Should the U.S. legalize real-money gambling on your iPhone?

The number of people gambling on smartphones and tablets is expected to soar, but America's tough online gambling laws could hamper business

Screen shots from Big Fish Casino: The app, which is only available in the U.K., allows users to gamble real money on their smartphones.
(Image credit: itunes.apple.com)

"Would you like to bet on what may be the next big thing in games?" asks Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. "Place a wager on real-money gambling, and you could be in for some good returns." Apple for the first time will begin selling a real-money gambling app called Big Fish Casino, which allows users to play slots "with the swipe of an index finger," says Douglas MacMillan at Bloomberg. Apps for poker, blackjack, and roulette are expected to follow, but iPhone users in the U.S. are missing out — the app is only available in the U.K., thanks to America's strict online gambling laws. Here, a guide to the next big thing in social gaming:

Americans can't gamble on their phones?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us