The United States remains one of the strictest online gaming jurisdictions in the entire world. The industry is regulated by the state governments, hence, the legality of online gaming depends on the state you are residing in. Even though some states have illegalized it completely, some allow some forms of online gambling while others allow all. You should check the laws in your state to ensure that you are safe.
This country has had a long history of online gambling legislation that has taken place through various Acts and judicial interpretations. The first one was the Federal Wire Act, which was passed and signed into law in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. It intended to stop illegal bookies but it ended up illegalizing online betting as well.
It was followed by the passing of the PASPA law by President George H.W. Bush in 1992. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) put an end to sports gambling. Another infamous legislation for gamblers is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was signed into law by George W. Bush in 2006. It made it illegal for financial institutions to process internet transactions meant for gambling. The law was quite brutal and it led to the closure of several gambling websites.
Fortunately, in 2011, the Department of Justice interpreted the Wire Act differently making it legal to play casino games, online poker, and fantasy sports betting for real money. It states the Act was only intended to illegalize sports betting online. In 2018, the Supreme Court repealed the PASPA law, thus allowing each state to regulate sports gambling. However, the Department of Justice later changed its opinion on the Wire Act, which was bad news for gamers.
Currently, some states have already legalized online gambling while others are holding discussions on the matter. Let’s take a closer look at the states that have softened their stance on online gambling:
Pennsylvania
This state has legalized all forms of gambling that include sports gambling, online casinos, and poker. This step took place in 2019 and it was very good news for gamblers. There are a couple of casinos that operate in this region and they include the online versions of the existing brick and mortar casinos.
New Jersey
This is another state that has legalized all three forms of gambling. It is the biggest online gambling hub in the US with an estimated value of over 200 million US dollars.
Delaware
Delaware is the third state that has legalized all three forms of betting recognized in the US. Sports gambling was allowed in 2018 while online casinos and online poker were legalized in 2013. It was the first one to allow sports gambling after the PASPA law was repealed. It was also among the first to launch the other forms.
Most of the other states have legalized sports betting only. Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, Illinois, Montana, Michigan, Colorado, and Oregon are some of the states that only allow sports gambling. Nevada, on the other hand, allows both online poker and sports betting.
There is a lot of activity and discussions that are currently going on in the online gambling realm of the US. West Virginia is in the process of legalizing both online poker and online casino betting. Michigan also recently launched online poker and online casino gambling. These are signs that there is more to come in this industry.
Online Casinos US
There is a decent number of online platforms that offer online gambling services to US residents. Since the industry is handled at the state level, these platforms may be legal in a particular state but illegal in others. In New Jersey, the online platforms are expected to have a land-based casino presence. The main casinos here include Virgin Casino, Tropicana, and Golden Nugget. Poker lovers can use WSOP NJ, 888 Poker NJ, or PokerStars NJ while the enthusiasts of sports betting can choose between FanDuel, Draftkings, or William Hill.
Pennsylvania gamblers have Unibet, BetRivers, and Hollywood casinos as their main online casinos. These are all fantastic casinos that can lead to a great experience. PokerStars is the main poker site while sports betting enthusiasts can go to FanDuel, DraftKings, Unibet, PlaySugarHouse, and BetRivers among others for their gaming needs.
Most of these sites are legal and popular in the states that allow online betting. Since they are relatively few, it is easy to select an amazing one that can meet all your gaming needs. Here are the factors to consider:
- Trustworthiness
- Game Variety
- Customer Support
- Payment Options
- Fairness and Security
You must play in a trusted site with an unquestionable reputation (like onlineslotsx.com). Gambling involves real money so you cannot take chances with this factor. The game variety should also be adequate for you. Your first choice casinos should offer an amazing collection of your favourite games and more, just in case you want to try something new.
Customer support is essential since you should get timely assistance whenever you encounter problems when using the casino. The top casinos usually offer support through email, phone, and live chat. The live chat option is usually the best since it is available straight from the site and offers quick responses. Customer service should also be there around the clock.
For convenient real money gaming, the site should support a range of payment options to facilitate efficient deposits and withdrawals. The withdrawal times should also be fast enough. Finally, security and fairness should be guaranteed. Security is crucial because your personal and financial information must be safe from even the best hackers. It should use top-notch encryptions to protect the info as it passes through the Internet. All the games should be from reputable providers and must be certified fair. If all these are perfect, you can watch out for the casinos with the biggest bonuses.
The United States is home to millions of gamblers so the ban on online gambling was a big hindrance. Amazingly, most states are in the process of legalizing the trade, and others like New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania have fully legalized it. Soon the residents of most states of the US will be able to enjoy their favourite games online.
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