Internet Gambling: Innocent Activity Or Cybercrime?

Internet gambling has presented a wide range of challenges pertaining to its acceptability by world governments, regulation of use, and potential for abuse. This paper explores the history of Internet gambling, government attempts to regulate Internet gambling, and the problems associated with regulation. Further it examines Internet gambling's costs to society and the associated criminal element and also looks at potential solutions with regards to regulation of this business. The author recommends that because of the great difficulty in banning Internet gambling, governments should regulate and tax these online business ventures. The author suggests that because of the unclear legal status of Internet gambling, there must be a legislation explicitly defining what is and is not permissible activity, as well as an emphasis on regulation by world governments and self-regulation by the Internet gambling businesses.