Many people who have a gambling problem find online gambling less troublesome than they initially thought. The anonymity of the Internet and the ability to remain hidden behind a screen makes online gambling more enticing. The gambler may not even realize they have a problem because their activities do not disrupt their daily lives. Likewise, friends and family members may not know that their loved one is a problem gambler unless they tell them.
However, some states have been very reluctant to enforce their own gambling laws. Many states do not have laws governing online gambling because they may conflict with the Commerce Clause doctrine, which holds that any state law outside of its borders is unconstitutional and is instead an exercise of the federal government’s power. In the United States, this doctrine has prevented states from regulating gambling activities on Indian reservations within their borders. Currently, only the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act regulates gambling on Indian reservations, so it’s unclear whether the Commerce Clause doctrine will apply to the Internet.
Another option is to use PayPal. PayPal is the most popular e-wallet in the U.S. and is used for both deposits and withdrawals. Players can deposit using their PayPal accounts, but withdrawals may only be possible if they use a PayPal account. In order to use PayPal, players must have a valid U.S. bank account, and they should enable this option in their online banking portal to make payments. However, it may not be possible to withdraw your winnings without first depositing with PayPal.