Online gambling has been continuing to gain prominence among bettors in the USA, and it is regulated by the federal and state laws.
Interestingly, each of the states in the USA can either approve or disapprove of sports betting, digital slots, casino games, as well as online poker games. Little wonder, online gambling is allowed in some states and highly unacceptable in others.
Regardless of the state lawmakers’ ability to endorse gambling or not, it remains quite harder at the federal level to evolve. With that in mind, we will take a look at the laws and rules related to online gambling in the United States.
State Level
Each state has the freedom to make decisions regulating gambling, both in the physical and online world. It is important to note that each state governs gambling rules differently. Not all of the US states actually allow online casinos and poker, as well as sports wagering.
26 States including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhodes Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia already have approved licenses for online sports betting.
Here are some of the states where online gambling is allowed in one form or another:
New Jersey
New Jersey was the first US state to let punters play at online casinos. All online gambling activities in New Jersey are overseen by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Delaware
Delaware allows online casinos but sports betting is possible only in-person. Delaware became the second state to legally permit betting on sports in the United States as well as the first to take action immediately after the landmark Supreme Court’s verdict in 2018. All gaming affairs in Delaware are overseen by the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Michigan
Michigan became the fifth state to legally allow online poker in 2019. This was due to the Lawful Internet Gaming Act signed into law by Gretchen Whitmer, a Michigan governor. In addition, sports betting and slots/casinos online also became legally approved. The Lawful Internet Gaming Act is fully licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Nevada
The Nevada Gaming Control Board allows both land-based casinos and online gambling as well as card games. However, betting on sports events, poker and racing remains prohibited.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, online poker games are favored and licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control.
West Virginia
Based on the 2019 West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, table games, lottery, slots and poker are allowed, as well as wagering on sports events.
Federal level
UIGEA – Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
This statute has significant influence over online gambling in America in the context of stringent security measures. It was enacted in 2006 as Title VIII of the SAFE Port Act. This ordinance bans gambling commodities from receiving payments from another person in a bet via the use of the internet or electronic means. However, this doesn’t make betting on sports illegal.
Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act
In 2007, the House of Representatives initiated several bills to ease the law of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act to authorize, regulate, and tax online gambling commodities rather than restrict them in accepting bets.
Wire Act
According to the Wire Act, the US Department of Justice has bolstered that any form of online gambling by players in the United States is a criminal offense. However, the 5th Circuit opposed this law asserting that it pertains only to sports betting and not other types of online gambling.
Conclusion
Though there are strict regulations at the federal level, laws regulating online gambling are much milder at the state level and make casinos and online betting sites legal.