make all gambling activities illegal in Malaysia, with the usual exceptions (lotteries, horse racing and some land-based casinos in Genting Highlands) including online casinos. Malaysians caught wagering money unlawfully face significant penalties and punishments: “A fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.” Malaysia’s gambling laws are somewhat further complicated due to the additional Islamic laws applying to Muslim residents in addition to the common legal legislation.
All in all, it is clearly illegal to gamble in Malaysia, including online or on your mobile. But it has evidently not stopped many Malaysian residents from signing up to Internet gambling websites and playing online slots, blackjack, poker, roulette and more, as many major online casino websites based offshore offer their services to Malaysians openly.
Read our full guide for the best Malaysian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Netherlands
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Netherlands: Yes
Dutch residents can 100% legally gamble at online casinos, whether they are licensed and regulated offshore or based in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Online Gambling Bill was passed in 2016 by the Dutch government to fully regulate the rapidly growing Internet gambling industry and issue licenses for both offshore and nationally based digital casino operators. Independent gambling regulation body Kansspelautoriteit has officially reported over 100 European-based online casino operators wanted to legally enter Netherland’s online gaming market with official licenses, which is a clear sign the Bill has worked for the country.
Read our full guide for the best Dutch online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in New Zealand
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in New Zealand: Yes (Offshore only)
New Zealand’s online gambling laws are very similar to Australia’s, but the key difference is the NZ government has not closed its numerous loopholes (despite two amendments in 2005 and 2015) which have allowed New Zealand residents to play at offshore online casinos without legal consequence for years.
The Gambling Act of 2003 governs all gambling activities in the country and specifically outlaws online casinos from operating within New Zealand territory or advertising its interactive gambling services to NZ residents. However, its ambiguous and non-specific wording allows NZ players to currently freely access and play at offshore licensed online and mobile casino websites without legal consequence. The very best Internet casinos cater to NZ players as a result, and you can expect to find some great sites and bonuses especially for NZ sign ups.
Read our full guide for the best New Zealand online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Nigeria
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Nigeria: Yes (Offshore only)
Chapter 23 of Nigeria’s 1990 Criminal Code Act includes a gambling provision which bans all forms of non-skill based games, including dice games, roulette, and card games based on chance. This all relates to brick and mortar casino operators, however – online gambling legislation does not exist in Nigeria. Many Nigerian residents play at offshore licensed online casino websites on their computers or mobile devices with ease and without legal consequence.
While there were Nigerian-based online casinos in the past, the first and last officially licensed site, NairaGames.com, shut down in 2013. Nigerian players are best serviced at offshore casino websites licensed and regulated by the best gambling jurisdictions in the world, many of which cater to NGN players.
Read our full guide for the best Nigerian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Romania
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Romania: Yes (Romanian-based sites only)
Romania established the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) to take control of the Internet gambling market and regulate it under its own roof. The result is clear: Online casinos and gambling is legal, but only if the casino website in question is officially licensed by the ONJN who have the sole power to issue and revoke them as per the laws set by the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 20/2013.
Offshore casino websites continue to service many Romanian residents, despite the ONJN requirements and reports of heavy blocking of these sites by the Romanian government. We recommend using a VPN service if you choose to play at these offshore casinos, but just be aware of the current laws in place before you decide to play elsewhere.
Read our full guide for the best Romanian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Russia
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Russia: No
Russia currently has strict anti-online gambling laws in effect, making it currently illegal for Russian residents to bet real money at online and mobile casino websites. Federal legislation introduced in 2006 effectively banned Internet gambling, and in 2009 all forms of gambling done under brick and mortar venues were also outlawed except for in four designated zones.
While citizens of other countries with similar strict gambling laws usually get around them due to lax enforcement or zero recorded instances or prosecution, Russia has taken their strict stance on gambling a bit more seriously. Their regional ISP blocker has been more effective in preventing the most popular online casinos and poker sites from being accessed within the country, and in 2017 they also introduced a new bill to prohibit financial institutions from processing transactions related to online gambling.
Despite this, many Russian residents reportedly continue to access and play at offshore casino websites, both licensed and unlicensed, via VPN methods and with foreign digital payment systems.
Read our full guide for the best Russian online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in South Africa
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in South Africa: No
South African players cannot currently gamble online due to very strict gambling laws which targets operators and local banks. All gambling in South Africa is governed by the National Gambling Act 2004 and the National Gambling Board (NGB), which has made all forms of online casino gambling illegal in the country. Ironically, online sports betting, horse racing and other sportsbook markets are completely fine, so long as they are licensed within South Africa.
In 2010, a high court in North Gauteng ruled any individual or group in South Africa that processed a transactions related to online gambling would face a ZAR 10 million fine and up to 10 years imprisonment – or both. Not surprisingly, there are zero Internet casinos based in SA today.
Despite these laws, many offshore online casinos licensed in foreign jurisdictions openly service South African players, who use VPN services to get around ISP blocks in the country and digital payment services to avoid the severe punishments placed on those using local financial institutions for their online casino activities.
Read our full guide for the best South African online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Sweden
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Sweden: Yes
The Lotteries Act of 1994 and the Casinos Act of 1999 has allowed Sweden residents can gamble online 100% legally, provided the Internet casino website they choose to play at is licensed by Svenska Spel, the state-run gambling company which licenses casino websites in the country and holds a monopoly on all domestic gambling operations.
Many players who prefer options outside of the casino websites licensed by Svenska Spel can access offshore online casinos licensed and based in foreign gambling jurisdictions. There are no real laws which punish players from accessing sites outside of Sweden (the current laws focus on the operators instead) and many Swedish residents have been thoroughly catered to by the world’s most popular Internet gambling sites. We recommend using a VPN service always to get around geo-blocking and to provide additional security.
Read our full guide for the best Swedish online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Switzerland
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Switzerland: Yes (Offshore only)
Residents of Switzerland can gamble online legally and safely, provided they play at online casinos based and licensed offshore. The 1998 Federal Law on Games of Chance and Casinos made it illegal for casino websites to operate in the country, but like many older gambling legislative documents, it does not specifically prohibit foreign casino sites from servicing Swiss citizens with their interactive gambling services.
Swiss citizens wondering if their country will get with the times, rejoice – there has been many discussions with lawmakers to make some changes. The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (SFGB) has acknowledged the amount of tax revenue the country is missing out on by not regulating the online gambling industry, and potential changes to allow casino websites to operate in the country with government licensing is on the tables – in 2019. For now, you have plenty of the world’s best offshore casino sites to enjoy in the meantime.
Read our full guide for the best Swiss online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in Turkey
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in Turkey: No
Online gambling in Turkey is currently illegal and carries a fine of 100k-500k (Turkish lira) for any resident caught playing at offshore Internet gambling venues, regardless of whether they are licensed overseas or not. If you were hoping for any loopholes, you are out of lucky: Legislation enacted in 2006 definitively outlawed non-state backed online casino venues and the active measures the Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency have taken in transactions related to Internet gambling have played a key role in deterring residents from betting online.
Read our full guide for the best Turkish online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in United Kingdom
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in the UK: Yes
Internet gambling at online casinos is 100% legal in the United Kingdom, whether you gamble at nationally-based or offshore casino websites. The UK government took a proactive approach to digital casinos over a decade ago with the Gambling Act 2005 establishing the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, a licensing body dedicated to regulating the online casino industry and keeping its citizens safe when wagering real money on the World Wide Web. The government’s efforts have paid off, as the UK Gambling Commission is considered to be the world’s best and safest gambling jurisdiction and licensee, with only the best online casinos issued licensing from the group.
Essentially, if an Internet casino is certified by the UKGC, it is one of your best choices for real money online gambling. The UKGC also approves other foreign jurisdictions as safe and trustworthy, so their citizens can gamble at offshore casino websites licensed and operating in other territories.
Read our full guide for the best UK online casino websites and more detailed information.
Online casinos and Internet gambling laws in United States of America
Is gambling at online casinos currently legal in USA: No
Americans probably have it worst in the world when it comes to strict online gambling laws. The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 definitively banned online gambling in the USA, prohibiting “gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law.” American banks could also no longer process payments related to online casino wagering. Essentially, all online poker and casino businesses thriving at the time rapidly fled the American market, and today only unlicensed and unregulated offshore casinos still ignore the laws and cater to United States residents.
Read our full guide for the best American online casino websites and more detailed information.