Over the centuries, gambling has always been one of the most popular activities, but somehow, it was forbidden or in a gray area, except in a few places worldwide.
However, things are not much different in the modern online gambling world. Most countries do not allow this type of gambling, but most do not prohibit it. So, the logical question that comes to mind is: Is it legal to play in a new online casino? This is an extensive and complex topic, so we will simplify it and give short answers.
First, of course, the answer depends on your location. In some parts of the world, online gambling is strictly prohibited. For example, in California, online betting and casinos are not allowed. In other countries, this activity is permitted and regulated by a set of laws.
However, this sector is still wholly unregulated in many places, leaving room for different interpretations. These are the parts of the world where players usually wonder whether playing in an online casino is allowed. This is what we call the gray zone.
In some cases, there is no law prohibiting online gambling, and, in many cases, online casinos are not allowed to operate in certain countries. In these cases, the only option for players is remote gambling. This means they can play at any online casino registered abroad. So if you want to check out UFC betting odds or any betting site or casino game, you should use a VPN.
How online gambling has evolved over time
In the past, online casino operators preferred exotic destinations. They were usually located on some exotic islands because of the tax benefits.
However, as more countries are legalizing online gambling, we can find more online casinos operating from these locations. Therefore, more players are turning to these casinos, and the main reason is security.
Casinos all over the world are competing, and one of the ways to prove their credibility is to obtain a license from a specific gambling commission. These commissions are governmental bodies in certain countries that have already been regulating online gambling.
The most popular licenses are from the United Kingdom, Malta, Curacao, Gibraltar, etc.
But things are changing. More and more countries are regulating this field. There are many reasons, but the main one is that the online casino industry is overgrowing.
In many cases, the only thing governments care about is money. So once online gambling is legalized, they can start collecting taxes from operators and players.
The legislative process is viral in Europe these days. In the next few years, almost all EU countries are expected to regulate this field and undoubtedly will all follow the same path.
These countries will implement the same licensing system, which includes similar legislation, similar regulatory bodies issuing licenses, etc. Countries such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands already regulated online gambling.
Where is gambling not allowed?
In other parts of the world, online gambling is prohibited. For example, many Latin American and Asian countries have such legislation, but the problem is that they are still developing countries.
In other words, they cannot prosecute people who gamble online. This leads us to conclude that, although remote gambling is prohibited, players should not worry too much about it.
Another excellent example of this situation is the United States. No one would think such a modern country could have places where online gambling is forbidden. However, California also said no to online sports betting because voters rejected the proposal in 2022.
Moreover, we are sure that this trend will change shortly and that these countries will also try to regulate the field. Simply put, they need money, and taxes are the best way to get it.
Why is online gaming usually frowned upon?
In the past, one of the main excuses for a hostile policy towards online casinos was potential gambling addiction. Fortunately, things have changed, and there are many fantastic ways to prevent these problems.
Every gambling agreement has a special chapter (or more) on this topic. In addition, some experts are constantly looking for new methods to control problem gamblers, with all sorts of limitations, commercial bans, and the like.
Finally, there is the issue of cryptocurrencies, which makes banning online gambling meaningless. Increasingly online casinos accept cryptocurrencies, and no country still regulates them; it is impossible to track online gambling using this payment method. Moreover, this field is so messed up that it will take years to become part of the legal system.
Conclusion
As you can see, things are still chaotic. The good thing is that the latest trends are mainly about online casino legislation and that more and more countries are legalizing online casinos. But on the other hand, many governments cannot regulate industry or prosecute illegal players.
Finally, in most parts of the world, online gambling is in a gray zone, which in practice means that there are no prohibitions.
