Almost 10 million Americans are active in online gambling. These individuals gamble on casino games, sports betting, and virtual poker. There are various devices on which they play, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. However, online gambling laws vary from state to state.
Online gambling is legal in 48 states. Those who are under the legal age to gamble may not participate in online gambling. However, underage gambling is not illegal in brick-and-mortar casinos. There are several organizations, including Gamblers Anonymous, that provide resources for those with gambling addiction.
The United States has a complex regulatory system for gambling. This includes state laws, federal law, and local laws. Each state has its own rules, which are largely based on the legal issues involved in gambling.
Approximately 1.7 million youth gamble for money at least once a month on the Internet. This includes a large number of males. These teens report gambling for fun, excitement, or to relieve boredom. They also report that gambling helps them deal with depression and helps to improve their self-image.
Online gambling is legal in some countries, but is illegal in others. For example, India has strict gambling regulations. However, online gambling is legal in the United States, as long as it is conducted in a legal manner.
In 2010, over 530,000 high school-aged male students visited gambling websites at least once a month. This number increased from a total of 520,000 in 2009. The number of Internet gambling sites increased slightly from 2.7% to 6.2%.