The Internet has allowed more and more Americans to place bets on their favorite sporting events. However, the legality of online gambling in the United States has been a matter of contention. And with good reason.

First, there are federal criminal statutes that make it a crime to gamble on the Internet. These statutes, like the Wire Act, are aimed at prohibiting gambling on sporting events. But they can also be applied to other forms of gambling.

Second, the “Illegal Gambling Business Act” (IGBA) imposes a five-year prison term on owners of gambling businesses. And third, the UIGEA prohibits the acceptance of financial instruments for illegal Internet bets.

Finally, the law requiring state registration of sportsbooks is set to sunset in 2022. But that didn’t stop Michigan and Maryland from getting in on the action. It took nearly a year for the two states to decide whether or not to launch online sports betting.

But a lot has changed in the meantime. Illinois is about to allow residents to bet on sports games through the internet. And in Indiana, online casinos are slated to open in 2023. But online poker is not high on most lawmakers’ lists.

So what are the best practices for legalizing and regulating online gambling? Well, the laws vary from state to state. For example, Nevada was the first to offer online gambling, but it requires residents to register at a casino before they can bet on sports.