Introduction

Over the years, gambling has hit the news headlines for different reasons. Some people have questioned the morality of gambling in society and the psychological effects that come with it. Gambling can make you rich in the shortest time possible. However, what happens when you lose your bet that you staked high. It is for these reasons why there are regulations and laws to control gambling activities. And since there are no universal gambling laws, different countries have enacted their laws to control gambling internally. These laws vary, as seen in countries such as UK, India, and New Zealand.

Gambling laws in UK

Gambling Act (GA) outlines the laws regarding gambling activities in UK, and it created the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). GA distinguishes the licensing process for remote gambling, such as online gambling and non-remote gambling (e.g., land-based casinos). Also, according to the Gambling Act 2005, for a gambling firm to operate in the UK gambling market, it must obtain a license from the UKGC. As a result, the license will allow the firms to advertise and transact with UK gamblers. Equally important, the gambling firms must comply with the advertising codes set by the relevant authorities to avoid nullification of the license.

UK online gambling market is one of the most sought for by operators as it has reasonable regulations and is entirely legal. Unfortunately, the taxation is high, and this can keep away some operators. Gamblers must attain the age of 18 to play casino games and place bets on various sports at a legit online site. The constant review of legislation by the UKGC is to eliminate malpractices by the online operators in the market. Subsequently, this review process protects the players and promotes a fair gambling environment in general. UK gambling license applies to the following activities:

• Betting
• Casino games
• Lottery games
• Gambling Software
• Bingo

Gambling Laws in India

In India, each state formulates its own rules and regulations concerning gambling activities, and Indian states can independently exercise their control on gambling-related activities and betting firms. For instance, in some states like Goa, casinos are legalized to operate. However, the Public Gambling Act 1867 discourages owning and operating of a public gambling house and penalizes 200 Rupees/three months of imprisonment if breached. Additionally, different states have different laws concerning online casino games. In the state of Nagaland, the legislative assembly enacted an act in 2016 that control and regulate online gambling within its borders. Furthermore, this act gives license to the firms that offer games of skills.

Gambling Laws in New Zealand

All gambling activities by both land-based and online casinos in New Zealand must seek authority under Gambling Act 2003 to be legal. Here, gambling activities are grouped into three different classes, i.e., classes 1, 2, and 3, and are governed by specific laws. New Zealand players must be 18 years of age to bet on sports and 20years to play at casinos in the mainland. However, they can gamble on online offshore casino sites since these casinos are not illegal. What’s more, offshore casinos can accept players from New Zealand but cannot advertise their service to the country’s market.

Challenges Facing Implementation of Gambling Laws in Different Countries

To begin with, different countries have different laws. Different countries or regions have distinct cultures and norms and with this, there are no uniform laws that can apply to the same region. As seen above, this is why Indian states have their jurisdiction over gambling. Next, the Internet. The Internet has led to an increase in online casino sites. However, not all countries have been able to control and regulate online gambling. Without the regulation, hackers have a high likelihood of infringement of privacy and theft of data. In conclusion, it is difficult to settle the dispute by law if both parties are in different countries.