When it comes to online platforms and industries, there are many that generate a lot of revenue year in and year out. Online gambling is among the most successful of them all. While many English-speaking countries were against it in the beginning, they are slowly starting to realize the economic benefits of a regulated online gaming system.
As a result, countries have moved to regulate online gambling, including the UK. With increasing revenue projections, online casinos are set for rapid organized growth in the coming years. We’ll explore the similarities and differences in laws in English-speaking countries around the world.
Where Is Online Gambling Legal in English-Speaking Countries?
When it comes to online gambling regulations in the English-speaking world, there are several geographies to consider, namely Europe and the USA. If you take a look at the highly regulated online casinos you’ll notice that the UK stands tall. It’s one of the first countries in the English-speaking world to regulate the industry. Like in many other countries, it works on a licensing system, with one regulatory body that oversees all the activity.
That regulatory body in the UK is the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. It’s responsible for issuing licenses to interested parties, which are only granted a license after an extensive look into their business. The UKGC doesn’t just issue licensing – it also regulates the ads and other operator activities, with tight-knit laws that can’t be broken.
The English law distinguished three forms of regulated gambling:
Sports betting
Casino gaming
Lotteries
Operators may offer all three forms after being granted a UKGC license. These licenses are expensive, and the casino’s reputation should be spotless before it ever receives one. Moreover, the UKGC regularly checks if the casino holds its side of the deal, which is following and complying with all of the regulatory body’s rules.
Many English-speaking European countries have modeled their laws after the UKGC. Malta, for example, has a popular regulatory body too, the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority), which is right behind the UKGC in terms of popularity and regulations. Just like the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority issues licenses to online casinos interested in obtaining it and oversees the action to ensure they comply with the high standards.
The European Union itself is pushing its members to legalize online gambling, and most English-speaking countries oblige. As a result, online gaming is regulated in Europe per EU standards, which legalize online casinos and keep offshore and unregulated casino sites at bay.
What About the USA?
While the EU laws regarding online gambling are mostly the same, things are different in the USA. Unlike the European Union, the legal system regarding the matter in the USA can be described as fragmented. There’s no federal law that applies to casinos. Each state is free to determine its laws, so you have states where online gambling is permitted, as well as states where its prohibited.
The good news is that the tides are turning, and many states are opting to legalize online gaming. For example, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia all allow online casinos. In Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana among others, only sports betting is legal, and online casinos are not.
Many states that are looking to legalize online gambling in the next few years, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, and Georgia. California is pondering the same thing as well, although real money online gambling is currently illegal in the state. Players can access offshore casino sites at their own risk, but if things go awry, they don’t have the backing of a regulatory body.
Conclusion
The legal landscape in regard to online gambling in the English-speaking world is vastly improving. Compared to where it was a decade ago, more countries are opting in to legalize online gaming. The reason is simple – it supports local economies and lets players have fun. Of course, all online casinos are obliged to warn players of the dangers of compulsive behavior when playing casino games, offering tools and help in the form of reading material.
Online casinos will continue to march in the English-speaking world. With their immersive experiences and always striving for improvement, more English-speaking countries will legalize online gaming in the future.
