Is Online Slot Gambling Legal?
Online gambling is legal in many states, and the number of regulated sites continues to grow. While there are still some holdouts, most legislators are becoming more receptive to the idea of allowing sports betting and other types of online gambling. However, some federal laws remain a significant hurdle for those interested in playing these games.
In the 1990s, the internet became a major force in the world of gaming, and this was reflected in the proliferation of websites that offered a wide variety of casino-style games. However, not all of these websites were reputable or licensed, and some operated in violation of state and federal law. This led to the formation of regulatory bodies such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which licenses online gambling operators in Canada.
The first step in playing a regulated online slot game is to create an account at a site. This usually involves a registration form that asks for personal information such as your name, date of birth, and email address. Some sites also ask for a government-issued ID as proof of identity. This is done to ensure that the player is who he or she claims to be and to prevent fraud.
Once you’ve registered at a website, you can choose your preferred deposit method. While most regulated online casinos accept bank transfers and credit cards, some will only use cryptocurrency. This is often done to avoid running afoul of state and federal laws. The most famous example of this occurred in 2015 when Seals with Clubs, a bitcoin poker site, was shut down by the FBI for violating US gambling laws. The site had been taking bets from American citizens, which violated federal law.
In the early 2000s, real-money online gambling became very popular, but regulators stepped in to curb the boom. Initially, they acted on the basis of the Interstate Wire Act, which was passed before the commercial inception of the internet. The law prohibits the transmission of information related to sports betting, but a 2011 re-interpretation of the statute opened the door for other forms of online gambling.
As of 2019, New Jersey is the only state where real-money online gambling is available, but that could change soon. The Garden State has seen massive revenue influxes since launching its iGaming market in 2013, and the numbers continue to grow year-to-year.
New Jersey’s neighbors are catching up, with Pennsylvania and West Virginia offering online gambling in 2021. However, New York lawmakers are still reluctant to take up the mantle of iGaming oversight. This lack of urgency is puzzling, especially considering that iGaming generates an average of $80 million in monthly tax revenue for the state of New Jersey alone. Hopefully, legislators in other states will take note of the growing popularity of regulated online slots and table games. In the meantime, players can try their hand at social online slot games in the Garden State or head to one of its regulated sister sites.