While most states do not permit online gambling, several have started the process of legalizing and regulating it. In the United States, Nevada and Delaware have both passed laws to allow online gambling. In other states, such as Kansas, online gambling is regulated by individual states. In these states, online gambling is only legal within the boundaries of the state. However, many people from other countries cannot access gambling sites that operate within their borders. The best option for those people is to seek legal advice before engaging in online gambling.
Legislation on online gambling varies by country. Despite recent changes, many countries still have loopholes. In Belgium, Finland, and Sweden, for instance, foreign casinos are not licensed to operate in their country. As a result, state gambling monopolies have no legal authority to prosecute foreign operators, and their only power is to block access to the sites. The result is that players in these countries are free to play at any online casino they choose, regardless of which one is licensed or not.
Legalization of online gambling varies greatly by country. The United States has no laws specifically banning online gambling. Most countries in the European Union have legalized gambling, as do some Caribbean nations. In 1998, online poker rooms became popular and there were nearly 200 gambling websites. In 1999, the US Senate introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which would have banned online gambling in U.S. citizens. But it has since become a legal industry in many states.