Almost ten million United States citizens gamble online, and the number continues to increase. Online casinos and sports betting sites have become popular, offering more choices and better visuals than conventional casinos. The internet gambling business is a big business. In fact, the global online gambling market has been growing rapidly in recent years. There are now about 30 billion dollars being gambled on the Internet. Despite the popularity of this activity, there are federal criminal statutes that are implicated in illegal gambling on the Internet.
The first major legal case against Internet gambling took place in 2005 when the Federal Communications Commission warned PayPal that it would face prosecution if it continued to provide financial instruments for Internet gambling sites. PayPal complied. In addition to warning PayPal, the Federal Communications Commission has also taken steps to discourage the use of the Internet for unlawful gambling.
During the past decade, the number of online gaming sites has increased dramatically. As of June 2011, there are over 1,500 internet gambling sites in the United States. The number of online gambling sites is expected to increase in the upcoming months. It is estimated that online poker is worth about $6 billion in the United States.
The first online gambling site for the general public was the Liechtenstein International Lottery. Since its debut, the Internet has become a hugely popular source of entertainment. A recent survey found that online gambling sites have become a popular pastime for young adults. According to the survey, nearly a third of college students are playing online poker at least once a month. The survey found that more than five hundred thousand high school students visited online gambling sites on a monthly basis.
One of the most significant legal issues involving Internet gambling has been the federal government’s ability to enforce federal laws. In addition to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, the Commerce Clause has also raised questions about the power of the government to regulate gambling. Although the Commerce Clause has been cited as a justification for the federal government’s power to regulate gambling, attacks on this constitutional principle have had little effect.
There are a number of reasons why teenagers gamble, ranging from peer pressure to the desire for quick money. Teens are also drawn to the excitement of gambling and the hope of winning big. In addition to gambling, they may sell or steal possessions to pay off debts or buy things they need. This can cause financial anxiety and depression, which can lead to self-esteem issues.
The Annenberg Public Policy Center has found that college students have become increasingly prone to online gambling. In fact, the Center’s research indicates that the number of college-aged males using Internet gambling sites increased from 4% to 16.0% in 2010. In addition to college students, high school-aged males also showed an increase in the number of Internet gambling sites they visited. This was primarily due to an increase in sports betting.