Various types of gambling are included in the online gambling industry, including virtual poker, online casinos, sports betting, and online lottery games. These products and services are facilitated by technological advances, such as high speed internet connections, and offer a more convenient method of wagering.

As a result, the number of people using the Internet for gambling is on the rise. Despite this, state officials have expressed a level of concern that the Internet might be used to bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions.

Several states have passed laws designed to prohibit online gambling. These laws are enforced through the Federal Communications Commission, the agency responsible for common carriers. Other jurisdictions have responded by establishing their own policies to regulate online gambling.

Various studies have also evaluated the effectiveness of regulating online gambling, with some concluding that regulation may help enhance consumer protection and generate taxation revenue. In addition, some have found that regulated Internet casinos are more appealing than their unregulated counterparts.

While the most extensive studies have found that the most popular forms of internet gambling, such as the lottery, are not yet widely available, the market for gambling on the Internet is expected to grow at a rapid rate.

One study found that the number of gamblers logged on to the internet increased by approximately 6 percent in 2007, compared to 2006. This suggests that the online gaming industry is expanding rapidly. In particular, multiplayer online gambling, which allows users to compete with each other for prizes, has been introduced.