Legal gambling in the US varies between states and each determines which forms are allowed within its borders, including what types can be offered and where. Minimum gambling ages also differ by state with some requiring 21 as the age requirement while others allow people as young as 18 or 19 to start gambling.
As soon as the federal ban was lifted on sports betting in 2018, many states took swift steps to capitalize on it. Some have already begun offering regulated sports betting while online casino gambling remains slow-moving; this article will examine which states offer it and any major obstacles still needing to be cleared away.
New Mexico passed a bill legalizing online casino gambling in May of 2022 and since then there has been an explosion of licensed operators offering New Mexicans an array of games to choose from. Furthermore, tribal casinos also provide sports betting and casino play online.
West Virginia has also taken swift steps toward legalizing online casino gambling, having launched a brick-and-mortar sportsbook operated by Penn National Gaming in August of 2021. Since then, they have been working closely with DraftKings, FanDuel, Bally’s BetMGM Caesars as partners on their initial wave of online casinos slated to be introduced shortly.
Maine is another state that has moved towards legalizing online sports betting, beginning initially only offering retail sports betting but transitioning to online and mobile gaming in 2023. This decision represents an enormous win for Penobscot, Passamaquoddy and Maliseet tribes within Maine.
Massachusetts stands out as an influential sports-oriented state with a large population. Unfortunately, online gambling remains illegal there despite recent efforts at legalization that include legislation for regulated sportsbooks and other forms of online gambling – this process may take quite some time, yet optimism exists throughout Massachusetts.
Though most attempts at expanding iGaming in the US have thus far been futile, signs are emerging that things could change this year. Rhode Island became the only state last year to successfully launch their iGaming industry; more states may follow in 2024 if that occurs; New Jersey could become the next to follow suit as one of their primary markets for sports gambling could take advantage of legalized sports gambling to capitalize on new opportunities presented by legal sports gambling; it would therefore be wise to monitor New Jersey’s progress closely during 2024!
