PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – One of the world’s largest online poker websites is teaming up with a Las Vegas casino in hopes of legalizing online gambling in the United States.

Federal law bans online gambling, but there’s an exception that allows states to pass laws that permit bets to be made and received within the state.

Professor Ed Ellers teaches gaming law at Temple University Law School and says it’s unlikely that the Delaware Valley will legalize online gambling any time soon.

“In New Jersey, a bill to do exactly that was passed, but that bill was recently vetoed by Governor Christie. No proposals similar to that have been made in either Delaware or Pennsylvania.”

In the meantime, Ellers says federal law and most state laws do not stop individuals from gambling online.

“Anyone that is playing on the internet, they are not at any risk of violating any federal law or any state law.”

Ellers says online gambling brings in billions of dollars worldwide.

Reported by Cherri Gregg, KYW Newsradio