This is a complex question to reply as it varies on region. There are differences as regards what the law actually says and until those are cleared up, the fact is always going to be a bit cloudy. But most countries do not have any specific laws banning people from playing online.

Today various kinds of gambling such as casino en ligne, poker en ligne all are so much popular around the world. The U.S. Justice Department claims online gambling is against the law. But that’s not stopping online bettors from rolling the dice. In U.S., unlawful Internet gambling enforcement act was passed in September 2006. It did make it illegal for different economic organization to process gambling transactions. But this made it difficult for many U.S. players to deposit or withdraw winnings. After passing of this unlawful internet gambling enforcement act, Lawrence Walters, an Internet gambling law attorney, appeared on PBS’ News Hour show and stated, “The bill has no impact on the individual player’s activity. The bill is centered on restricting certain financial transactions, requiring that banks identify and block transactions going through their servers and their systems, and requiring that the actual sites, the Internet gambling sites, stop and block these transactions.” according to About.com.

However, a number of casino en linea sites are still eager to accept players regardless of their location. They set-up alternative payment solution, that offers to players the opportunity to move money receive and send of online casino.

So, Internet gambling is currently illegal, even though that is using a pretty liberal interpretation of the law. Still, no arrests have been made in the U.S. for just placing bets online. Not only in the U.S. but also most of other country’s governments judge it as illegal. But we can expect, in a near future we will see that different governments are relaxing the law of online gambling.

Online gambling is the fastest growing online business today. Some even claims that it is the most important aspect in e-commerce. But the big question rises that, is online gambling or advertising of online gambling illegal?

Some of the different versions:
It is been said by the U.S Justice Department (DOJ) that, Internet Gambling or Advertisement of Internet Gambling is illegal activity.

U.S authorities argue that World Trading Organization (WTO) that overseas gambling farm claims to have access into the U.S Internet Gambling.

Antigua, one of the small countries in Caribbean complains that, they could not have the U.S customers properly accessed because of the federal law. They also mentioned that U.S is breaking agreement with WTO and providing other countries more accessible to make more profit.

Enforcement Complex:
U.S claims that it is impossible for them to prohibit and prevent the Internet gambling because major gambling site are operated from outside the U.S where Internet Gambling are legal.

Media’s Passage of Income:
Because the gambling itself is popular and now it is the online gambling, so many sites which have suffered in past years for advertising are now coming forward. At present these online gambling firms are so aggressive that it is competing with the most popular industries, including retail, financial services and travel, for advertising space on such well-known portals as Yahoo and Excite.

Strong Regulation Could is the Prevention:
The online gambling is growing rapidly and is very popular, so it will be a complicated to prohibit. Strong regulation however could prevent this problem. Such as, taxes or licensing fees to offset the social costs that generally accompany any form of gambling.

12 November, Wednesday the US Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Board approved new regulations designed to crack down on illegal Internet gambling. In this so-called ‘final rule,’ the US administration summarized the regulations aimed at implementing a specific act passed by the US Congress in the year of 2006 which makes to ban illegal gambling on the net. It was aimed at especially putting teeth into a de facto prohibit on American residents placing online wagers in locations for example Britain Antigua, Canada, and Gibraltar. But the law has already been the target of severe criticism that it likely just an enforcement nightmare. On the other hand, the ban on online gambling has been challenged as an unfair trade restriction at the World Trade Organization. Besides, President George W. Bush’s administration has been accused of seeking to run this new law through before its term expires in 20, January 2009. Moreover, the European Commission has appointed an investigation team in whether the US gambling prohibit distinguished against EU firms.

According to the law, any US banks, credit cards or financial companies cannot handle web gambling bets. Moreover, it particularly prohibits gambling and betting businesses from intentionally accepting payments made through various electronic funds transfers, checks and credit cards. On the other hand, the Treasury Department reported the final rule need US financial firms that take part in designated payment systems. In its word, “Establish and implement policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent payments to gambling businesses in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.” Moreover in a statement it said financial firms have to be in compliance with the new rule, until 1, December, 2009.