Online Gambling is the American Dream

Online gambling seems to be all around us now, and it won't be any different 20 years from now. This article explores the following:

The history of online gaming

How the internet is influencing new forms of gambling

Current trends in online gambling

Which groups are more likely to gamble online while others are more risk-averse. 

  The growth of digital technology has opened up a whole new world for people in terms of how they can play games, produce content, and live their lives. With the emergence of technologies like bitcoin and virtual reality, it's no wonder why people would want to gamble long distances from home on sites like PokerStars or Betfair.

While this massive growth of digital technology and the resulting growth of gambling is nothing new, it has sparked an intense debate about online gambling within the United States. Most of these debates are centered around two main topics: is online gambling a form of gambling? Is it legal?

If you ask yourself whether or not online gaming is "a form" of gambling, the answer should be obvious - yes. After all, one could easily argue that playing solitaire on your phone while traveling to work shouldn't be classified as an "illegal game".

Why is online gambling so controversial? Because it involves money. Lotteries are a form of gambling, but they're heavily regulated by state governments. Bingo cards and scratch-off tickets are another form of gambling, but they are much less regulated . The government doesn't want people to have too much discretionary income before it can start meddling in their lives , and the same seems to be true for online gaming right now. Online gaming is technically illegal in most states, though there are loopholes that allow Internet cafes to offer games - officially known as "wagering opportunities" - within their establishments.

However, the differences between online gaming and other forms of gambling is relatively small. Take bingo for example. Most people know that bingo halls are regulated by state governments, but they are distinct from other forms of gambling because they don't get wagering opportunities in their establishments. So why isn't bingo considered gambling? Because the government doesn't have a monopoly on regulating this form of entertainment . Any store could sell lottery tickets if they wanted to - but many states require a license to do so - so it would be categorized as something else. Similarly, you can play blackjack online at any casino you like, but this practice isn't regulated by any government like traditional casinos are.

In any case, the real question is whether or not online gaming should be legalized. Given that most people can play poker or make bets at an Internet cafe without issue, it's hard to see why this wouldn't be a minor step forward in terms of individual freedom. After all, it's difficult to compare online gaming to drugs in terms of whether or not they're "good for society". By this logic, gambling is probably as harmless as watching porn - and we all know that porn is already widely available online .

For many opponents of online gaming , this debate centers around money - specifically their money . Online gaming inevitably takes money from local businesses and makes it more convenient for people to play games where they live instead of going out somewhere. The idea of letting people gamble and play games on the Internet is seen as inherently immoral, as it leads to a nation where 50% of people are gambling. In an age where our society has become so wasteful, it's not a leap to assume that this money will be squandered if you can gamble online while you're sipping on a latte in your pajamas.

Of course, this debate has been going on for years, and there's no indication that it will stop any time soon. It's unlikely that the trend towards online gaming is going to change anytime soon - especially with the current economic climate . If current trends continue, online gaming probably won't be illegal in 20 years.

Conclusion

No current laws would explicitly ban online gambling, but most states have laws against wagering on all forms of gambling, including video games. With the growth of the internet and technology like bitcoin, it's unlikely that we'll see a return to any form of traditional neighborhood poker rooms anytime soon. Online gaming's future is a complicated mix of convenience and regulation, and the best we can hope for is to implement some sort of logical regulations that allow the industry to grow within legal boundaries.

This article explores one way video games could become a part of our lives in a few decades - whether or not it will be accepted by authorities. As long as you're not harming others in some way with your online gaming habits (i.e.