We have been hearing a lot this year about online gambling. Most of the discussion has centered on the fantasy sports sensations Fan Duel and Draft Kings. The argument has been lively and the huge demand for online gaming has become obvious. Billions of dollars are regularly changing hands online. Government has always taken an interest in gambling. From outright bans to state-run lotteries, the federal government has been all over the board. The popularity of online gaming has quietly grown without the fanfare associated with the sports sites of late.
As the online gaming industry has grown, it has felt government apply more and more pressure. The FBI has been researching the potential for abuse since Congressman Spencer Bachus got involved as far back as 2009. The FBI Cyber Division has done exhaustive studies to find ways that things could go wrong. The main worry seems to be that gambling is a way for terrorists to launder money. Soon the FBI will argue before a Government Reform and Oversight Hearing in the House of Representatives on just this topic.
