The Legal Ins and Outs of Casinos in the US and UK
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The Legal Ins and Outs of Casinos in the US and UK
Many people enjoy visiting casinos and playing games such as blackjack, slots and roulette all over the world for recreation and for potential wins. With that in mind, it helps to be familiar with the gambling laws of any country you intend to visit. Here, we examine gambling laws in both the US and UK..
A confusing state
Gambling laws can be difficult to comprehend in certain countries, as they can be dated, with regards to forms of gambling and modern technology. Even in such countries as the UK and US, there can be a certain degree of confusion.
The UK has rather liberal gambling laws and they currently allow anyone over 18 to gamble. The UK authorities closely monitor the games being run by the casinos to ensure that they are fair and that the consumer is given a fair chance to win.
State vs country
When it comes to the US, most laws are established by states so the law depends upon the state the gambling establishment is located in, and these laws can change over time. There remains the federal law, which presides over each state, however. An example of state-run laws on gambling is age. The age in certain states is 18, whereas in others it’s 21.
Louisiana and Nevada are the lone states where it’s legal to operate casino-style gambling establishments across the state. There are numerous examples of smaller areas that can run casinos, however, like Atlantic City. When you take into account the grey legal area of Native American Indian tribes running casinos because they’re domestic dependent nations, US gambling laws are very complicated indeed.
The online casino world
When it comes to going online to enjoy a flutter, there are so many online casinos to play at that the choice can be overwhelming. It’s wise to have done your homework first, or, at least, rely on a trusted source that’s already done it for you. Websites such as OnlineCasinoInfo.com have spent hours and hours writing up online casino reviews, taking into account various factors, such as bonuses and promotions, customer service, and payments and banking. There are laws specific to online gambling that you should be aware of beforehand, however. Fortunately, the more in-depth casino review sites will also advise you about the legality of each operator to provide games to different countries, their licenses, and more. If in doubt, make sure you always read a casino’s T&Cs, to be on the safe side.
When it comes to online gambling, there’s no shortage of options in the UK. It has the world’s most competitive market with a great deal of choice for players. It’s 100% legal, compliant with the Gambling Act of 2005 and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
More complexities stateside
Gambling laws in the US have changed over the years. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006. While that didn’t make gambling online illegal, it meant that it wasn’t legal for financial institutions such as banks to process any transactions related to casino and other gambling sites. The UIGEA excluded certain markets from the bills, however, including numerous skill games and fantasy sports.
It’s still illegal to place a bet on a sporting event, but if you place bets yourself online, it is legal. But again, you need to check the state laws. States such as Delaware and New Jersey have their own internet casinos and can be your port of call if you live in these states.
If you’re planning on heading to the US to gamble, it may be best to stick to the familiar lights of Sin City.
