What States Is Online Casino Legal In?
When it comes to legal gambling in the US, the federal government has left it up to individual states to regulate it both within the physical realm and the digital sphere. While many states have allowed real-money online gambling, others have opted to regulate sports betting and daily fantasy sports instead. This has created a fragmented landscape where iGaming is still illegal in some places, but where it is legal, it can be quite lucrative for those who are willing to take the risk.
Michigan was one of the first states to make its mark in the iGaming industry. The state’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, signed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act in December of 2019 and positioned the Great Lakes State to become a major player in the digital world of online poker, slots, and mobile sports betting. The state is also home to three regulated casinos, and players can enjoy a wide variety of casino games and wager on sporting events via the internet.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a newcomer to the online casino scene, but it’s already making its presence felt. In March of 2020, Michigan became the fifth state to legalize iGaming and began to offer licensed online poker and slot games from operators that are regulated by the state’s gaming control board. The state is set to expand its iGaming offerings, with the addition of more casinos and an increase in the maximum betting limit for the sportsbook at MGM Grand Detroit.
South Dakota is another iGaming pioneer, and it was the first state to legalize sports betting in 2021. However, the industry is stuck in a bit of limbo due to the ongoing dispute between the state and FanDuel Group over their Seminole Tribe partnership. Hopefully, the state will resolve this issue soon and allow for more iGaming options in the future, including online casinos.
In Louisiana, the state’s legislature passed legislation to legalize sports betting in 2022. But the bill did not include provisions for online casinos, and thus, they remain illegal. However, the state’s two state casinos have a license to operate sportsbooks, and it may be just a matter of time before other major operators like DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars begin offering online sports betting in the state as well.
As of late, New Jersey has been the leader in online gambling. The state is home to Atlantic City, and it’s no surprise that the Garden State is also one of the most gambling-friendly places in the country when it comes to iGaming. New Jersey offers more than two dozen legal online casinos partnered with Atlantic City operators, and its residents can wager on sports, lottery games, casino games, and even play online poker and other games for real money.