Gambling Laws of The World
Gambling has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. Historians have found evidence of gambling everywhere from ancient Rome to the cultures of both northern and southern America. As such, gambling has had thousands of years to evolve into what we know it as today. The nature of gambling has also meant that it’s often been in the public eye, with many decrying it as nothing more than the practice of losing money, while others see it as a fun and entertaining pastime.
Whatever the case may be, modern governments quickly realised that there had to be regulations on the different types of gambling found around the world, and it wasn’t long before laws were put in place to keep both the gamblers and the gambling institutes in check. Laws were one thing, but regulatory agencies, such as eCOGRA, were created to ensure that no one was being unfairly treated. Looking at the various gambling laws around the world can give us an idea of how the governments of that region have dealt with the gambling in their respective countries, and whether the laws have made it worse or better for those that take part in the pastime.
Gambling in Canada
For the most part, the Canadian government has been lenient on almost all types of gambling throughout the country. Each province, does, however, have a say in these laws, and because of this, the laws might be different depending on the province in particular, therefore blackjack laws in the main cities might vary from the online blackjack Canada offers, for example. All gambling institutions in Canada, such as casinos, racetracks, and lotteries need to strictly adhere to the laws set down by the government, and a fine can be incurred if they deviate from regulation.
Gambling in The United Kingdom
Gambling in the UK is regulated by the Gambling Commission, a governmental department that oversees all the casinos, sports betting, and lotteries that take place in the country. Betting has been a big part of the UK for almost 200 years, and as such, almost all gambling is completely legal throughout the United Kingdom. This even extends to the online gambling scene, where many casinos get their practising licences from the UK itself.
Gambling in The United States
Similarly to the previous countries, the United States does allow gambling in the country, with the only difference being that there are some restrictions to each type of gambling permitted. For the most part, gambling is regulated by each, individual state, and the states of Nevada and Louisiana are the only two states that fully allow casino-based gambling statewide.
Gambling in Australia
While gambling in Australia was legal for most of the country’s history, it was in recent years that the government decided to start regulating many of the gambling institutions found throughout the country. For this reason, most casino gambling, such as blackjack, slots, poker, and many more, are not legal within Australia, along with online casino gambling. Sports betting, on the other hand, remains legal for most of the nation, with some regulation here and there, although this may also change in the near future.
Gambling is worldwide, and continues to be a potent force both in economics and entertainment. Laws may change in the future that restrict gambling to some degree, but whatever the case, there will always be a large group of fans dedicated to the pastime.