What States Allow Online Gambling?
Gambling in the US is a state-regulated industry; federal law forbids interstate gambling and certain activities such as sports betting are only legal in specific areas. PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) was initially passed in 1992 to restrict states from authorizing sports betting other than parimutuel horse racing, dog racing and jai alai betting; however in 2018, after review from the Supreme Court it was declared unconstitutional allowing states to regulate sports betting independently; currently 48 states offer some form of online gambling.
New Jersey allows residents aged 21 and above to participate in online casino gambling, which includes virtual versions of popular casino games like poker and slots. New Jersey boasts an expansive online gaming platform with licensed operators from a range of backgrounds; furthermore, MiGa allows its players to interact and compete across multiple states simultaneously.
Colorado made history in 2021 by becoming the first state to legalize online sports betting after the Supreme Court decided to repeal PASPA. Since then, many online sportsbooks have launched, providing residents with the chance to place bets on various professional and college sporting events outside their state of residence; however betting on in-state college teams remains prohibited.
Arkansas laws classify online gambling as a third-degree felony, with pari-mutuel sports betting being one of the only exemptions available through limited platforms. Regardless, many residents continue gambling online; with some using offshore sites that do not fall under U.S. regulation posing greater risk.
Iowa: While sports betting was legalized in 2020, online casinos remain illegal. There are however social casinos which enable players to enjoy free-play slots and table games without real-money transactions being necessary.
Maryland – Like Pennsylvania, legal online sports betting and sweepstakes casinos are available without having to make real money deposits. Residents can, however, enjoy similar experiences through sweepstakes casinos without incurring real cash deposits.
West Virginia – West Virginia could soon legalize online gaming following Governor Jim Justice’s ownership of Greenbrier casino, opening up partnerships for partnerships to form beginning in 2022. Whether or not this will lead to legalized casinos remains to be seen.
Many states have attempted to pass legislation authorizing online casinos, yet none of their attempts have succeeded so far. New York Senator Joseph Addabbo’s efforts failed in the state Senate while Indiana and Illinois neither passed nor considered legislation for online gaming; nonetheless other states continue to investigate its potential: New York and Connecticut have taken the lead when it comes to legislating online gaming; other jurisdictions may soon follow their lead due to rapid expansion during COVID-19 pandemic.