How to Get Started in Online Gambling

Internet gambling is becoming increasingly popular among consumers, with many jurisdictions now regulating the industry and enhancing consumer protection. While the prevalence of online gambling is low, participation has increased rapidly in regulated sites, such as in Australia, where the rate of internet gambling participants rose from one percent in 1999 to eight percent in 2011. A recent study in the United Kingdom showed that 16 percent of respondents had engaged in some form of online gambling in the past four weeks.

To get started, simply access an online gambling website. These websites accept various forms of payment. The most popular method is credit or debit card deposits. You will be asked to enter your card details and the amount you want to deposit, and then the site will transfer the funds to your account. While some sites do not support a Mac, many do. Before you start playing, check to make sure that online casinos accept your payment method. Online casinos accept many forms of payment, including PayPal and credit cards.

Despite the widespread acceptance of online gambling, the United States has been slow to react. In the early ’90s, online gambling sites began to appear in the United States, largely because it was a legal loophole that allowed online operators to establish their businesses in an offshore jurisdiction. Players from the US could access these sites with little difficulty. But in 2006, the US government stepped in and passed the Safe Ports Act, which made it illegal for banks in the US to facilitate online gambling.