Online gambling

Online gambling is gambling conducted over the internet, including activities such as online casinos, poker, sports betting, lotteries, and betting exchanges.

Online gambling is gambling conducted over the internet, including activities such as online casinos, poker, sports betting, lotteries, and betting exchanges. It became commercially established in the mid-1990s and is regulated differently across jurisdictions, with legality varying by country, state, or province. In Canada, online gambling is legal in some provinces and is regulated at the provincial level for many forms of wagering.

Definition

Online gambling is the use of the internet to place wagers on games of chance, sporting events, or other uncertain outcomes. It is a subset of gambling, distinguished by the online delivery of the betting activity.

History

Commercial online gambling emerged in the mid-1990s, with the Liechtenstein International Lottery ticketing service cited as the first public venue in October 1994. Growth in internet access and payment systems later expanded the sector.

Forms of online gambling

Common forms include online casinos, online poker, sports betting, online lotteries, and betting exchanges. Some sources also distinguish mobile gambling and live or in-play betting as related categories.

Regulation and legality

Legal treatment varies widely by jurisdiction. Some countries and subnational regions permit online gambling under licensing frameworks, while others restrict or prohibit it.

Industry and market

Online gambling is a major segment of the wider gambling industry and is commonly discussed alongside casino gaming, sports wagering, and digital payment systems. Market-size estimates vary by year and source.