The Global Online Gambling Industry

Online gambling is an increasingly popular means of entertainment that involves betting on casino or sports games over the internet. The industry is highly fragmented and includes global and regional players. The key players compete against one another by focusing on mergers and acquisitions, product innovation, and brand portfolio expansion. This report outlines the growth potential of this lucrative sector and describes various key players and their strategies.

Legislation on online gambling varies from country to country. While it is generally legal in some places, it is illegal in other countries. In countries that permit online gambling, there is usually a minimum age requirement. Typically, that age is eighteen, but some may require players to be older. As a result, it is important to know what the rules and regulations are in your country.

Online gambling grew in popularity in the 1990s, and at first seemed like a convenient way to avoid government regulation. Many operators established offshore jurisdictions, which enabled them to offer gambling to anybody with a computer and a credit card. Since gambling online was so easy and accessible, the federal government and Congress began looking into regulating the industry.

While the Department of Justice maintains that internet gambling in the United States is illegal, states have been free to decide whether online gambling should be legal or not. In 2011, Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey began legalizing online gambling.