Online Gambling is any kind of gambling conducted on the Internet. It includes virtual poker, casinos and sports betting. It is believed that the first online gambling venue opened to the general public was ticketing for the Liechtenstein International Lottery in October 1994. The popularity of online gambling has exploded as technology advances, allowing players to wager from the comfort of their own home.

The legality of online gambling depends on many factors, including the jurisdiction in which a player lives and whether a gaming website is properly licensed and regulated by the appropriate government authority. Moreover, the reputation and location of a licensing body can make all the difference in terms of the likelihood that a player will be compensated if they experience problems with a particular casino.

In some countries, the laws that govern online gambling are quite restrictive. For example, Germany has a state contract (German: Glucksspielstaatsvertrag) about gambling which dictates a basic state monopoly and strict handling of online gambling. Therefore, it is illegal to operate a gambling business without a license in Germany.

Other countries have more liberal laws regarding online gambling. For instance, the United States allows its citizens to gamble at a variety of online gambling sites. In order to ensure the integrity of the industry, the U.S. has implemented stringent anti-money laundering and other regulatory provisions. Attacks on the application of these federal laws based on the Commerce Clause, First Amendment protections for crime facilitating speech, and due process rights have failed to gain traction in the courts.