Pandora’s box has exactly 5,719 volatile topics floating around in there. We’re going to peek in, and pull one out for examination purposes for just a moment. Secure and online gambling. Secure online gambling is a topic that practically invites us down into gray, murky waters, and since there are a lot of nebulous sub topics to be discussed here, before we dive in, we’ll cut right to the chase.

I know what question you’re burning to ask: is online gambling legal? In a word, yes.

And to avoid any further confusion on the topic, we’ve rounded up some of the best, most secure, and above all legal online casinos where you can explore the joys of online gambling. Check out our personal picks of the top five, trustworthy online casinos below, then read about the current laws in regards to online gambling further down.

TOP FIVE ONLINE CASINOS:

Go Casino
Bonus: $20,000
Currency: US $
Software: Vegas Technology
Games: over 100
____________________________________________________________________________

Cherry Red Casino
Bonus: $777
Currency: US $
Software: RealTime Gaming
Games: Over 80
____________________________________________________________________________

Rushmore Casino
Bonus: $888
Currency: US $
Software: RealTime Gaming
Games: Over 80
____________________________________________________________________________

Rome Casino
Bonus: up to $5000!
Currency: US $
Software: TopGame
Games: over 100
____________________________________________________________________________

Slots Oasis
Bonus: up to $4000!
Currency: US $
Software: RealTime Gaming
Games: Over 80
____________________________________________________________________________

Read on for the scoop regarding online gambling and its associated legalities.

In 2008, one of the biggest scandals in the young history of online gambling was unmasked when a group of people managed to cheat online gamblers out of more than $20 million, raising some serious questions about the security of the highly- profitable online gambling industry.

How profitable is the industry? Well, it’s a $18 billion dollar industry. To give you another perspective, there’s over a half million people playing online poker on the Internet right now. The industry is illegal in the U.S. but the ban is impossible to enforce since the online sites and the computers that deal the cards randomly and keep track of bets are located offshore, beyound US law jurisdiction. Coupled with that is that there is almost no official supervision or regulation.

Without a doubt, there’s a legal minefield that currently surrounds online gambling, but US credit cardholders and issuers are finding new supporters in the 27-member European Union. In 2009, the European Commission ruled that US laws that ban most forms of online gambling actually discriminate against European companies, thereby violating international trade agreements. Additionally, the commission alleged that the US Department of Justice has been strong-arming foreign financial institutions and credit card processors as part of a campaign to discourage online betting. At the moment, rather than seeking sanctions, the European Commission is engaging the Obama administration in negotiations, according to the commission’s reps. The commission agrees that online gambling is a complex and delicate area, and it doesn’t want to dictate how the US regulates its market.

On the other side of the debate, recent legislation has been introduced that would usher in a law that would permit US companies to accept online wagers from Americans. Many believe that current bans restricts the personal freedom of adults to gamble online. Of course, if the legislation would pass, it would require heavy investigations of potential licensees and strong technological barriers would have to be implemented to deter underage gambling, money laundering, tax avoidance and fraud.

So, the murky waters seem to be clearing up a bit. A very little bit.

As the industry continues to be in flux, new legislation on both sides of the camp will be introduced. What we stress is that all online gamblers should stay tuned to the changes looming over the horizon, as it may impact the manner in which they continue to play. Check back here for all new news related to secure online gambling.