At Regulated Gaming Reviews, our goal is to introduce you to the regulated, global online gaming industry and all that it encompasses in 2024 and beyond. Though most people assume that regulated online gaming is the same no matter where in the world you are, that really isn’t true. Not only do the rules and regulations governing gaming industries change from country to country, they can even vary within different jurisdictions of the same country. In some cases, players are forced to wade through both regulated and unregulated gaming sites, which can quickly become overwhelming.
Through in-depth reviews and expert insights, we will help you wade through the oft-confusing world of regulated gaming in order to quell any confusion and address any questions you might have. From laws and other relevant legal information, to the individual gaming operators themselves, we will cover everything you need to know and more.
Regulated Online Casinos
There was a point in time when playing real money online casino games was a niche activity that not many people took part in nor knew much about. Nowadays, the story is a bit different as online gaming is becoming increasingly common in many places that you might expect,and others that you might not. When it comes down to it, there are online casinos available in most countries around the world. With that in mind however, it is important to note that there are massive differences between those online casinos that exist within a regulated, legal framework and those that are operating without any oversight.
For players, it has become imperative that real money online casino games are played only at sites that are licensed and regulated by a government agency. There are a multitude of reasons why this is the case, but it all boils down to player protections. Unlicensed sites that police themselves can and have taken advantage of players who are in turn unable to do anything about it. From stolen identities, to unfairly declined payouts, to the complete shuttering of an account with no explanation, there are unending horror stories stemming from people who chose to take the risk and play at an unregulated online casino.
Though not every country in the world has regulated online casinos of their own, the number of those that do is growing all the time. In most cases, the countries and regions that boast regulated online casinos are those that also play host to physical casinos. For this reason, it may come as little surprise that the United States is currently the biggest regulated market in the world. After all, the US plays host to nearly 2,000 casinos whereas its closest rival and neighbor, Canada, has only a little more than 200.
With that being said, the existence of brick and mortar casinos in a country does not necessarily mean that online casinos will be available in a regulated capacity. In fact, there are many countries and regions where physical casinos exist, but a regulated online casino industry does not.
Regulated Online Casino Reviews
In those regions where regulated online casinos exist, we will provide in-depth reviews of the casino sites available. Our reviews will focus on the reputation of the brand, game selection, promotions/bonuses, banking options, and anything else that might be relevant to a prospective player.
Regulated Online Sportsbooks
Since the dawn of the internet, online sportsbooks have been there to facilitate sports betting for people all over the world. While this is true, many prospective sports bettors sign up and divulge personal information to unregulated sites that they know nothing about. In fact, many unregulated sportsbooks are an extension of the many unregulated casinos we touched upon above. Without performing even the slightest bit of research, people hand over personal and financial information that can easily fall into the wrong hands, resulting in personal and/or financial ruin.
In places where the sports betting industry is legal and regulated, however, unscrupulous activity is squashed so that bettors can place the wagers they want without ever having to worry. The reason for this is that, in regulated markets, online sportsbooks are beholden to a gaming authority (usually overseen by a governmental body) that can quickly and easily identify and put a halt to all shady, unethical practices. In most cases, unethical practices never make an appearance because all regulated online sportsbooks are fully vetted as to ensure their quality and integrity.
With unregulated online sportsbooks, there is no safeguard for players. Without any oversight from a trusted regulatory body, black market online sportsbooks can do whatever they want, whenever they want, for whatever reason they want. If they decide to not grade a winning wager correctly, or delay/decline withdrawal requests, there is nothing that a bettor can do to remedy the situation. In regulated markets, not only can players solve any problems they might have with a sportsbook operator, they can solve those problems quickly and easily.
Regulated Online Sportsbook Reviews
In places where regulated online sportsbooks exist, we will provide in-depth reviews that cover everything a prospective bettor would want to know. From details about the company, to their coverage of sports and leagues, and so much more, we will be sure to leave no stone unturned.
The Ever-Changing Climate of Regulated Gaming
When we talk about the origins of regulated online gaming, you have to go back to the early 2000s when Australia, the UK, and some other European jurisdictions (like Malta) began legalizing and policing the activity. For a few years, everywhere in the world besides the United States saw the scope of legal and regulated gaming expand at what seemed like an increasing rate. In Asia and the Middle East, the existence of regulated online gaming infrastructures varies dramatically from country to country. Religious and cultural stigmas mean that online gaming is restricted in some jurisdictions.
In the United States, it wasn’t until 2011 when bettors saw substantial strides made towards legal and regulated online gaming. It was in this year when a more than 50 year old piece of legislation was reinterpreted, paving the way for individual states to explore regulated gaming. New Jersey and Nevada, the two most popular states for casino gambling, were amongst the first to see regulated online gaming become a reality. It did not take long before more dominoes began to fall and an increasing number of states also played host to legalized and regulated online gaming. Pennsylvania was one of the many states that jumped at the opportunity to legalize both online sportsbooks and casinos.
What makes the United States so much different than most other regulated gaming jurisdictions around the world is the fact that gaming laws vary from state to state. So even though the US Federal Government now tolerates online gaming, it is up to the individual states to determine whether they would like to legalize and regulate the activity. This has created a scenario where gaming laws are changing all the time. There is no denying that the regulated online gaming market in the United States is more confusing and convoluted than anywhere else on earth, but that should not scare you away. We will be here to introduce you to each individual market, the gaming operators that exist, and any other information you would do well to know and understand.