Legalized Online Gambling
So what states have legalized online gambling? Currently, a handful of states offer this option, with several more on the way. Connecticut, for instance, became the first state to legalize online casinos in October. In the future, states like Illinois and Indiana will follow suit. But for now, these states remain a little more opaque. Below, we’ll look at which states have legalized online gambling and which haven’t.
The US has long tolerated online gambling, but the US has a much shorter history when it comes to legalizing it. While technology advances quickly, laws often move slowly. In the early 2000s, the US government banned online gambling, but it didn’t stop millions of dollars a day from being wagered. And at the same time, the rise of online gambling sites coincided with a “poker boom.”
While gambling is legal on the federal level, each state retains the right to regulate its own gaming activities. This includes sporting events, games of skill, and other forms of entertainment. While the US government has approved gambling online in more than a dozen states, the list of states that have legalized it is long and diverse. Of course, each state regulates gambling in different ways. But twenty states allow residents to bet on poker sites and wager on sporting events via the Internet.
What States Have Legalized Online Gambling?
In 2013, New Jersey became the first state to fully legalize online gaming. New Jersey’s bill A2578 was passed in February 2013 and, by the end of the year, wagers could be placed from the Garden State. As of the end of 2017, there are currently a number of states in the US that have legalized online gambling. Whether you’re looking for an exciting new way to spend your weekend, we hope you enjoy this online activity.
Iowa – Despite its reluctance to legalize online gambling, the state is attempting to regulate the activity. While Iowa’s state law banned gambling for over a century, the state legislature removed the relevant provisions in 1972. In 2019, the state will approve a bill regulating sports betting. With more than ten years to go, online sports betting is expected to reach full legality in Illinois in the near future.
Wyoming – In April 2019, the state legislature passed legislation that legalized sports betting in a state-owned casino. This legislation was not signed by Governor Lee, but it legalized online sports betting for the first time. Unlike other states, however, sports betting remains illegal in casinos and online gambling in Tennessee. However, state law requires that customers place their bets using regulated apps and licensed online betting sites. Further, online gambling remains illegal in Tennessee, and no land-based casinos are in the state.
Michigan – Since 1933, betting was legal in the state, although the regulations were tighter than they once were. The Michigan Gaming Control Board, or MIGCB, now regulates online betting. In Michigan, you can play sports betting and wager on horse races on any of the authorized sites. However, you will be restricted from gambling outside of the state’s online casinos. Nonetheless, Michigan is a progressive state.