Unfortunately, online casinos and online poker are still illegal in IA. The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act modernized WV online gambling laws when it was enacted in March 2019. WV online sports betting is a reality, and West Virginia online casinos and online poker rooms appear to be on the way. Legal Online Gambling In Wyoming - Wyoming has not made any attempts to make online gambling illegal in Wyoming. More About The Legality Of Online Gambling In The U.S. + Specific States. State Online Gambling Laws + Statutes. With respect to state laws relating to gambling in the United States, the biggest one relates to the legal gambling age. Whether online casinos are legal or illegal depends on where you live and at the moment, some states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Hampshire have some concerns about the legality of. The legalities of online gambling from within the United States can certainly be defined as unclear. Many sites provided their services to US residents for years, seemingly without any issues. However, there was an argument over whether or not the Wire Act of 1971 applied to wagering and gaming over the internet.

1. Online Gambling Illegal In United States
2. Online Gambling Laws United States
3. Online Gambling Illegal United States

Contents

As discussed in a previous article on the legality of playing blackjack online, the gambling industry in America is one of the most structured and developed gambling environments in the world. It is surprising then, that out of all countries in the world, the US probably has the most confusing situation when it comes to online casinos.

The majority of this confusion stems from the fact that online gambling is partly regulated by federal laws and partly by individual states. Moreover, since each state approaches the subject in a different manner, the average US player is left baffled when trying to decide whether using online casinos is legal in their state.

Current Federal US Laws That Regulate Online Casinos

Here’s a statement no one was expecting — no federal law in the US says that online gambling is illegal. However, it also doesn’t say that it is legal, which makes the market a gray area. US citizens are allowed to place wagers online, but only if the website isn’t based in the US.

The US federal law explicitly prohibits banks — or any other financial institution — to knowingly process transactions between a known web-based gambling business and US-based customers. In essence, it is illegal for your bank to handle a withdrawal or deposit to or from your casino account. That was the goal of the much-grumbled-about UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).

You should notice, however, that it isn’t a crime for a US-based player to make or request a transaction — it’s just illegal for the bank to process them.

When it comes to lawmaking, the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution states that anything that doesn’t have a specifically granted Federal purview and jurisdiction is up to the states. Thus, the Federal Government has not taken any stance related to gambling taking place within individual states — it up to individual states to do that.

The only two areas that the Federal Government regulates are:

• Interstate Commerce

The consequences of the first were already explained. The latter resulted in allowing states such as New Jersey to have online casinos, but only if they are being offered to US citizens physically located within New Jersey’s boundaries.

Casino Laws by State

Current States’ Laws That Regulate Online Casinos

If federal law was all that US players had to consider, the legality of web gambling would be a lot easier to talk about. Unfortunately for US-based gamblers, US state law is sometimes more restrictive than federal law.

So how strict are US state laws on internet gambling? Some US states have laws that explicitly prohibit all forms of online gambling.

Those are:

• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Illinois
• Montana
• Oregon
• Louisiana
• Utah
• Hawaii

State law prohibits the residents of these states from placing any kind of bet over the internet, regardless of federal regulation. Other states are less strict but are still restrictive — in South Dakota, for example, anyone in “the gambling business” is not allowed to place online bets, which is a really quirky law if you think about it.

Online Gambling Illegal In United States

Long story short, some US players have to walk a thin line if they want to play in an online casino while remaining within the confines of the law. Thankfully, the US rarely prosecutes online gamblers. We only found two instances where an online gambler broke a law, and both come from politically conservative states.

States in Which Online Casinos Are Legal

Thankfully, several states are more liberal toward online gambling and allow online casinos to operate in their area.

New Jersey

The state of New Jersey doesn’t prohibit online casinos and online poker. It is currently the biggest market for regulated online gambling in the US. Over a dozen licensed and legal online casino websites and poker rooms compete for their place in the sun in a market that is worth over $255 million per year.

Pennsylvania

In PA, online casinos were launched in July 2019 and online poker in November 2019. Gamblers have the option to bet in person or online via mobile app or website. Many Pennsylvanian major land-based casinos have created their online casino versions too.

Delaware

In Delaware, online casinos and online poker were launched at the same time — in November 2013. Although the First State seems like a strange location for amazing web-based gambling, that’s exactly what it is.

Michigan

As of December 20, 2019, online casinos and online poker are legal in the state of Michigan. However, operators are limited to a single online skin, and multi-state games aren’t permitted. Each of the 23 tribal and three commercial casinos can apply for licensing, but online casinos are still waiting to be legalized.

Nevada

Even though it is an unofficial birthplace of American gambling, the state of Nevada only allows online poker in designated poker rooms. Yes, they do have a legal WSOP website, but other online casino games are prohibited.

Offshore Casinos — A Handy Alternative

Even if you aren’t physically located in the states where online casinos are legal, there is still a way to find some quality entertainment online — by playing in offshore casinos.

Any US citizen can legally access these licensed offshore gaming platforms from most states. As we already explained, in Washington, Wisconsin, Montana, Illinois, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, and Louisiana, all forms of online gambling are explicitly forbidden.

If you are wondering whether it is safe to play in casinos that aren’t licensed in the United States, the answer is yes. These casinos are legitimate and have clearly defined guidelines and rules that ensure a safe and fair gaming environment.

In addition, in order to offer casino games to gambling enthusiasts and be able to do business around the globe, offshore casinos need a license from reputable gambling jurisdictions, which makes them safe and trustworthy.

Moreover, since no federal law prevents US-based players from gambling in licensed offshore casinos, they can enjoy playing their favorite games on these platforms. Safe online casinos that accept US citizens possess valid certificates and licenses and are monitored by reputable governing bodies. They also have enticing welcome bonuses, a slew of interesting games, and a protected online gaming environment.

Future of US Laws That Regulate Online Casinos

The future is bright. Really bright. The biggest obstacle toward legalizing online casinos in the US was that the government was trying to stop the gradual loss of citizens’ interest in their official gambling zones — Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Since that has already happened, there is nothing that stands in the way of progressive legalization of online casinos across the nation.

Not to mention the fact that states without legal online casinos are starting to lose gambling aficionados who travel across state lines in order to play in states where gambling is legal. For instance, the legislative trend in New York is going toward expansion of gambling activities rather than contraction, since the state doesn’t want to lose its players to its neighbor New Jersey.

FAQ

You need to be at least 21. Even though the legal age limit for the online lottery is 18, you have to be 21 to play in an online casino. It is likely that lawmakers will decide to change the limit in the future.

In the states where they are legalized, online casinos must follow strict regulations and are therefore completely safe. However, you should exercise due diligence — always do thorough research before you decide to join a casino.

Yes, you can; many casinos offer these games. Lately, a lot of online casinos have begun introducing this section on their platforms. Live casino games are popular since they offer a genuine casino experience. Of course, not all online casinos sport a Live Casino section, so make sure you find those that do.

Just like all other industries today, the online casino industry is very competitive, meaning there is a myriad of casino games at your disposal. Any land-based casino game you can think of probably has an online version. What’s more, online casinos can often surprise you and you can run into some games you’ve never even heard of.

To cater to the needs of their players and thus remain competitive, the majority of online casinos offer a broad selection of payment methods. This results in easy and secure online payments. Of course, the processing time depends on the payment option you select.

Yes, you can. Online casinos, like other websites, understand the importance of mobile optimization and do everything in their power to meet the needs of their players. Since many players prefer to use their smartphones to play games, most casinos either have a fully optimized mobile site or a dedicated mobile app.

We've compiled this legal online betting guide for US players arranged by state, to provide accurate and up to date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each US state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state gambling directory which will empower players with the information to make informed decisions about online gambling.

This state-specific data will include a look at the state laws governing online gambling opportunities from online casinos, online poker, to online sports betting.

Each individual state is approaching the legalization of online gambling differently, thus it is necessary to detail lawfully available state-licensed options, and sanctioned licensed offshore online gambling opportunities. We also address some of the most commonly asked questions about gambling in each state and provide some helpful resources for players to access. This information can only be covered in depth within each of the state pages we offer, which you can find listed within this guide.

Is Online Gambling Legal In My State?

To avoid confusion, we have marked US states which offer state-regulated gambling options in the table below with a check mark. At this moment in time, eight US states have legalized and regulated online gambling in some form. For example:

Online Poker & Casinos:

• Delaware - Online Poker and Online Casino gambling
• Nevada - Online Poker
• New Jersey - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• West Virginia - Online Poker, Online Casinos

Online Sports Betting & Fantasy Sports

• Illinois - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
• Indiana - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Iowa - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Massachusetts - Fantasy Sports Allowed
• Mississippi - Online Allowed At Casinos Only
• Montana - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
• Nevada - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
• New Jersey - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
• New York - Allows Fantasy Sports And Domestic Sports Betting
• Oregon - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Pennsylvania - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
• Rhode Island - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
• Tennessee - Offers Online Sports Betting Apps
• West Virginia - Online Sports Betting Allowed State-wide

** Legalized but Pending launch

Online Lottery:

• Georgia - Online Lottery Allowed
• Illinois - Online Lottery Allowed
• Kentucky - Online Lottery Allowed
• Michigan - Online Lottery Allowed
• Minnesota - Online Lottery Allowed
• New Hampshire - Online Lottery Allowed
• Pennsylvania - Online Lottery Allowed

Is Licensed Offshore Gambling Legal In My State?

While the above-mentioned states offer regulated online gambling, they still maintain the option to utilize licensed offshore online options. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, poker, or bet on sports.

This is because no state laws in these other 48 states specifically prohibit or allow it - thus operating in a technical grey area, it is still considered safe to use because it is not likely these states will draft and pass legislation to specifically affect domestic access to licensed offshore gaming.

What Is The Minimum Online Gambling Age in the US?

There is no one minimum gambling age in the US as this is set and regulated by each individual state. The minimum gambling age within each state is affected by various factors such as game selected and licensor. By this, we mean state-regulated online gambling options require domestic players, whether residents or visitors, to abide by the state's minimum gambling age for that form of gambling on land within the state's borders.

However, licensed offshore online platforms which offer casino games, poker, and sports betting can lawfully accept players who are at least 18 years of age or older. These licensed offshore online sites also offer players much more in the way of bonuses and perks and the platforms we recommend are all extremely reputable.

Online Gambling Laws United States

U.S. States Where You Can Legally Gamble At 18 And Up

Below you can learn more about the minimum legal online gambling age by state in the USA.

AL Offshore Yes:18	IL Offshore Yes:18	NE Offshore Yes:18	SD Offshore Yes:18
AK Offshore Yes:18	IN Offshore Yes:18	NV Offshore Yes:18	SC Offshore Yes:18
AZ Offshore Yes:18	KS Offshore Yes:18	NH Offshore Yes:18	TN Offshore Yes:18
AR Offshore Yes:18	KY Offshore Yes:18	NJ Offshore No	TX Offshore Yes:18
CA Offshore Yes:18	LA Offshore Yes:18	NM Offshore Yes:18	UT Offshore Yes:18
CO Offshore Yes:18	ME Offshore Yes:18	NY Offshore Yes:18	VT Offshore Yes:18
CT Offshore No	MD Offshore Yes:18	ND Offshore Yes:18	VA Offshore Yes:18
DE Offshore Yes:18	MA Offshore Yes:18	NC Offshore Yes:18	WA Offshore No
FL Offshore Yes:18	MI Offshore Yes:18	OH Offshore Yes:18	WV Offshore Yes:18
GA Offshore Yes:18	MN Offshore Yes:18	OK Offshore Yes:18	WI Offshore Yes:18
HI Offshore Yes:18	MS Offshore Yes:18	OR Offshore Yes:18	WY Offshore Yes:18
ID Offshore Yes:18	MO Offshore Yes:18	PA Offshore Yes:18
IA Offshore Yes:18	MT Offshore Yes:18	RI Offshore Yes:18

Online Gambling Laws in The United States

Gambling laws can be a rather complex topic these days as there are several US federal gambling laws to account for such as the UIGEA, and the Federal Wire Act, as well as, several individual state gambling laws. The reason for this is because the United States DOJ has said that states have the authority to determine their own destiny concerning both land-based and online gambling.

Afterward, several states moved forward with legalizing some forms of online gambling for their region. Multiple other states are currently in discussions amongst themselves regarding the possibility of embracing this virtual gaming platform in their own territories. As discussed earlier and from what can be read from our laws page, US players outside of WA and CT are permitted access to multiple licensed, certified, and regulated online gambling sites hosted outside of the United States. This is a nice alternative for those players not located in a state with its own regulated form of domestic online gambling.

States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation

US States That Offer Domestic Sportsbooks

Online Gambling Illegal United States

US States With Passed Sports Betting Legislation (Pending Launch)