Legal Online Gambling by State – United States of America
I’ll provide a snapshot of 50 states’ of United States current legal standing regarding online casinos, sports betting, and general gambling regulations. This will include states where online gambling is legal, where it’s in consideration, and those where it is not yet permitted.
1. Alabama
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Alabama has a strict stance against gambling, allowing limited options like the state lottery and tribal casinos. Efforts to expand gambling legislation have surfaced intermittently, but comprehensive online gaming remains non-existent.
2. Alaska
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Alaska has limited gambling, mainly focusing on tribal casinos and charitable gaming. Any introduction of online gambling faces hurdles due to the state’s conservative view on gaming.
3. Arizona
- Current Status: Online sports betting legal; online casinos not yet legalized.
- Overview: The state allows sports betting through various platforms. Legislative efforts are ongoing to consider expanding into online casinos.
4. Arkansas
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Arkansas has legalized limited in-person casino gaming. Efforts to legalize online gambling have hit roadblocks, but discussions continue.
5. California
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal, but online poker is in consideration.
- Overview: California has a robust tribal gaming market and is exploring legalizing online poker. Comprehensive online gambling legislation faces challenges due to competing interests.
6. Colorado
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Colorado has legal online gambling since 2019, including online casinos and sports betting. The state provides a healthy market with various operators available.
7. Connecticut
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Connecticut entered the online gaming space in 2021, allowing both sports betting and online casinos. The state has established a regulatory framework for online gaming.
8. Delaware
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Delaware was among the first to legalize online gambling in 2012, hosting a robust platform for casino games and poker through its state lottery.
9. Florida
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; ongoing discussions regarding sports betting.
- Overview: Florida has a vibrant casino market, with some attempts to expand into online gambling. Legislative barriers, however, have hindered significant progress.
10. Georgia
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Georgia has no legal casino gaming, although proposals for a state-sanctioned lottery and casino expansion have been discussed in legislative sessions without success.
11. Hawaii
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Hawaii maintains a very strict anti-gambling stance, with no casinos of any form. Efforts to introduce any gambling legislation consistently fail.
12. Idaho
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Idaho has a conservative gambling approach, with limited legal gambling options such as lotteries and a few tribal casinos.
13. Illinois
- Current Status: Online casinos legal for sports betting only, with potential for full expansion.
- Overview: Illinois has legalized sports betting and is considering full online casino gaming proposals. The industry is expanding rapidly, with major operators entering the market.
14. Indiana
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Indiana has a growing online sports betting and casino market since legalization in 2019. Regulations are in place to maintain healthy competition and player protection.
15. Iowa
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Iowa has legalized online sports betting and casino gaming, providing several options for players to access games online.
16. Kansas
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Kansas has allowed some forms of limited online gaming, primarily focusing on sports betting.
17. Kentucky
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; ongoing discussions regarding legalization.
- Overview: Despite having a rich horse racing history and a state lottery, Kentucky has yet to embrace online casino gaming fully.
18. Louisiana
- Current Status: Online casinos are not yet legal but have legalized sports betting.
- Overview: Louisiana has extensive gaming legislation in place for riverboat casinos and sports betting. Efforts to expand into online casinos are ongoing.
19. Maine
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; discussions for potential future legislation.
- Overview: Maine has a limited casino option and is exploring the potential for online gambling legislation.
20. Maryland
- Current Status: Online casinos are not yet legal, but sports betting is authorized.
- Overview: Maryland has legalized sports betting and discussions continue regarding full online casino gaming options.
21. Massachusetts
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal, but discussions are ongoing.
- Overview: The state allows in-person casinos and sports betting, with advocacy for online gambling gaining momentum among lawmakers.
22. Michigan
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Michigan legalized online gambling in early 2021, allowing online casinos and poker. The state boasts a diverse range of available gaming operators.
23. Minnesota
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; limited to tribal casinos with a focus on charitable gaming.
- Overview: The state has limited options but has ongoing discussions about expanding into online gaming.
24. Mississippi
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; only in-person gambling is authorized.
- Overview: While Mississippi allows casino gambling, there is no framework in place for online casinos.
25. Missouri
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Missouri has a regulated casino market but has not yet legalized online gambling.
26. Montana
- Current Status: Limited online gambling options through state-regulated platforms.
- Overview: Montana has legalized limited forms of online betting, primarily focused on bingo and poker with a focus on legal gaming regulations.
27. Nebraska
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; discussions are ongoing.
- Overview: Nebraska has limited casino options, primarily focusing on horse racing and tribal gaming.
28. Nevada
- Current Status: Online poker legal; limited online casino options.
- Overview: Nevada has a rich gaming history and legalized online poker in 2013, with limited options for online casino games.
29. New Hampshire
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; sports betting is legal.
- Overview: New Hampshire has embraced sports betting while maintaining a strict approach to casino gaming.
30. New Jersey
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: New Jersey has been a pioneer in developing the online casino market since 2013, creating a robust regulatory framework for gambling.
31. New Mexico
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; tribal gaming laws apply.
- Overview: New Mexico allows tribal casinos, but there are no legal provisions for online gambling.
32. New York
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal, but sports betting is authorized.
- Overview: New York has taken steps towards legalizing sports betting and discussions regarding online casinos are ongoing.
33. North Carolina
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; only tribal casinos operate.
- Overview: North Carolina only allows limited gaming and has made attempts to explore online gaming opportunities.
34. North Dakota
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: North Dakota has limited gaming options, mainly focusing on tribal casinos and lotteries.
35. Ohio
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; discussions about potential legislation are ongoing.
- Overview: Ohio has a regulated gaming scene but hasn’t yet embraced full online casino gaming.
36. Oklahoma
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal but have numerous tribal casinos.
- Overview: Oklahoma offers an extensive range of tribal gaming but no legal provisions for online casino gaming.
37. Oregon
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; some state-regulated offerings exist.
- Overview: Oregon has allowed some forms of online lottery games but does not yet permit online casinos.
38. Pennsylvania
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Pennsylvania engaged in legalizing online gambling in 2017, allowing for robust online operations across various platforms.
39. Rhode Island
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; limits to in-person casino gaming.
- Overview: Rhode Island has explored opportunities for online gambling but hasn’t progressed toward full legalization yet.
40. South Carolina
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: South Carolina maintains strict anti-gambling laws, allowing only limited forms of gaming.
41. South Dakota
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; only limited gaming options.
- Overview: South Dakota has limited casino options, primarily associated with tribal gaming, but no legal online gambling offerings.
42. Tennessee
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal yet; sports betting is legal.
- Overview: Tennessee has legalized sports betting, but there is currently no framework for online casinos.
43. Texas
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Texas generally has a conservative approach to gambling but has seen discussions around potential online gaming law proposals.
44. Utah
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Utah has a strict anti-gambling stance, with no regulated gaming options available.
45. Vermont
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; limited to lottery-based games.
- Overview: Vermont has limited gambling options and has yet to accept online gaming legislation.
46. Virginia
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: Virginia has taken significant steps towards online gambling, including sports betting and online casinos, with regulations in place.
47. Washington
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Washington maintains strict rules around online gambling, with only tribal casinos being legally authorized to operate.
48. West Virginia
- Current Status: Online casinos legal.
- Overview: West Virginia has a growing online gambling market and offers several platforms for online casinos.
49. Wisconsin
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal.
- Overview: Wisconsin has limited options for gaming, primarily focusing on tribal casinos without any current moves toward online casino legalization.
50. Wyoming
- Current Status: Online casinos are not legal; discussions about potential regulations are ongoing.
- Overview: Wyoming has limited gaming options currently, and interested parties are advocating for expanded gaming legislation.
Recap and Conclusion
The landscape of online casinos across the United States varies significantly from state to state. Some states have fully embraced the online gaming industry, while others maintain restrictive laws and practices. The rapid growth of online gambling in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania highlights the potential for revenue generation, increased regulation, and consumer interest.
With each state continuing to evaluate its stance on online gambling — either embracing or resisting it — the future of online casinos will likely see significant developments. Players should stay informed about their state’s laws regarding online gambling to ensure they are participating in a regulated and safe environment.
This exploration illustrates the complex and dynamic nature of gambling laws in the U.S., revealing significant opportunities for both players and operators in the evolving online casino market.
Legal Online Casinos in the United States:
- Borgata Online Casino
- Golden Nugget Online Casino
- Tropicana Online Casino
- Caesars Online Casino
- BetMGM Casino
- Hard Rock Online Casino
- 888 Casino
- BetRivers Casino
- SugarHouse Casino
- DraftKings Casino
- FanDuel Casino
- Hollywood Casino
- Mohegan Sun Casino
- PokerStars Casino
- Barstool Sportsbook & Casino
- Delaware Park Casino
- Dover Downs Casino
- Harrington Raceway Casino
- Betfair Casino
- Party Casino
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Online
- PointsBet Casino
- Parx Casino
- BetMGM
- Pala Casino
- Unibet Casino
- NetBet Casino
- Wheel of Fortune Casino
- Betway Casino
- Delaware Lottery’s Online Casino
- Golden Nugget
- Tropicana
- William Hill
- Betfair
- WynnBET
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- GambetDC
- Party Poker
- PlayMGM
- Resorts Casino
- WynnBET Casino
- Little River Casino
- Wild and Wonderful WV Lottery
- WSOP.com (World Series of Poker)
- Hard Rock Casino
- Mohegan Sun