What are the legal online gambling states in the USA? It is already a well-known fact that online sports betting and casino gambling are not legal in all parts of the USA. Some states legalized it, others are pending, and there is also a third group of states that completely banned it.
As a matter of fact, in some states, online sports betting is legal, but casino gambling isn’t. When you add internet gambling to that list, things become even more challenging to understand.
Due to that, we would like to analyze the legal online sports betting and gambling in one place. We will pass through all the states where legal sports betting and gambling is possible. Don’t worry; our explanations are simplified and you won’t have to read all those boring and complex law requirements. Let’s get started!
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| BetMGM Casino | Claim Now | 100% deposit match up to $2500 |
Where Is Online Gambling Legal In The United States Of America?
Currently only 7 states in the USA allow online casino gaming. Those states are Rhode Island, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. Meanwhile, Nevada allows online poker and sports betting.
You can check the map below that is up to date until 2024 current legislation. The states in yellow (like Colorado and Iowa) allow only online sports betting, but not games of luck (casino games). The states in red do not allow any sort of online casino or sports betting.
New Jersey
For many casino enthusiasts, New Jersey is a gambling paradise for casino and sports gambling. It is one of the first states that decided to regulate sports betting and casino games via the Internet. Unfortunately, it took many many years for this jurisdiction to reach the success it has today.
New Jersey had two non-gambling-friendly periods. The first one was between 1894 and 1939. Back then, all casino games were banned completely. People could only participate in social gambling, but even that industry was in a grey zone. Another period was in 1974 when residents of NJ voted against this situation.
Fortunately, in 1974, things turned upside down. People decided to legalize sports betting and gambling for the residents. It was limited to Atlantic City where the first casino that opened its doors was located.
From that moment, a bunch of new retail sportsbooks and casinos appeared on the market. That’s probably the main reason why online sports betting and gambling (including poker) became completely legal in 2013.
Operators offering online casino games in New Jersey need to pass security tests to get the license. The only legal license issuer is the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
Something people can expect at online casinos in New Jersey is tons of high-quality casino games, amazing sports betting offers with competitive and fair odds and the highest possible dose of entertainment. The best online casinos are DraftKings, BetMGM, Borgata and FanDuel.
Pennsylvania
Commercial casinos in Pennsylvania were legalized in 2017. For just five years, the number of people enjoying gambling and sports betting legal conditions has jumped a lot. The entire market is entirely regulated, and it offers a huge number of legal online casinos where people can test their luck.
Yet authorities and Pennsylvania have made many attempts to legalize this entertainment throughout history. First, it was announced as illegal in 1971; then, there were two unsuccessful legalization attempts in 1993 and 1994. Fortunately, things changed in 2004 when the state primarily legalized sports betting. The rest is history!
Today, casino enthusiasts can enjoy legal online sports betting and gambling thanks to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. It is the official state organization that issues licenses. You can find all sorts of legal online gambling opportunities, including:
- All casino games
- Lottery
- Poker
- Online sports gambling.
Michigan
Michigan is a youngster in online betting and gambling industries. The opportunity to enjoy legal online casinos appeared in 2021. Yet, players had the chance to gamble even before that.
For starters, native American tribes signed a contract with the state authorities in 1993, which allowed them to open their casinos. Yet, the officials did not regulate those casinos; it was the task of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Officials only accepted the reports provided by that organization.
In 1996, 3 brick-and-mortar casinos were opened in Detroit. For 25 years, nothing changed until the mentioned legalization of casino and sports gambling. Thanks to this law change, the industry has become one of the fastest-growing. It is regulated and maintained by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
All applicants must provide proof of income, confirm the safety of the website and verify the randomness of the game. Since all tests are pretty strict, the available types of legal online gambling are:
- Online sports betting
- Casino games (slots, table games, live dealer)
- Lottery
- Online poker
West Virginia
West Virginia was one of the first states to legalize horse and greyhound betting. That happened in 1931. Unfortunately, nothing extraordinary has happened in the next 50 years. After that, small steps were made year by year. First, a state lottery was founded, then video lottery was legalized, and, finally, in 2001, video poker became legal. In 2009, table games were legal in brick-and-mortar casinos.
2018 and 2019 were special years. During the first one, officials decided to regulate sports betting offline and online, and a year after that, online gambling became legal! The entire industry is controlled and maintained by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. Today, people located in this state can enjoy:
- Online betting on sports
- Slots and other casino games
- Poker
- Lottery.
Online casinos like DraftKings, BetMGM, Borgata and FanDuel are places where you can enjoy fantastic gambling offers supported by fair bonuses and promotions.
Other US States Where Online Gambling is Legal
Despite the four states mentioned above, online gambling is legal in three additional jurisdictions. The current situation looks like this:
- Delaware: Believe it or not, Delaware was the first US state that legalized online gambling. Such a change happened in 2012. Today, people located in DE can enjoy all the casino games, lottery, poker, bingo, and online sports betting.
- Connecticut: Local authorities in Connecticut decided to make online gambling legal in 2021. Despite online sports betting, people can enjoy all forms of casino game, lottery and poker for real money on the internet.
- Rhode Island: RI is the “youngest US state” on the list. Online gambling became legal in March this year. It took years for local authorities to find the best possible way to maintain the market. Players can enjoy slots, table games, poker, lottery, and sports betting in the online space.
Features of Legal Online Casinos
You have noticed that our team has mentioned some US brands where online sports betting and casino gambling are entirely legal. However, no one says you must listen to our suggestions blindly. Some players want to understand how these casinos look and, eventually, do the research independently. Here are the main features you should analyze when looking legalized gambling platforms!
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
To get the license, online casinos must meet all the state law requirements. For starters, they need to confirm that their platform has an unbreakable layer of data protection. Internet casinos commonly use encrypted technology to ensure that. Also, they need to verify the legacy or random number generator to ensure complete fairness of the games. The owners of casinos need to sign a contract with brick-and-mortar casinos, and the owners themselves must not have a criminal background.
Checking the validity and legacy of the license is easy. Simply check the license number, and you will see when it is issued and when the casino needs to reapply for it. Each state has a regulatory body, so just one institution can issue them.
Security and Fairness of the Games
We must prolong our explanations on game fairness. Each game has to be supported by a valid Random Number Generator. This innovative solution ensures that no one can manually determine the winner of any prize. Also, the chances of winning are equal for every player at every moment.
Yet, the size and frequency of the rewards are determined by some other parameters. Each game has an RTP, a percentage of total losses made by players that are determined to be returned to the participants. Also, each game has its volatility, which defines the frequency of payouts. The software that stands behind the game ensures that all the features we discussed are correct.
Variety of Available Games and Betting Options
Speaking of gaming catalogs on every legal online casino, there are four things that you should pay attention to:
- Quality of games
- Quantity of games
- Diversity of games
- Availability of online sports betting.
The quality of the games is confirmed in multiple ways. For starters, players should check out who developed the titles available on the chosen gambling site. Most professional legal sports betting and gambling sites collaborate only with highly convenient software development companies. These games usually have interactive (innovative or retro) graphics, interesting themes, cool animations and sounds, and, most importantly, high RTP!
Speaking of quantity, there should be a considerable number of games. However, the quantity should be supported with diversity. Imagine a platform where only slots are available. Not everyone would be happy with that, and online casinos are aware of that. In addition, diversity needs to exist even within the same segment of offer. There should be various variants of slots, table games, game shows and so on.
Finally, the best casino sites regularly offer online sports betting opportunities. The most popular markets and leagues should be covered. Also, the odds should be fair and competitive. Don’t hesitate to compare them on different platforms, just to make sure you made the right choice.
Customer Service and Support
Legal sports betting sites and casino platforms need to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Even the best brands experience certain bags from time to time. On the other hand, many beginners want to test their luck for the first time. That means they will have questions and doubts before and after opening an account.
Checking customer support before registration is a strategic move. Think of some questions and check out how quickly they answer. The duty of an online casino is to provide multiple channels of communication. Live chat is the best one, but email, phone calls and social media should also be available.
A few words about Our recommendations
As you saw, our team has certain recommendations. To clarify, our recommendations aren’t based on our taste. On the contrary, we have also checked the features above before sharing any tips. We wanted to make sure that people can really enjoy an amazing offer under safe conditions.
All our recommendations offer a diversity of high-quality casino games. They have state-based licenses, which ensures their complete safety and randomness. In addition, you will get the chance to claim cool welcome and ongoing bonuses that will only prolong your sessions.
How to Get Started
If you are a newbie in the casino and online sports betting industry, then you are probably concerned about how to start the journey. There is no reason to be confused; starting the process is simple. All you have to do is pass through five simple steps. Read the explanations below:
Create an account on the platform of your choice
The first thing you need to do is open an account on the chosen platform. Since all data you share is encrypted, you don’t have to worry about their protection. There is no one who can access it! Some of the private information you will have to share is your name, home address, ID number, and other things. Double-check all the information you share there because it needs to be 100% correct. The reason is explained in the step below.
Complete the verification process
We once need to repeat that in states where gambling and sports betting are legal, markets are 100% regulated. That means not everyone can open an account. Online casinos must be sure that you are not creating a fake account or that you are not an underage user. To ensure that, they will ask you to take a photo of your ID (in some cases, you may need to take a selfie where you will hold the document). Also, they will ask you to share your location. This way, they want to make sure that you really are located within the borders of the state where online gambling is legal.
Make an initial deposit using available banking options
Best gambling sites have ensured instant deposits by offering a wide range of payment methods. In most cases, you will get the chance to use credit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and, in some rare cases, cryptocurrencies. There are no hidden fees; the amount you deposit will be available on your balance.
Claim any welcome bonuses or promotions
In most cases, online sports betting and casino sites will let you claim a deposit immediately after registration. Sometimes, they will require only a registration, while some casinos ask you to make the initial deposit. Reward can come in the form of free cash, spins, and cashback. Yet, keep in mind that each welcome bonus comes with certain terms and conditions. You will need to wager the bonus funds/winnings a particular number of times in a limited period.
Start playing your favorite games
You are ready to go! Now, analyze the gaming catalog and find the game that matches your style of playing and budget. Place bets reasonably and make a good management of your casino bankroll. Please, gamble responsibly!
Conclusion
We have finally reached the end of our guide on legal online gambling states. As you can see, NJ, PA, MI, WV, DE, RI and CT are the states where you can gamble legally via the Internet. All these markets are entirely regulated, and each one has an institution that controls and maintains the entire iGaming industry.
After in-depth analyses, we have concluded that DraftKings, BetMGM, Borgata and FanDuel are the best legal platforms for gambling and online sports betting. Each one offers a diversity of exciting games, cool bonuses, a variety of legit and quick payment methods, and professional customer service.
Your only task is to organize your casino bankroll adequately and ensure a responsible gambling approach to this lovely and exciting activity. Never spend more than you can afford because that can lead to some much larger life issues. In case you recognize any symptoms of addiction, please ask for help. Use responsible gambling tools such as deposit and time limits on legal casino sites to prevent that from happening. We wish you luck!
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