Hi and welcome to USA Gambler! If you’re anything like myself, you’ve been seeing how online gambling has been on everyone’s lips across the United States.
As more states legalize online sports betting, poker, and casino games, it’s an exciting time to be an industry fan.
Let’s examine the present state of online gambling in the USA, from what games you can play to where it is legal to play them.
Online Sports Betting: A Fast-Growing Market
Ever since the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the country-wide prohibition of sports betting in 2018, online sports betting has experienced a massive surge. Today, numerous states have joined in, and you are able to place bets from your phone or computer.
To date, more than 30 states have legalized sports betting in some form or another, with additional states pending. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are at the forefront with active online sports betting markets.
If you’re in any of these states, you can enjoy the best of sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Other states such as Florida and California are still working on legislation and regulatory issues, but most likely they’ll be joining the party soon.
Online Poker: A Mixed Bag
Online poker has a more complex history in the United States. Although extremely popular in the early 2000s, federal legislation such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 put restrictions on banking transactions for online gambling websites.
A few states have moved forward to legalize and regulate online poker, nonetheless, returning this timeless game to the virtual tables.
Online poker is currently legal and live in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Michigan. All of these states provide multiple poker websites, including PokerStars and WSOP.com, where you can legally play.
If you’re out of these states, however, sorry to inform you, you don’t have a lot of options for playing online poker since most have yet to legalize it. But many of the enthusiasts are looking forward to more widespread legalization as other states look at new legislation.
Online Casinos: The New Wave
Online casinos are a newer development within the United States gambling landscape, yet they are already gaining traction. Online casinos make it possible for you to play slots, table games, and more from the comfort of your own home. New Jersey and Pennsylvania boast two of the more robust online casino markets, with games including blackjack and roulette to specialty slot games.
There are presently only a few states that permit online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, Connecticut, and West Virginia. You won’t have lawful access to online casino games if you’re not in one of those states. However, most people think this can change in the near future, as legal, regulated online casino demand keeps on increasing.
Legality of Internet Gambling in the USA: State Breakdown
Perhaps the most important thing to know about online gambling in the USA is that it’s controlled on a state level. Here’s a quick update as to where we stand:
- States with Legal Online Sports Betting: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, and over 20 others allow online sports betting.
- Legal Online Poker States: Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Michigan.
- States Where Online Casinos are Legal: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, Connecticut, and West Virginia.
There are individual laws and regulations in each state, and some even have their own regulatory agencies managing these activities.
Where online gambling is licensed, you can see that the markets are highly regulated to safeguard players and promote fair play.
On the other hand, several states continue to ban online gambling in any form whatsoever. Utah and Hawaii, for instance, have not only rejected online gambling but any form of legalized gambling whatsoever.
Then there are others like Texas and California that remain undecided, though there is hope that they will legalize some form of online gambling in the future.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Online Gambling in the USA
The landscape of USA online gambling is changing at a furious pace, and with more states looking into legalization, it’s no question that we’ll continue to see this industry grow. Whether your game is sports betting, poker, or casino games, there’s probably an option—or one in the works—where you can legally get in on the action.
If you find yourself in a situation where internet gambling is still illegal, it’s a good idea to stay tuned to the news as this can change at any moment.
Keep watching USA Gambler for updates as we keep you informed on new online gambling legislation, new online gaming sites, and where you can play most profitably.
With all that’s underway, you won’t want to miss out on the thrill of online gambling!