The US might be home to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, but they remain significantly behind many other countries when it comes to online gambling legislation.
There has never been a federal law that completely outlaws playing online gambling, which does mean that individuals can place wagers online legally.
The problem comes with the federal ban on people gambling wagers on a website that is based in the United States.
This meant that gambling consumers would have to forgo the US economy and feed into those of companies based in other places, such as Australia, the Caribbean Islands, and the UK.
Due to one breakthrough legislation passed in the Supreme Court in 2018, however, the landscape of online gambling in the US is changing.
In this article, we will tell you all about this legislative change, in addition to information about where you can gamble online legally today and how this might change in the future.
The Latest Legislative Changes In Gambling In The US
As aforementioned, there was a breakthrough in online gambling legislation in the Supreme Court in 2018.
The breakthrough, in particular, was the lift of the federal ban on sports betting that took place on May 14, 2018.
Before this, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protect Act (PASPA) was in place, and it was only New Jersey attempting to work around the law that made the court review it.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the PASPA was unconstitutional because it infringed upon individual states’ rights.
This decision gave states more power about the world of online sports betting and gambling, but there are some concerns on a federal level.
In particular, some are worried that court justice Brett Cavanaugh and his history of gambling could have dangerous consequences for the integrity of the court.
Gamblers Digest report that these concerns largely come from an unexplained $60,000-$200,000 debt held by the court justice in 2016 which some had queried could be due to an out of control gambling habit.
Triggered by these revelations, some have asked for monitoring to maintain online betting integrity, but as this decision is left up to individual states there is nothing legally that says they have to do so.
What This Means For Online Gambling
With the latest legislation changes from the Supreme Court, more control regarding online gambling has been placed in the hands of individual states.
This has led to several states more seriously considering their reactions to the world of online gambling.
Some pioneering states have even legalized online gambling, which we will go through below.
Where You Can Gamble Legally Online In The US
In total, there are currently five different states where US gambling companies can create websites that you can legally gamble online with.
New Jersey
Considering New Jersey was the state to trigger the change of online sports betting in 2018, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that they are currently the largest market for regulated online gambling in the US.
Between licensed online casino websites and poker rooms, they have over a dozen options to choose from.
These companies are all in competition for a market that is worth more than $225 million a year in this state alone.
In addition to this, latest rulings in sports betting mean they have allowed several sportsbooks and online sports better apps to go live.
Nevada
Another state that is pioneering in the world of online gambling in the US is Nevada, but they are more restricted than New Jersey, only offering the chance or play online poker gambling.
They have recently begun offering players within the state to bet on sports using mobile apps, however.
Delaware
Despite a slow start, Delaware’s legal casino games and poker websites are beginning to show great promise for the future.
Their online poker pool is shared with Nevada and New Jersey, which has helped to boost its popularity.
They are another area that have recently allowed single-game sports wagering to take place within the state on a legal level.
West Virginia
Another state that has only recently begun allowing online gambling, they are extremely rigid, only allowing online mobile sports better.
There are currently a few different companies that launched in 2019 that US citizens can legally bet on, but more could be set to follow in the future.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the biggest state to have started allowing online gambling for US citizens, and the fourth state to regulate it.
They are more open with their allowances, allowing online casino gambling in addition to all forms of sports betting.
The Future Of Online Gambling In The US
Due to recent changes in legislation, several different states not currently allowing online gambling for US citizens are seriously considering their futures.
While these legislation discussions are at varying degrees, California, in particular, has gained fame over the last decade in its desperate attempts to pass a bill that would regulate online poker.
With the passing of the Supreme Court ruling, online sports betting is also predicted to play a part in this, though nothing has yet been confirmed.
Mike Tan from Online Casino Gems says this can only be a good thing for the industry:
“In the internet age, many Americans have already turned to international websites for their online gambling needs. By changing legislations, we’re promoting patriotism with sports teams and helping to support our local economy with a mostly harmless recreational activity.”
While it’s too early to predict the true scale of change online gambling could bring to the US economy, the multimillion-pound industry has already had a big effect in the states it has been legalized in.
Summary
US citizens have always been able to engage in online gambling on international websites, but the latest legislation changes could see this recreational activity come much closer to home.
This follows the latest Supreme Court legislation, which puts the control of online gambling to individual states.
Despite some concerns, many states are now seriously considering the future of online sports betting and gambling in general, with legislation changes expected to follow.
In such a short period, five states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey have already started the legalization process, and are beginning to reap the rewards of doing so.
In these states, US citizens can use online gambling websites that were created in the US and operate there, bringing more money into the local economy.
It’s predicted by some of the biggest experts that the more states who make this change, the better it could be for our economy and the bigger online gambling could become over time.
