Internet gambling is currently legal and operating in three,
U.S. States - Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. Additional states,
perhaps realizing that the likelihood of federal legislation on the
topic anytime soon is remote, considered their own internet
gambling legislation this past year. Proposals for new, or expanded
internet gambling have, or will likely be considered by California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Current federal law only permits states to allow internet
gambling to be conducted on an intra-state basis. The hope of
states such as Delaware, with low population bases, is to enter
into agreements, or compacts, with other states to allow
cross-border acceptance of internet wagers. To date no such
agreements have been entered into and the pending states'
legislation seems to focus on each state conducting its own
intra-state internet wagering.
