Online gambling is thriving in the United States, but the question remains, is online gambling legal in the US? It really depends on what kind of online gambling is taking place when asking, can you legally gamble online in the US?
Online casino gambling is legal, but unless you are in one of the three states that have legalized online casino gambling, you have to play at offshore casinos. The same goes for online poker.
In terms of, is online sports gambling legal in the US, the answer is yes again, but not all states offer their own online sportsbooks to make wagers at. Again, in this case, if you are not in a state that has legalized online sports gambling, you will have to make wagers at an offshore sportsbook.
In 2018 the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned by the US Supreme Court, allowing for the legalization of sports betting and online sports betting on a state-by-state basis. As of mid-2020, there are nearly 20 states where you can legally make sports bets.
Can US Citizens Gamble Online At Offshore Casinos?
There are many offshore online gambling sites that allow for online gambling for US players. Washington is the only state that restricts players in their borders from gambling at offshore sites.
There are US laws on the books in terms of is online gambling legal in the US, but none of those laws have jurisdiction over offshore gambling sites that are legal. Again, except for Washington betting at offshore gambling sites is legal for US players. If you are not in a state that has online casinos, poker, or sportsbooks, the best online gambling sites for US players are offshore sites.
USA Online Casino Gambling
As of mid-2020, only three states have online gambling for US players in residents of those states so they can play at their online casinos. Those three states are New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
That means that those three states have online casinos specifically for residents of those states or those that are within the state borders. If you are in the state’s borders, you can take advantage of the US gambling companies and play legally. If not, there are many online casinos that are out of the US jurisdiction where you can gamble online.
In terms of safe online gambling site US, the safest ones are the ones where online casino, poker, and sports gambling is legal. With the laws changing in the US and more and more states allowing online gambling, it will only be a matter of time when legal online gambling US is available in all 50 states.
The Laws
A couple of the bigger laws in terms of making online gambling illegal in the US was the passage of the UIGEA in 2006 and the Federal Wire Act of 1961. The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) was a US ban on online gambling, but that was years ago and not enforced.
The Wire Act is decades old and prohibited the electronic transmission of information or sports betting, and that held for the world wide web even though it was not around when the act was passed. However, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act paved the way for legal online gambling US for sports betting, and that has been a major topic in the states since the act was passed in mid-2018.
In terms of online sports betting, states are lining up to legalize it within their borders with the huge sums of money that the state can receive in taxes. For example, New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize sports betting just after the PASPA was overturned in 2018. In 2019, in the first full year that sports betting was legal in the Garden State, it took in $4.5 billion in bets, with most of them coming online or through mobile devices.
As a result of the US ban online gambling being overturned in 2019, New Jersey added $36.5 million to its tax coffers. So, in terms of US online gambling laws, they have changed, and, as you can see, it has been financially beneficial and will continue to do so.
Online Gambling for US Players
Now you know the best online gambling sites for US players are those where online gambling, casino, poker, and sports betting are legal in the state the players reside. Still, with the many offshore online gambling sites that accept US players, online gambling for US players is always available no matter where they reside.
For all of the states that allow for legal online gambling, they are regulated, and the state will receive taxes from the revenue from the sites. When it comes to offshore sites, you have to do a little more homework. This involves making sure the gambling site is legitimate and allows for online gambling for US players.
If you live in a state that does not allow for online casino, poker, or sports betting, you can look on the web and do a simple Google search in the best offshore gambling sites that accept US players. You will see many sites that are located offshore, such as Costa Rica or Curacao, to name a couple, that accept US players. You can check out those sites and read up on online gambling reviews US to see what they can offer you and if they are good for your gaming needs.
Online Gambling in the US FAQ
What are the best online gambling sites for US players?
The best sites are the ones that are legal in the states where the player resides. However, that will differ in terms of online casino, poker, and sports betting.
If you are a player that resides in a state that does not offer these sites regulated by the state, then there are many offshore online gambling sites that accept US players.
What should I look for in online gambling sites for US players?
Besides making sure the site is a legitimate one that accepts US players, you need to look for things such as site security, games and bets offered, banking methods, customer service, and bonuses and promotions.
What are the states as of mid-2020 that have legal and regulated sports betting industries?
Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Is the US online gambling market growing?
Yes. The US online gambling market is continually growing, with online gambling being more accepted, and because of that legalized in the states.
How can I tell if an online gambling site is legal?
You always have to make sure that an online gambling site has a licensing authority, and this is the case for offshore as well as US online sites.