Can You Gamble Online Legally in Your State?
As the online gambling industry continues to evolve, state legislators are catching up. Some states have legalized new forms of online gaming, while others remain restrictive. Regardless of where you live, it is important to understand the laws in your area before you gamble. This article will help you do just that. It will sift through the laws in each state and tell you whether or not you can legally wager on sports, casino games, poker and daily fantasy sports.
The first thing you need to know is that federal law makes it illegal for US residents to place bets on any type of gambling website based outside of the country. This is true even if the site is operated by an individual in the same state. The only exception is for those who participate in the lottery. In 2011, the Department of Justice reinterpreted the Wire Act to allow lottery officials to operate online. This was a big step towards the legalization of new types of gambling in the US.
While many states have passed legislation to legalize gambling, it is important to check with each state’s official website to see the most up-to-date information. While some states, such as Hawaii and Utah, ban all forms of gambling, others have limited it to certain types, such as poker or sports betting. Additionally, there are some states, such as Montana and Missouri, that have legalized sports betting but do not yet allow residents to gamble online.
In the state of Georgia, residents can now legally place sports bets, but casinos are still illegal. There are legislative efforts to change the gambling laws in the Peach State, so it is possible that in the future, residents will be able to gamble online at sanctioned online casinos.
Connecticut has recently joined the ranks of states with legalized iGaming, but only two operators are currently authorized to offer casino games to its residents. These two are DraftKings and FanDuel, who have partnered with the state’s tribal casinos to launch their offerings. The state has plans to add more casino options, but the wait will likely be long.
Unlike physical casinos, which typically have high minimum and maximum stakes, online casinos allow players to choose their own stakes. This can be especially helpful if you have a small bankroll. With online gambling, you can play the games on your own time frame and can stop and start whenever you like. In addition, there are no lags between hands, rolls or spins like you might experience in a brick-and-mortar casino.
While legal online casinos aren’t available everywhere, they are becoming more and more common. Currently, seven states have safe and regulated online casinos: Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Several more states are in the works, and it seems likely that all 50 states will eventually have a legalized form of online gambling.
