When it comes to wagering online, America is anything but united. Although the vast majority of states in the country allow for some form of online betting, it’s not necessarily a safe or legal option for all US citizens. If you’re looking to place a wager on the upcoming football or basketball season, be sure to check which websites are actually allowed in your region before doing business there.
Which States Have Legalized Online Gambling?
Thanks to the 2018 United States Supreme Court case Gamble v. United States, the nation as a whole now allows for legal gambling online. Although the ruling only applied to states that had already legalized internet gambling, it’s a huge step forward for the thousands of US citizens who sought to wager online but were shut out due to geographic location. Now that the law is in place, it’s time to celebrate – at least for those who are located in the right states.
As of yet, the Federal government hasn’t issued any rulings against state-legalized gambling websites, so they should all be okay in terms of engaging in legitimate business activities in the United States. This is certainly an improvement from a decade ago when states had to fend for themselves when it came to internet gambling laws, as the nation then was split into two separate factions (those who opposed and supported internet gambling) with no cooperation or communication between the two.
Which States Aren’t Forbidding Online Gambling?
Although it is now legal for states to establish their own regulatory frameworks regarding internet gambling, some – like Mississippi – have chosen not to do so. The absence of state regulation in this area creates a murky legal gray area, especially since the federal government isn’t stepping in to provide clarity either. In the eyes of the Federal Government, online gambling is still considered to be illegal – even though it’s now legal in some states.
This is leading to countless lawsuits and a general disregard for the law among some members of the online gambling community. If you fall into this category and decide to play on a site that’s not legally registered in your region, there’s always a chance you could be breaking the law. Even if you’re playing on a legal site, you’re still in the minority. Most people don’t care about the law when it comes to their hobbies.
Where Can I Play Online Gambling In The United States?
It’s important to point out that the 2018 Supreme Court decision only applied to states that already had legalized internet gambling, so this opens the possibility of playing on-line casinos in other regions. While this is certainly an option for those who are fortunate enough to live in one of the thirty-eight states where online gambling is legal, it’s not for everyone. For those who want to avoid breaking the law, it’s not the most ideal option.
That being said, this form of gambling is still widely available outside of the thirty-eight states that allow for its legal operation. It’s extremely unlikely that the federal government and the Supreme Court will choose to step in and shut down all of the offshore online gambling websites that are operating outside of the United States. This is mainly due to America’s vast economic and social benefits that stem from legal gambling.
With the ever-changing nature of the internet and the rapid development of new technologies, it’s becoming a never-ending battle to stay ahead of the legal curve. As long as the online gambling community stays within the bounds of the law, we’ll continue to see new and exciting opportunities emerge, which will keep us all engaged for the long haul.