US Poker and Games for Money Offered Online
Every day, millions of American citizens enjoy the gambling world right from the comfort of their couch. But online gambling at the moment is not fully, 100% regulated in the United States. Even with light regulations, gambling sites that allow US citizens to play and collect winnings are more often than not, are located overseas. Offshore casinos operate out of locations that legally allow online gambling but outside of the range of US and not in any US jurisdiction. Therefore, the regulations of the U.S. land-based, brick and mortar casinos do not apply.
Without the regulations, of land based casinos in place, be sure to play for real money at sites that are trusted as a US gambling site. Trusted sites will ensure that funds are protected and safe as well as the games and rules will be fair.
History of Online Gambling in the United States
US legislators continue to fight over whether to ban or regulate online gambling on a state by state basis. Some states have passed laws to make online gambling illegal, while others like New Jersey embrace it openly. The federal government have no law against it specifically.
In the current day and age, US citizens who enjoy online casino games face a huge roadblock: the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Signed into law in 2006 by Congress, this federal law makes it challenging and makes the processing of any and all financial transaction for the sole purpose gambling. Included in the ban are transactions such as Western Union and other wire transfers, electronic fund transfers (EFTs), bank transfers, among others.
Due to the UIGEA being enacted, many money transfer companies chose to leave the US market entirely. It posed to much risk because the government always been good at working it’s ways into and then closing down even some of the largest gambling sites in the world that allowed US players to place bets.
Several US based gambling sites that survived the UIGEA have adjusted their rules and in little to no danger of being shutdown, although depositing can sometimes be challenging . The United States Supreme Court, in December of 2011, ruled in the favor of all online casino lovers.
It was announced that that the UIGEA only applied to the sport-books, making them free to allow players from the USA to make bets, deposit money and collect winnings. This ruling was a huge jump forward due to allowing casinos to start operating online once again and to start accepting deposits by credit card for the first time.
Is it legal to gamble online in the US?
Many US citizens are confused over online gambling being legal or illegal United States, and for many good reasons. There are of course existing federal gambling laws in place, but they don’t generally pertain to the online world. Does this really put an end to federal officials making a declaration that online gambling is illegal in the US?
To add to the unclear laws, the government now has stated that the legality of online casinos is up to each individual state. The Federal government will not decide whether or not residents are allowed to gamble at sites located in or out of the US. States such as Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey are a few that allow online casino gaming for money and gambling sites with live dealers.
Many people wonder if they will be paid when they win in a timely manner. In most cases it is a sure thing. These are the same sites that operate legally in areas outside the US like the UK and Australia and they would be shout down with their licenses revoked with they refused to payout.