He threw down $10. The virtual cards were dealt and he clicked away—participating in online betting sites had become a daily norm of junior K.C. Samuelson’s life, and today was no exception.

But there was one difference today. A few hands later the genuine jackpot was all his—all $750.

While Samuelson put down money for the first time during his sophomore year of high school on a poker game with his buddies, he quickly discovered the spirited pastime fed his competitive edge. Since then, his wagering interests have seeped into various areas of betting including sporting events, poker and most prominently, online sites.

“I’m very competitive, so just winning at the game [is appealing],” he said. “It’s not so much about the money, but the competition.”

But Saumelson is not alone—the world of online betting has grown exponentially over the past decade, with sites conducting betting pools on everything to this season’s Dancing With The Stars contestants to the 2008 presidential election results.

According to United States Senate Republican Policy Committee’s 2003 document Illegal Internet Gambling: Problems and Solutions, Internet gambling sites have increased from 35 in 1997 to 1,800 in 2003, and have steeply increased since then.

And with the growing availability of internet connections throughout the world, betting is available from every location at any time of any day. From broadcasting of world poker tournaments or advertising on search engines to the capabilities of wireless connection from PDAs and cell phones, interaction surrounds the population and is increasing consumer accessibility more than ever before.

According to a 2005 USA Today article, “More than 2,000 gambling Web sites this year will rake in nearly $10 billion in revenue, most from U.S. consumers. That’s up 40 percent from 2004. In 1996, when lawmakers first sought to curb Internet gambling, 30 sites collected $30 million.”

The article continues to say that wide-spread use, especially from Americans, has boosted gambling to make it “one of the Internet’s largest moneymakers, even though it is illegal.”

Since there is no specific “online territory,” the legality lines can be blurry when it comes to gambling on the Web.

While the 1961 Wire Act has prohibited gambling via phone lines, there has been no unambiguous legislation passed that bans online gambling, even though some internet connections are run through phone jacks.

Our typical gambling laws do protect forbid sites that are constructed within the U.S., unless they have special approval, but authorities are unable to shutdown a majority of sites, since they are run offshore.

For example one popular site, Sportsbook.com, deals almost strictly with American sporting pools, including U.S. boxing, tennis, soccer, exotics, autos, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf and football, but is located in Valletta, Malta, a small island off the coast of Italy, where gambling laws are do not pertain to online sites.

The original online sportsbook, World Sports Exchange, is located in St. John’s, Antigua, and had 30,000 members, most of whom were American, as of 2003.

Local and national officials, such as Sen. Jon Kyl, have attempted to work with banks to forbid their credit cards to be used for online wagering, but little progress has been made, according to USA Today.

While Sportsbooks.com allows members to see American betting trends, the top ten bets in their real time and be in contact with a live employee to voice their concerns instantaneously, it also requires participants to enter their age while applying for a membership.

This also brings into account the age legality of betting, since the Illegal Internet Gambling document says many online sites do not verify the U.S.’s 18-year old age mark of being permitted to gamble, even though it is run out of the state.

But none of these issues have hindered Samuelson’s participation. Online, he participates in two types of poker competitions: tournaments and live bets. His participation and wages range: he bets from a cap of $100 on a live game, where he can enter and exit as he pleases, to upwards of $300 on poker tournaments where he is bound to stay for the duration of the contest.

A study cited by USA Today estimates global Internet gambling revenues have grown from $2.2 billion in 2000 to $12.6 billion in 2006, and that “Poker revenue is expected to attract 1 million players a month. Americans play at 266 Web sites [as of 2005], up from 53 in June 2003.”

But these sites do not strictly deal with poker—many have dived into the world of racehorses, slots, sports and more.

From tennis to basketball, Samuelson has betted between $5 and $100, all with payoff ranges as wide open as the betting is.

With massive bracket betting sessions, seasons such as the collegiate basketball level of March Madness may cause non-regular betters to throw down some money, which has started a cause for concern.

The NCAA spoke about their apprehension in the Illegal Internet Gambling document, stating that sports gambling “remains a growing problem on college campuses. . . . If left unchecked, the growth of Internet gambling may be fueled by college students. After all, who has greater access to the Internet?”

Even though Sportsbook.com runs a continuous ticker at the top of their Webpage counting down to the NBA season kickoff, Samuelson said certain seasons may cause a bigger rush, but don’t affect his personal gambling involvement greatly.

While he still continues to participate on a daily basis, Samuelson will alternate between the virtual betting world and his own peer group, where many of friends gamble.

While he has tossed around the idea of possibly being addicted to his wagering antics, he has created a separate account strictly for gambling, which he claims halts him from becoming dependent or spending too much money.

But even though he has said he is not dependent on gambling, he doesn’t find see himself losing his competitive streak anytime soon.

“This is something I’m going to stick with; I like to gamble,” he said. “And there’s actually a game right now.”

Special Features Editor: Andie Diemer - 09/19/07