Online poker has been a popular gambling game for decades, but it’s not legal in every state. This is because of state gambling laws and US federal law that prohibits moving funds for gambling over state lines. State laws also require high identification and geolocation standards for players. This article will explore why is online poker illegal in the us, and discuss how states are passing regulated online poker.
The earliest versions of online poker appeared in the 1990s. The game became hugely popular after Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003. The unregulated market thrived until Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. This forced a lot of sites to pull out of the United States and leave their players in limbo. Despite this setback, online poker has been steadily growing since and is now available in most US states.
Nevada and Delaware regulated their own poker sites in 2013, with New Jersey launching its own site the following year. This created an interstate poker compact and paved the way for other states to follow suit. However, a 2019 Justice Department opinion on the Wire Act has put a damper on those plans.
Nevertheless, many state legislatures are considering making online poker legal. The largest states – California, Nevada and Pennsylvania – have already legalized the game and have regulated sites. Michigan and West Virginia are close behind, with sites expected to launch soon.
While a few states – like Alabama – have prohibited all forms of gambling, most take a less harsh approach to the game. These are more likely to make regulated online poker legal in the future, especially as they focus on sports betting and lottery games.
The most popular type of online poker is No Limit Texas Hold’em (NLHE). This is the version played in the World Series of Poker and other major tournaments, and it has the widest appeal of any game. NLHE is also easy to learn and play for low stakes, so it’s a great option for beginners.
One big reason why some people have a hard time accepting the legitimacy of online poker is because it’s often compared to casino gambling. Despite the fact that both have some similarities, the differences are vast. The main difference is that casino gaming relies on chance while online poker requires skill and decision-making. This is a key distinction that has been used by proponents of regulated online poker to support their arguments for legalization. It’s also why many legislators are more inclined to pass laws allowing for regulated online poker than casino gambling.
