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Thousands of Americans gamble online. But is online gambling legal? We break it down to show you what you can do, what you can't do, and what's still up in the air.

by Katherine Butler
updated September 03, 2020 · 2min read

The legality of online gambling is ever-changing. But one thing is constant: it makes a lot of money. Online gambling industry makes an estimated $1 billion dollars annually. This is a huge business, and a lot of people have cashed in on it. But it has led to some ambiguous legal issues, as the legality of online gambling is constantly being challenged.

There are differences in the legality of making bets, taking bets, facilitating payments to casinos, and advertising on websites. And there are constantly new legal challenges. So here is a breakdown of the law on online gambling.

Legal Forms of Gambling

There is no federal law against placing a wager online. So, you can legally place a bet online. However, a wager must not be placed on a site located in the United States. There is a small chance players might run afoul of state law, but there is little chance of prosecution. The only case cited where a person got into trouble with a state was in 2003. Jeffrey Trauman of North Dakota paid a $500 fine on over $100,000 of online sports bet winnings.

Sites that are set up outside of the United States are legal. Therefore, gambling on websites located in areas like Australia, the Caribbean, and Latin America is legal. Just be very clear that the site you are playing on is not based on U.S. soil.

Definitely Not Legal Forms of Gambling

It is never legal to gamble on a website based in the United States. Also, if you are planning to operate an online gambling site, stay outside of the United States. You must also deal only with casino and poker wagers (not sports bets) from people in the US. And you cannot take bets over the phone from people in the United States.

Accepting online gambling advertising is also illegal. If you are a small publisher, you are less likely to be prosecuted, but why risk it? As of early 2009, only large and mid-size publishers had faced prosecution. In 2007, the three big search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft) each paid a fine for accepting online gambling ads, but did not face criminal charges. Other publishers, such as Esquire Magazine, have been warned by the government not to take online gambling advertising.

Is It Legal To Play Online Casino In Canada Now

Facilitating the transfer of funds to online casinos is also a bad idea. As of 2006, it became illegal for American banks to process transactions originating from or directed toward any online gambling operator. Because of this, several sites then refused to take bets from American players. But as the law seems difficult to enforce, it has not turned the tide completely for American players.

Still up in the Air

Advertisers who promote sports books in magazines and on billboards may or may not face prosecution. So far, sports books have never been scrutinized for advertising online. And online casinos, poker rooms, and sports books have never been prosecuted for buying ads.

Online casinos and operators still accept American players. And international financial parties have continued to process their transactions. The legality is always changing and there have been attempts to declare online wagering against the law, but for now, U.S. citizens who simply place bets online are in the clear.

Online casino gaming is popular in Ohio and, as of this writing, fully legal under the right conditions. Ohio is a gambling-friendly state; if you live in Ohio, you can pretty much take your pick of local gaming options. There are tribal gaming centers and other traditional gambling operators near enough for a short road trip. But, residents of Ohio are consistently choosing to play casino games at online casinos rather than taking a road trip to a nearby land casino. Why is that? The relaxed attitude towards online gaming has played a huge part in this as well as other factors including convenience.

Ever wonder more about playing online casino games for real-money in Ohio, such as the legal status of being able to play? Or even furthermore, what online casinos might be out there that players in Ohio might be capable of playing? These questions are all answered within this content, as each is addressed specifically, and answered in a way that relates directly to how an Ohio casino player should approach it.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Ohio?

Yes, online casinos are legal in the Buckeye State. Not one arrest has ever been made in Ohio for the crime of playing at an online casino, because in Ohio it isn't a crime at all. There are no laws on the books that make online casino play a crime in Ohio. Now that the federal government is focused on illegal sports bets, and no longer plan to use the 1961 Federal Wire Act to prosecute online casino or poker gamblers, online casino play is perfectly legal, and far more convenient at legal Ohio gambling sites than the nearest tribal gaming center.

Legality Of Online Casino Gambling In Ohio

One thing that might trip you up if you're looking to play online casino games in Ohio are the legal blockades that conservative members of the US government have put up against online gambling. It isn't outright illegal to gamble in the USA, but it can be difficult to send money back and forth from your online account thanks to regulations as part of the 2006 UIGEA.

Thanks to a lack of laws in Ohio against online gambling, you don't have much to worry about in terms of breaking the law when playing casino games on websites in the state of Ohio.

You will be presented with many online casino options that accept Ohio players. This is good in the sense that lots are out there. But how to choose the one that's best for you? Well, Lucky Red is certainly one that measures up to the high standards that we set for the casinos that are reviewed. The casino at Lucky Red will give you Ohio players a great opportunity to play casino games and feel like you are right there in the action.

Lucky Red offers players over 100 games, spanning several different categories. There will be something for every type of casino player looking at this site. Big players, small players, slots player, blackjack players, or whichever type of casino game might be your cup of tea, it will be here. Come see why Lucky Red is one of the best choices in our opinion for Ohio casino players.

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All Star Slots is above the rest of the casinos that accept Ohio residents simply because it has equal bonuses for both slots and table games which is something you won't get at the new casino that just recently opened in Cleveland... plus you don't have to drive to Cleveland.

And, while those land-based casinos might have occaisional offers and a player's club, All Star Slots can beat that with the welcome bonuses and on going promotions. As an example, their 100% match of the first deposit to $787 gives players a lot of bonus money (with a low rollover requirement) that can be used for their slots or the table games found in this casino.

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Will I Go To Jail For Playing Online Casino Games in Ohio?

Playing at an online casino is not something that will land you in jail. What federal law targets is the operation of an online casino in the U.S. So long as you are not participating in launching such a site, or day-to-day operation thereof, jail time will not occur.

Having said that, online gambling is not free from restrictions especially when it comes to the legal age to gamble. Gambling age is set by Ohio law at the state level. Those in violation of gambling age laws will likely not end up in jail though, but will face other action deemed necessary.