Online gambling has become a popular pastime. You can even place bets on your favorite sports team. While it’s fun to gamble, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers. Gambling on the Internet is not for the faint of heart, and can leave you with big bills.

A number of states have introduced or are considering legislation regarding online gambling. New Jersey recently signed a law allowing the state’s residents to wager on professional sporting events and horse races. The Internet gambling industry is growing, and it’s expected to grow even more over the next few years.

On the federal level, there are several legal statutes that are implicated by illegal internet gambling. One such statute is the Travel Act, which governs interstate transactions.

Another statute is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This law aims to regulate commercial activities. It’s been criticized for its lack of details and for its overreach.

In a survey, Harvard Medical School found that the majority of people who played games of skill on the Internet were doing so in a moderate way.

However, one law may be better than another. For example, the state of Nevada has only three operational Internet gambling sites. Moreover, the UIGEA has its own set of limitations.

Although some of the new online gambling sites have shown a tendency to collect personal information, many have failed to put in adequate security measures to protect their customers.