Various forms of gambling are legal in the United States. It is regulated by both federal and state laws. Gambling includes games of chance, sports wagering and games of skill. Depending on your state, you may be able to play online or at a casino.
In the late 1990s, the Internet was still relatively new and there were no federal guidelines to regulate online gambling. The Department of Justice began investigating the issue. Ultimately, the Wire Act of 1961 was enacted. The act was designed to protect consumers from rogue gambling sites.
It was also meant to protect the US against the rogue operation of illegal gambling in other countries. However, many countries still have legal restrictions on internet gambling. The US has been slow to respond to this new trend.
Currently, gambling in the US is only legal in some states. The state of Nevada is known for gambling, while the state of Hawaii has no gambling law at all. In addition, gambling on Indian reservations in the US is regulated by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The US Department of Justice is pursuing a criminal case against three founders of the largest online poker companies. They are accused of money laundering and bank fraud.
The US Department of Justice has also taken steps to restrict online gambling in the US. In April 2007, Rep. Barney Frank introduced a bill called HR 2046, which would regulate online gambling in the U.S. This would also require the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to license internet gambling facilities.