1. What States Are Online Gambling Illegal In Illinois
2. What States Are Online Gambling Illegal In Texas

In the United States, gambling is restricted almost everywhere, except in Las Vegas and in Atlantic City, New Jersey. If you do not know this and unwittingly participated in a gambling scheme that turned out to be illegal, you can still be charged with a gambling crime and may be slapped with significant penalties that may result in some serious repercussions. In these kinds of scenarios, knowing your rights and the gambling laws of your state can spell the difference between a safe trip home and a one-way ticket to prison.

States such as Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey have already begun offering legal USA online gambling, and many more states will soon follow. You will not be prosecuted for betting at an offshore online casino. You cannot run your own online casino in the United States, and betting at US-based online casinos varies by state laws. Jan 02, 2020 Social gambling is legal in the state of Washington (Section 9.46.0265). You’ll see repeated references to “professional gambling” in Washington State law. Despite what the term might suggest to you, under Washington law it refers to involvement in the business or operational side of illegal gambling – not gambling professionally.

The laws related to gambling are not only important for those involved in the industry operating such games like poker, bingo, and other casino-type games, but also for all those regular Joes who want to know whether he or she can start a fantasy football league, a home poker game, or an NCAA tournament betting pool at the workplace.

The words “gamble” and “gambling” are generally used to discuss an activity that may run afoul of applicable criminal laws. The word “gaming” is usually reserved for those instances where the activity has been specifically legalized by applicable laws or where the activity is exempted from the criminal laws. Thus, playing a casino-style game at a for-profit website online in the United States is referred to as gambling, since no state has yet to finalize any gambling law that specifically authorizes a for-profit website operator to offer any casino games.

The two words are not mutually exclusive. That is, a gaming activity could turn out to be gambling where applicable laws regulating that particular gaming are violated. Similarly, a gambling activity may turn out to be gaming if it is exempted from a given criminal statute. For example, playing a card game for money in a purely social setting where no one earns anything from the game other than as a mere player would be gaming if such social games were excluded from the reach of the criminal anti-gambling laws in the state where the game takes place.

The Spread of Legalized US Gambling

Decades ago, gambling used to be illegal almost in every part of the continental US, again, except for Nevada and New Jersey. However, as time flew by, more and more states have made various types of gambling legal, ranging from Indian casinos, bingo and poker rooms, off-track horse race betting, and more. While some states have approved certain types of gambling, there are other types that have remained “illegal”, so to speak, like online gambling. In fact, almost all states have laws that ban at least some form of gambling.

Gaming and gambling in the United States have undergone a great boom. During the past decade, most states have expanded legalized gaming, including regulated casino-style games and lotteries. There has been an explosion in opening Native American casinos. The popularity of online gambling and betting has increased exponentially.

Online Gambling in the USA

Online gambling has been more stringently regulated by the US government. Some of the federal laws that encompass online gambling include the Federal Act Wire of 1961 and the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) of 2006. The former outlaws interstate wagering on sports but fails to address the other forms of gambling. The latter did not specifically ban online gaming, however, it disallowed US-based payment processors from participating in any financial transactions involving online gaming services. These rigid regulations made most online gaming operators decide to move their businesses offshore where they can be left untouched by US federal laws.

It may seem that the United States has been very slow when it comes to reacting to online gambling. In fact, when online gambling sites started appearing in the early ‘90s, there were not even any legal guidelines set in place to regulate the operations of these sites, even though their services are easily accessed by US-based players.

This, however, changed in the year 2006, when then-US President George Bush signed the Safe Ports Act – a law that had a section that made it illegal for US banking institutions to allow their customers to send money to gambling sites offshore.

The fact is, before 2006, any US resident could quite easily gamble online for real money by using any of their US-issued debit or credit cards to fund their accounts. Then again, when the aforementioned law took effect on that year, all US banking institutions were legally required to block all these types of payments, making it extremely difficult for US-based players to fund their online gaming bankroll.

As the years have gone by, many US States have started to look at online gambling sites, and several of them have placed their own robust sets of regulations that will allow gambling sites located in certain US states to operate legally after applying for and being granted a gambling license, but only within state boundaries.

There are still a lot of websites offering casino-type games that are located offshore that accommodate US-based players, though. However, sending and requesting money from those sites might take some time and in doing such, players are encouraged to exercise extra vigilance in checking where the gambling site of their choosing is licensed and regulated before they start playing, because they will have very little protection should they encounter any kind of issues or problems with an unlicensed and offshore gambling website.

The topic of United States gambling online is a complex one, and sorting through the mixture of information out there is no easy task. Between the misinformation and constant changes in the online gambling landscape for US players, finding accurate and up to date information can present its own challenges. So when its all said and done, players don’t want to have to sort through hundreds of pages of confusing legal jargon found in state or federal statutes to determine if its legal for them to enjoy Internet gambling. To be honest, who would want to do that? And if you did do that, would any of it make sense anyhow?

Well our team felt up to the task, and while we are not lawyers, we have done the research using reliable sources to get the information players are painstakingly looking for. We’ve presented our findings in an easy to follow format so that you don’t need a law degree to interpret the facts. As experienced gamblers ourselves, we felt it was important to offer clear and concise data that allows players to really understand the US gambling online industry and thereby make informed decisions regarding their game play. Nobody really enjoys a gaming session if they are worried the entire time that they may be ‘caught’ doing something illegal. Allow us to clear the air and present the facts so that you know where you stand as a U.S.A. player concerning the legality of online gambling in the United States.

Is Online Gambling Legal In The US?

Yes. No. Maybe so? Honestly, there is not a simple yes or no answer. Some states have already legalized USA online gambling and are in the process of engineering their Internet gambling structure and regulatory processes. Some states have not been brave enough to go there yet, and other than the UIGEA, no recent federal legislation has offered much influence concerning the US’ position on the industry. Now when we say that some states have already legalized it, we are talking about US based online gambling that is regulated by state government. This does not affect the legality of non-USA based online gambling brands which accept American players.

Part of the confusion regarding the legal aspects of USA gambling online is the recent seizure and investigation of the DOJ into several online poker rooms. This was directed towards specific brands due to how they handled the financial elements of their businesses. The investigation was not directed at any individual players, and no players have been targeted for any type of punishment of any kind. The 2006 UIGEA federal bill affected the banking procedures when it comes to online gambling, and hence operations which were recently found to not adhere to these regulations in some form or fashion were investigated and/or targeted. You can learn more about the transaction restrictions put in place by the UIGEA below.

We said all that to say this: it has not been and is not now illegal for players from the United States to participate in online gambling. The question of legality comes in the form of where the operation is based, and if they adhere to banking regulations. These restrictions and regulations on the banking procedures did drive some prominent brands from the US market, but not because they were forced out, they simply chose not to deal with the complexities that the statute added to the equation. The brands that stayed are for the most part US friendly online gambling sites which are based and regulated outside of US borders.

Top Rated Legal USA Online Gambling Sites

What Is The 2006 UIGEA Law And How Does It Affect American Gamblers?

The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) is a piece of federal legislation that became law back in 2006. Many players are under the misconception that this statute made it illegal for US players to participate in online gambling. That is not the case at all. The law placed restrictions and regulatory procedures on the banking practices of the industry, particularly credit card transactions, which dictate certain policies regarding online gambling transactions and how they can be processed. The law does not address players in any way, and investigations of any infractions of this statute are directed towards online gambling brands and not the players.

The largest impact that the 2006 UIGEA legislation had on USA players was in selection of both US online gambling sites and online payment solutions for funding your Internet gaming sessions. The passing of this law / statute did temporarily cause a reduction in the range of options available to players in the U.S.A. However we have already seen many brands that ran for cover return to the US market, with more joining them all the time. With the legalization of online gambling taking place in multiple states even as we write this, we expect to see many more brands returning now that the political climate is growing a little warmer to the concept.

When Can We Expect Online Gambling To Be Legal Everywhere In The United States?

With federal efforts moving very slowly and hitting many roadblocks along the way, the individual states have began taking it upon themselves to determine if online gambling is something that they’d like to see happen in their respective territories, giving birth to locally based USA online gambling sites. Many states wisely see the financial benefits, with billions of dollars already being spent in the industry by American players each year. These states have already got efforts underway to incorporate this thriving industry into their own state budgets. Some states are watching and waiting to see what happens. Many prominent land based gambling brands are positioning themselves to offer online gambling, ready to flip the switch as soon as the infrastructure is in place. Its an exciting time for the industry, and its only going to get better.

As we wait and watch for things to really start happening in Internet gambling for these states, there are some trusted, secure, and rewarding US gambling online options which are regulated outside of the US, but that welcome players from the United States. You’ll find information about those sites throughout this guide, which will enable you to avoid the undesirable options (which can be dangerous), and instead land at the safest sites which pride themselves on offering a high quality experience with the proper security protocols in place, and some really nice bonus offers to entice you to take a closer look at them.

Are There Any USA Online Gambling Options Available To Me Now?

There are a number of US friendly online gambling sites available to players. These sites are located and regulated outside of the United States. We have featured multiple options throughout this guide in an effort to direct players to the safest and most trusted brands in the business. We have verified the legitimacy of each of them in regards to licensing and fair game play regulatory oversight, as well as the overall quality of the gambling experience that each brand offers. You’ll find some key information on each of them, including any current welcome bonuses or promotions being offered. You can find this information on the individual state pages or the primary USA gaming pages located in the menu box on the top right portion of this page. Below you will see our featured online gambling site for American players.

If you’d like to take a look at the actual state statutes regarding gambling, please visit our page on Legal US Gambling, which provides links to the laws for each individual state.

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USA Online Casinos – This section was developed for players who are wanting to learn more about legal US friendly online casinos, and just how much access American players have to these brands. We have created a comprehensive guide that provides answers to players, and one click access for those who are looking for the best options in the online casino arena that are legal, safe, and rewarding.

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What States Are Online Gambling Illegal In Illinois

USA Online Sportsbooks – Sports fans will be able to obtain valuable information concerning the legality and availability of online sports betting. We’ve presented concise information to enable players to make informed decisions regarding their participation in sportsbook wagering, as well as some secure recommendations for those moving forward with their betting action.

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Legal Online Gambling – With all the recent changes taking place in the online gambling arena, finding legal online gambling sites can be a bit on the tricky side for USA players. This was the motivation behind creating this entire guide which has been designed to serve as a map in navigating the world of online gambling legally and securely. Here you will find the information you need to find your way through this sometimes confusing platform, as well as access to the most recent laws and statutes governing online gambling in each individual states.

Online Gambling Laws – For those USA gamblers interested in finding out what the gambling laws are in their state, we’ve created this section which lists pertinent gambling law information that is state specific. While we recommend you contact an expert for a detailed interpretation of any laws or regulations, this section will provide you with the basics to gaining an understanding for the gambling laws in your state.

What States Are Online Gambling Illegal In Texas

USA Live Dealer Casinos – We have recently found a USA friendly live dealer casino. Until now, this gaming platform has only been available to non-US players. We are very excited to see the online gambling landscape expanding for players from the United States and we’re pretty sure this is just the beginning.