The popularity of gambling via the internet continues to rise. The market is expected to reach $92.9 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.6%. These facts are according to Research & Markets. It is expected that the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and virtual reality (VR) will propel the sector forward and that the North American market will keep up with the rest of the world, expanding at a rate of 14.78 percent from now until 2025.
The Wire Act of 1961 was the governing law in business for a long time in the United States. It’s a statute made to go along with anti-racketeering regulations, but it was written before the internet, so it doesn’t apply perfectly to online gambling. Therefore, in 2011, the DOJ made it possible for individual states to legalize and control online gambling.
States That Allow Gambling Online
Federal legislation in the United States does not prohibit gaming. That is to say, each nation has the authority to control it within its borders and the confines of its cyberspace.
One can gamble on anything from the outcome of a sporting event to the outcome of a game of chance or skill, and the term “gambling” covers all of these possibilities. Online gambling is legal in various states, each of which has its own rules for how it is to be conducted.
On the other hand, most people are not as libertarian regarding online gambling and poker rooms.
These are the US states that have been the most proactive in terms of legalizing internet gambling.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s cutting-edge internet gaming sector is regulated by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. The state of New Jersey was the first in the United States to authorize online casinos in 2013. The monthly tax collection from just a handful of these locations is in the millions. Bets can be placed on various activities and games, including poker, sports, fantasy sports, lotteries, and horse racing, all from the comfort of home.
Pennsylvania
The efforts of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board have resulted in the legalization of all forms of gambling in the state, including some that are illegal in neighboring New Jersey. It’s no secret that Pennsylvania’s online poker scene is booming. Because PokerStars operates there, the industry is humming around at full speed.
Michigan
In related news, Michigan became the sixth US state to sanction online poker in 2018. Fantasy sports wagering is legal as well. The licensing and oversight of these establishments are under the purview of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Delaware
Regarding online gambling, the Blue Hen state greenlights everything but sportsbooks. In Delaware, you can bet on sports in person, but mobile betting is currently unavailable. Delaware was the first to accept sports wagers following the Supreme Court’s historic ruling in 2018.
Nevada
Some may be surprised to learn that while Nevada does allow brick-and-mortar casinos, it does not regulate their virtual counterparts. Slot machines are restricted to visitors only in Nevada. They must physically travel to a location to play on a real-world slot machine. However, the Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates sports betting, horse race betting, and poker.
States That Are Already Processing Legalization
Twenty-two states have introduced proposals with the same goal of legalizing sports betting, and six of them have already passed their versions. One can expect to place wagers through mobile phones or computers once the industry is legalized in these regions.
Policy alterations may soon occur in the following jurisdictions, as politicians and lobby organizations have been actively pursuing change there:
- California
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Nevada
It’s worth noting that efforts to legitimize online lottery games were instrumental in ushering in other types of internet wagering. In 2009, New York and Illinois lottery officials approached the Department of Justice (DOJ) for guidance on whether or not it was legal to sell lottery tickets digitally.
In 2011, the DOJ responded, making clear that, in its view, the Wire Act of 1961 applies exclusively to betting on sporting events or contests. Therefore, this opened the floodgates for the regulation of online gambling.
Massachusetts and Maryland are two states that should legalize online lotteries quickly.
States that Ban Internet Gambling
Forty-eight of the 50 states in the United States allow gambling. Just two states, Utah and Hawaii, have a blanket prohibition against it. Many members of the religious and devout Mormon faith live in Utah. Laws in a given area will inevitably reflect the values and opinions of most of its citizens, like that of Hawaii, where the climate is comparable.
Wisconsin and Idaho are two more states that look down on the practice and have shown little enthusiasm in expanding their legal framework to encompass gambling at land-based or online venues.
How About Virtual Casinos?
While enacting laws to allow businesses to accept wagers on a sporting event is a higher priority for most jurisdictions, the regulation of sites that provide games of chance is low on the totem pole.
Considering that United States casino reviews for sites like those in New Jersey bring in over $80 million every single month in income, the indifference of legislators in some states toward their legalization is puzzling.
Summary
The moral issue surrounding the online gambling industry in the United States has been a major obstacle to its broad acceptance. Some consider it a fun pastime, while others worry about its impact on society and the economy. Yet, most sites encourage users to play fairly and responsibly by letting them restrict their losses and opt out of the site entirely. The legislation ensures that trustworthy organizations are in charge of these service platforms and take action against any wrongdoing.
These venues also contribute to the economy by producing new jobs and tax money. Many people in states that don’t regulate online gambling do it anyhow since they know they can’t get in trouble for using foreign sites. That’s why it’s crucial that legislators throughout the country work on legislation that would prevent tax dollars from leaving the country illegally. Even though online sports betting is expected to become legal in most regions, the same cannot be said for casino and poker sites.
