Can You Gamble Online Legally?
When it comes to gambling online, the question of whether or not you can do so legally is one that will likely come up for a lot of people. The good news is that you can, but the bad news is that it’s a bit complicated. To help make things easier, we’ve put together a guide that will walk you through everything you need to know before you start gambling online. We’ll also go over some of the main states that offer legal online gambling and how they differ from each other.
There are two states that have banned online gambling completely: Utah and Hawaii. The reason for this is because both states have a large religious population, and it’s not in line with their beliefs to allow the activity. The rest of the nation is split, with most states allowing some form of online gambling, and some even permitting sports betting at both land-based and digital establishments.
The first state to get on board with legalized online gambling was Delaware in 2013, followed by Nevada and New Jersey. Pennsylvania joined the club in 2017, and Michigan and West Virginia made the move this year. This means that there are now a total of 24 states and the District of Columbia that allow their residents to gamble on sports, poker, casino games, and other online activities.
A few states, including New Hampshire, have opted to ban online casinos and instead have social gaming options available. The state may eventually move to regulate these sites, but it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. New Hampshire legislators have failed to pass multiple attempts at legalizing the industry.
New York has a similar situation, as it prohibits online gambling. However, the state does have a social gaming market that offers free-play slots and table games.
Montana is another state that has a strict regulatory framework for its sports betting, but it does not permit any other forms of gambling. This probably won’t change any time soon, as the state focuses on protecting its land-based casinos.
Online casino gambling is currently illegal in Wisconsin, but it may become legal in the near future. A bill that would allow the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet was introduced this year, and the issue is expected to be debated in 2022.
While Indiana passed a law to legalize sports betting, it still does not permit online casinos. Legislation to bring the industry to the state has failed several times, but it could be considered again in 2023. Florida is another state that has been slow to join the ranks of legalized online gambling, although sports betting became legal this year. The state remains in a tricky position due to a disagreement between the Seminole Tribe and FanDuel, but there are hopes that the issue will be resolved sometime soon. As for Missouri, it has a limited number of legal online casinos but is considering expanding its offerings in the future.
