Online gambling has been a popular activity since the 1990s, when the Internet seemed like an end-run around government control. Operators were able to set up shop in an offshore jurisdiction. Anyone with a computer and an internet connection could find these sites and place bets on the games. As time went on, Congress and the Department of Justice began investigating how to regulate online gambling.
The market is highly fragmented, with regional and global players competing for market share. Major players have embraced the use of mergers and acquisitions and have invested in new products and technologies. They also have a global distribution network that gives them the ability to expand their offerings. They also use a variety of strategies, including partnerships and product innovations.
While online gambling is legal on a federal level, each state has the right to regulate its own gambling activities. States may regulate sports betting, casino games, poker games, and horse betting, among others. As a result, the list of states that allow online gambling is lengthy. Twenty states allow residents to wager on sports events through the internet, and another twenty allow online poker.
Legalizing online gambling has not been easy. In the US, only 48 states have legalized it. Hawaii and Utah are among the exceptions. These states have large populations of Mormons and Hawaiians, and are governed by similar religious beliefs. Despite the legality of gambling in these states, many lawmakers have refused to legalize it.