In the early part of the 21st century, online gambling grew in popularity. Initially, there were only fifteen websites. These included casino and poker sites. A 1998 Frost & Sullivan report showed that revenues of illegal Internet gambling exceeded $830 million.

Several state lawmakers have expressed concerns that the internet could be used to transport illegal gambling into their jurisdictions. This has resulted in several bills being introduced in the Senate and House. Some of the bills, such as HR 2046, would require licensing of internet gambling facilities by the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Other bills, such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, have been proposed in the House and Senate. However, there is little consensus among experts as to whether or not the federal government has the legal authority to make the rules.

Nevertheless, a new law is set to go into effect in April 2017, which will only apply to online casinos that have a Polish license. The amendment will come into force on 1 April 2017.

The most important aspect of this legislation is that it will prohibit the use of financial instruments for the transmission of unlawful Internet bets. Payments using credit cards or PayPal will also be banned. Federal prosecutors warned PayPal it could face prosecution.

There are several other notable gambling-related laws, including the Travel Act, the Wire Act, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act. All of these laws prohibit the conduct of gambling on sporting events, on interstate commerce, or in the name of a business.