Online gambling in the US has experienced explosive growth. More states are passing legislation legalizing sports betting, more casinos are offering online platforms for sports gambling and daily fantasy sports sites are emerging as popular forms of gambling. But knowing which states allow gambling can be confusing due to constantly shifting state regulations.
While some states have legalized all forms of online gambling, others are restricting it to specific forms such as sports wagering. Nevada does not permit casino games; however sports betting is allowed. Massachusetts, on the other hand, offers lottery betting but not casino gaming; overall however, 48 states allow some form of gambling online.
Most states with legal online gambling provide some form of casino gaming, including New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada. Some have legalized poker; others offer both casino gambling and sports betting on one platform. Other states regulate the sale of lottery tickets online but there remains one major restriction: the federal Wire Act of 1961 restricts sales to those within states in which lottery tickets are being sold.
New York was the first state to legalize sports betting, and its inaugural year proved an overwhelming success. Bettors placed over $2 billion worth of bets during its inaugural week alone and generated nearly $80 million in tax revenue – yet that does not indicate New York as a safe gambling state; rather, government hired a company associated with a Greek billionaire to oversee online gambling market that’s plagued with technical difficulties.
Pennsylvania stands out as an interesting legal online gambling state. It launched quickly in 2022 and since then its sportsbook has consistently been in the top five when measured by handle. Yet it hasn’t gone without challenges, including a legislative fight over contract terms that favor those connected with city hall.
Nebraska offers another intriguing legal online gambling option, as its laws permit sports betting but not horse racing. Nebraska also serves as a land-based lottery hub and voters recently passed three constitutional amendments that could open up retail gambling to Nebraska in future. Although Nebraska may need help from Native American tribes for implementation purposes, Nebraska remains an intriguing possibility on this list of potential legal online gambling states.
Ohio remains one of the few major sports-mad states without legal sports gambling yet; however, lawmakers have pledged to pass a bill legalizing such activity by the end of 2021. Meanwhile, betting can easily be placed through offshore websites for all major sporting events in Ohio and Alaska could become 49th state to legalize sports gambling! Don’t miss out – get involved now!