Internet Gambling

Internet gambling exemplifies the disruptive innovations often associated with the introduction of information and communication technologies. The commercialization of the Internet in the 1990s saw the rise of several activities online, such as gambling and adult content, which had previously been constrained by law and geography. The ability to use the Internet to place wagers or bets on games of chance, or on events such as sports matches or elections, has changed the legal, economic, and social landscape of gambling. This entry discusses the history of Internet gambling, legal conditions, geography, mechanics, organization, and social and legal issues.

Gambling, whether legal or illegal, has long been a part of society and a target for control by governments motivated by social concerns or revenue needs. Many communities ...