When it comes to gambling, can you gamble online legally? The short answer is yes, but the answer can change depending on what state you’re in and whether that particular state has legalized online gambling. States that have legalized online gambling offer residents the opportunity to wager on a variety of casino games, sports, and even daily fantasy sports.
While the federal government does not regulate gambling activities, each individual state can choose to allow or prohibit online gambling. In the US, forty-eight states now permit some form of online gambling. These states range from those that only have a few online casinos to those that have fully legalized and regulated online gaming platforms. Some of the most popular forms of online gambling include lottery, horse racing, and casino games.
A few years ago, there was a concern that the internet would be used as an end-run around prohibition and regulation. This is because online gambling allowed sites to be established in friendly offshore jurisdictions and then begin accepting wagers from anyone who wanted to place a bet. In order to prevent this, Congress and the Department of Justice began examining the applicability of existing laws and considering new ones.
As a result of these conversations, many states have decided to make online gambling legal in some form. New Jersey was one of the first to do so, and now online gambling makes up a significant portion of the Garden State’s revenue stream. Other states that have made iGaming legal are Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Michigan.
These states have a wide variety of online casino options that feature both real money and practice play. In addition, many of these casinos offer generous welcome packages that include bonus casino play, deposit match bonuses, and free spins. This is an excellent way to try out a variety of casinos before making a real money deposit.
Sports betting has become a popular form of online gambling in recent years, thanks to a Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal ban on sports betting and opened the door for states to pass their own legislation. Currently, thirty-six states have some form of regulated sports betting, with a few more expected to launch soon.
Several states have also legalized online poker and other card games. In fact, Michigan has recently become a major player in this space, with multiple brick-and-mortar and standalone casinos offering a full lineup of iGaming products. Moreover, the state’s two largest casino resorts are planning to offer online poker rooms this year.
The lack of enthusiasm among politicians in some states to make iGaming legal is curious, especially when these sites have been shown to generate huge amounts of tax revenues for their respective communities. For example, the state of New Jersey now has a thriving online poker industry that brings in more than $80 million per month.