Betting in the US is common among folks, and States where gambling is legal vary.
While there are many online casino enthusiasts in the US, only a small fraction of them can confidently answer the question, "Which states allow online gambling?". Presently, only six states provide access to virtual casinos and sportsbooks for their residents, with Rhode Island on the way.
Nevertheless, it is highly probable that Indiana and Illinois may also legalize online gambling in 2024. If this happens, you can expect to enjoy popular betting games such as French roulette, blackjack, and so on through online platforms.
Playing poker online is considered a form of online gambling, but it is not a top priority for lawmakers due to its low revenue generation. Despite this, it is often associated with larger online casino games and legal online sports betting in the United States.
Online sports betting has emerged as the most popular form of betting in 25 states and DC since its availability to the public. This could be attributed to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that opened the doors for around 26 jurisdictions in the US to legalize online sports gambling or prepare for its implementation in the near future. Curious about which states permit online gambling in the US? The answer awaits in the following section.
Sports betting is becoming increasingly popular in the United States since the PASPA law was overturned. Many states have since followed suit and legalized sports betting. Delaware and New Jersey were among the first to accept sports bets after a month, following in the footsteps of Nevada. As online sports betting has proven to be a profitable revenue stream for states, lawmakers are looking to expand online gambling to include online poker and casinos.
States like Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania can now or will soon offer online poker to gamers, as well as online casinos. Although the PASPA law has been defeated, the federal government still opposes it and is currently seeking court intervention to uphold its position. As a result, online casinos are now legal in over half of the United States.
Digital gambling has been present in the United States for several decades, but it was only recently that online betting was legally approved. This delay occurred because laws often take time to catch up with new technology. The government typically prefers to prohibit things before legalizing them, which is precisely what happened with digital betting.
It's important to understand the legal environment surrounding internet gambling in 2010. In the 2000s, the number of casinos and internet betting sites increased significantly. However, the downside is that many millions of dollars are gambled every day, largely without regulation. This period also coincides with what's known as the "poker boom."
The PASPA, or Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, was established as a federal law back in 1992. Its main aim is to restrict certain States in the US from legalizing sports gambling, except for those that already have sports gambling games or active sportsbooks. This indirectly gives a monopoly to Nevada. Although many States are not entirely satisfied with PASPA, New Jersey took a bold move and filed a legal case against it. Despite initial losses in the lower court, New Jersey persevered and appealed to the US Supreme Court in 2017, where they were fortunate enough to have the ruling go in their favor. The outcome was that PASPA was found to be in violation of the Tenth Amendment, making it less powerful.
Instead of taking a more relaxed approach, the national government passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006, which prohibited online betting and caused many popular betting sites to disappear. This legislation had a devastating impact on the virtual betting industry in the US. However, during this crisis, Nevada became the first state to offer virtual sports betting in 2010, but only within its borders.
Despite the lack of action from the federal government, the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act remained a hot topic until "Black Friday" in 2011 when the Department of Justice accused the three largest virtual poker sites of breaking the law, causing the industry to plummet further. However, some states, including New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada, argued that the federal government had no right to prevent them from offering virtual betting games within their borders and passed the 2011 Wire Act, which authorized digital poker and virtual casinos within their states. New Jersey even added virtual casinos in 2013.
How many States have online casinos?
At present, online casinos are allowed in six US states, with Rhode Island on the way, and it's likely that more states will follow suit in the coming years.
How many States currently have online legal sports betting?
At present, online sports betting has been legalized in 24 states, including Washington D.C., and three states are currently considering its legalization.
How many States legalize online horse racing wagering?
At present, there is a dispute regarding the data available, making it difficult to provide a straightforward answer to this question. Nonetheless, a widely agreed-upon response is expected to be released shortly.
How many States legalized online poker sites, and in what States is gambling illegal?
Currently, virtual poker sites are only permitted in six states. Unfortunately, in Utah and Hawaii, gambling is not allowed. However, there is optimism that these states will legalize gambling in the near future.
