Almost 10 million people in the United States are using online gambling sites. In fact, comScore reported that in the fall of 2011, online gambling was the fastest growing category on the Internet.

Online gambling includes casinos, sports betting, virtual poker, and lotteries. The first Internet gambling venue open to the general public was the Liechtenstein International Lottery. This venue has become a favorite amongst gamblers, as it offers a wide variety of games and offers higher odds.

Teenagers are drawn to the glamor of gambling and often gamble to alleviate boredom or because they believe they have a greater chance of winning than other people. Teenagers also report that gambling can help them deal with problems like depression and peer pressure. In fact, a recent Columbia University Medical Center study shows that half of the 16 million Americans with gambling addictions are teenagers.

Gambling in the home is not protected by the right to privacy. In addition, underage gambling is not prevented at brick-and-mortar casinos. In fact, state officials have expressed concerns that the Internet may bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions.

Several federal criminal statutes have been implicated by illegal Internet gambling. These include the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), the Travel Act, and the Interstate Commerce Clause. These statutes have been challenged on constitutional grounds, although the attacks have enjoyed little success.

Under the federal law, a person who owns or operates an illegal gambling business can be fined or imprisoned for up to five years. To be considered unlawful, the business must have a gross revenue of $2,000 per day and must have a substantial, continuous operation for 30 days or more. It is also illegal to receive or place bets on the Internet or transmit bets online.