Where Is Online Gambling
In the US, online gambling is available in many forms. Poker, casino games, and sports betting are all legal in some states. In 2013, New Jersey gave its Atlantic City properties online casino licenses. Pennsylvania also legalized online gambling. More recently, in May 2018, Pennsylvania legalized online lottery. However, online lottery companies have faced some challenges. Some casinos in the state say that instant cash games are too similar to slot machines. This could force them to delay the launch of other games until this legal issue is settled.
Most US states have passed legislation regulating online gaming. All but Washington state have legalized online gaming. These states also allow their residents to play on licensed offshore betting websites. Currently, there are no federal or local laws restricting the activities of international operators. US betting mandates are only applicable to US-based sportsbooks and financial institutions. That’s why the US market is a great place for online betting. The internet has opened new possibilities to online gamblers.
Not all states have legalized online gambling, though. Some states may be reluctant to enforce laws, citing the difficulties of establishing regulators. Some states are underfunded and lack the resources to create legal gambling environments. Some states have even banned gambling in their own state. But even these places are not fully legal. The question now is: where is online gambling legal in the US? So, which states have legalized it?
Where Is Online Gambling Legal in the US?
Although the US government is not in favor of online gambling, it has been slow to legalize the activity. In 2011, the Department of Justice reinterpreted the Wire Act, allowing most forms of online gambling. Nevada and New Jersey were the first to launch online poker sites, while Delaware legalized casino games. And since then, three more US states have followed suit. The legalization of online casinos in the US is a slow and arduous process.
In California, online poker and sports betting are legal. It is unclear whether these games will become legal in California, but the state has had discussions on online gambling over the past decade. The state’s voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to legalize online gambling in 2022. Kansas and Indiana have also passed versions of legislation to legalize sports betting. However, sports betting and online casino games will remain illegal in Michigan and Wyoming.
The West Virginia legislature approved online casinos in March 2019, but it did not immediately launch any of the casino websites. The state’s Gaming Control Board oversees over 20 sportsbooks and online casinos. It is important to note that West Virginia has not yet legalized online poker or sports betting, and the state does not yet have an online casino or poker room. However, there are a number of sportsbooks in the state, which are a great addition to the online gambling market.
The US Department of Justice maintains that all internet gambling is illegal. But a recent hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on the issue of online wagering has led the Fifth Circuit to disagree with the Department of Justice. The state legislature has passed a few bills since then, but the Fifth Circuit ruled against it. There are many other states in the US where gambling is not legal. Hopefully, these states will follow their lead and allow sports betting to be legal.