Online gambling is a term used to refer to the practice of betting on events and games of chance for the purpose of receiving a profit. This is different from traditional casino gambling. There are several different kinds of online gambling, including virtual poker, sports betting, and casinos. The main difference is that while traditional gambling is located in a physical place, gambling online is conducted using a computer or mobile device.

Online gambling is a growing industry and is expected to generate $40 billion in revenue worldwide each year. Some countries limit or prohibit this activity. In the United States, it is illegal under the Wire Act, the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA), and other federal criminal statutes.

As the popularity of internet gambling increases, state and federal officials have expressed concerns about the ability of the internet to spread illegal activities into their jurisdictions. This is particularly true of gambling, since it involves consideration and the possibility of winning money.

Many of these cases have raised constitutional questions. These objections are based on the Commerce Clause and the First Amendment. However, attacks based on these grounds have been met with little success.

Internet gambling is legal in a number of states. Indiana, Illinois, and Massachusetts may be among the states that will offer online casinos in the near future. Meanwhile, Ohio is expected to legalize sports betting early in 2019.

While the United States does not have a centralized law regulating online gambling, it does have a series of specific state laws governing this activity. Each of these statutes applies to various forms of gambling, and each has been challenged on its own merits.