Emma Oosthuizen
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Is it possible to gamble on the internet? 

One of the most frequently asked questions about gambling is “Is it legal to gamble online in my country?” We investigated gambling laws in a number of countries, including the United States, India, Monaco, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa. What we discovered was as follows: 

The United States of America

Although online gambling is legal in the United States on a federal level, many states have passed laws making it illegal. Checking the laws of the state where you currently live is your best bet (haha!). On the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures, you can find a more detailed explanation of the proposed changes to gambling legislation. 

Wizard of Odds clarifies the legality of online gambling in the United States in their post titled “The Legality of Online Gambling in the United States.” This can be read to learn more about the legality of online gambling in each state. 

India 

According to GamblingSites.com, there are numerous gaming prohibitions in India… However, this is only a theory. The Public Gaming Act of 1867 is the piece of legislation in India that governs all aspects of gambling. In case you were wondering, this is not a typo: Over more than a century, the laws have changed relatively little, and very few of those changes have anything to do with internet gambling. In that time, the statutes have only been amended a few times. 

As a result, no law expressly prohibits you from doing so. It appears that online gambling is a state issue, as it is in the United States; therefore, you should research the laws in your area before getting involved. Furthermore, it appears that the legality of online gambling varies from state to state in India; therefore, you should check the laws of the state in which you reside. 

Monaco 

Given that Monaco is known as the gambling capital of the world, it is strange that residents are not permitted to gamble in any of the country’s casinos. However, even though internet gambling appears to be legal in Monaco, it is not regulated, go ahead and try it! Monaco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world for gamblers. So it’s a win-win situation, right? 

England’s Kingdom 

The Gambling Act of 2005 and the Gambling Commission are the two bodies in the United Kingdom that oversee the legality of online gambling. The entire act can be found in this location. It is legal to engage in gambling activities (including betting) online in the United Kingdom (UK) if the online casino in question holds a Gambling Commission license: at the very least, this reduces the number of questionable websites that may end up costing you money regardless. 

The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act of 2014 requires even offshore casinos to obtain a Gambling Commission license. This law can be found on this page if you want to learn more about it.

Australia 

Online gambling has become a contentious issue in Australia in recent years. The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 governs the industry, and you can learn more about it on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s official website (ACMA). Betting and wagering are legal in Australia, but online gambling appears to put Australian poker players on shaky legal ground, given the Amendment Bill. In terms of the country’s legal framework for online gambling, this is akin to a snake devouring its tail. 

The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2016 was introduced to control unlicensed operators in the interactive gambling industry (article over at The Guardian). The problem is that, due to the legislation, (1) internet poker is technically illegal, and (2) poker businesses in Australia are unable to obtain licenses. Whoops. 

As a result of this move, companies such as 888Poker have completely exited the Australian market, and there have been requests for the bill regulating online poker to be changed in some way so that it can be governed independently. 

South Africa 

In spite of the fact that the South African gambling sector on the internet looks to be booming, South Africans themselves are caught in a legal labyrinth when it comes to online gambling: It is against the law in South Africa to participate in any form of online gambling (unless the website in question appears to be situated in the country), and the primary challenge is collecting any winnings: Unfortunately, “money for gambling” is not a valid declaration for bringing your money into the country, despite the fact that some players opt to take this risk nevertheless. This is because “money for gambling” is not recognized as a legitimate purpose for bringing money into the country.

Gambling in South Africa, including betting and wagering that is conducted online, is regulated by the National Gambling Board and the National Gambling Act. Both of these forms of entertainment are considered to be legitimate forms of amusement in South Africa (No. 7 of 2004). Internet gamblers in South Africa were given a glimmer of optimism when a bill was submitted to regulate and legalize online gambling. The bill, known as the Remote Gambling Bill, was meant to legalize and regulate online gambling. However, the bill was never passed on to the full chamber for a vote. Regrettably, just a portion of the measure was approved, which requires people to engage in gambling (or not).

Indonesia 

Despite the fact that gambling is now illegal in Indonesia, despite the government’s best efforts, online casinos have grown in popularity throughout the country. Every day, thousands of pounds are wagered on table games and sporting events. According to a recent report published by the accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the value of the Asian gambling industry is expected to rise from $34 billion to around $80 billion over the next few years (PwC). If you live in Indonesia and want to play casino games online, you can go to Casino.com Indonesia. Simply click on the links in this sentence.

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