When it comes to United States Online Gambling Laws, the water is a little bit ‘murky’ to say the least. There has been some legislation put in place which restricts credit card use in regards to online gambling transactions, however specific directives prohibiting online gambling at large are not in place that span the United States as a whole. This fact is actually one of the motivations for this site. It quickly became clear that the individual states were going to need to address how they feel about online gambling within their own borders.

Most USA gambling enthusiasts don’t have a problem with the ‘states’ rights’ approach on the topic as it is likely to lend more viability to a variety of solutions, allowing the people in each state to have a voice in the matter. While this may not guarantee that online gambling will be legal in every corner of the United States in years to come, it does make it more likely that those people who want access to it will have the opportunity to keep it or make it legal where they reside. Likewise, it gives those opposed a voice in rejecting the venue. After all, this is the American way. But when it comes to down brass tacks in the here and now, there are no United States online gambling laws which completely prohibit it. The many ‘gray’ areas and non-specific language have left the real focus on payment methods, and not the actual participation in online gambling itself.

Below you will find a listing of our favorite online casinos which adhere to USA Online Gambling Laws while providing a safe, secure, exhilarating and rewarding online gambling experience. They have all been examined by a team of highly trained online gambling experiences who know precisely what to look for when determining the value and legitimacy of any online gambling site. You will also find information on their current bonus offers to help you get the most bang for your buck!

Gambling Laws By State

Bovada accepts players from all other states, except Maryland. (source, section 2.3) (Probably Bovada can't get licensed in the three legal states because Bovada takes players from the rest of the U.S., where online gambling is usually banned by state law, and the some legal states don't want to sanction a rogue casino. The legality of online gambling in the US functions on a state-by-state basis. That means that each of the 50 states has the legal power to regulate gambling laws within its territory. Some states are very strict when it comes to gambling activities (Utah and Hawaii), while others have much looser laws (Nevada and New Jersey). In other words, despite the UIGEA’s language, individual players are not liable for breaking any laws pertaining to online gambling. There is one more law that encompasses online gambling on a federal level, and this is the Wire Act of 1961.

USA Gambling Laws

The Federal Wire Act – This US federal laws was passed in 1961 to target illegal gambling operations being run by organized crime syndicates. The law has now been applied to Internet gambling and effectively prohibits US based online sports betting. This section of our guide provides insight into the application of this law and how it affected online gambling in the United States.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) – This law was passed in the early 90s as an effort to curtail the expansion of legal sports betting in the US. It effectively banned physical sportsbook businesses across the country. There are four states that were exempted from the restrictions of this law, including Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. On May 14, 2018, PASPA was ruled to be unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, who lifted the ban on US based sports betting. This page of our website provides insight into PASPA and the states that are challenging the constitutionality of it.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) – This law really has nothing to do with gamblers themselves, but rather is directed at gambling business operators and payment processors. This laws does not prohibit any type of online gambling and was passed to provide regulatory oversight concerning gambling related transactions and how they are processed. This page will explain the intent and application of this law and how it impacts the US gambling market.

Popular USA Online Gambling Sections

USA Online Casinos – Specifically for USA online gambling enthusiasts who love an exciting casino gaming experience that is also safe, secure, and delivers the optimal gaming platform performance, we have developed this section to ensure you have all the information you need to engage in an online casino gambling opportunity that exceeds your expectations!

USA Online Poker – Online poker has become incredibly popular over the last few years, and has become one of the most successful online gambling venue out there. We have developed a guide specifically for the discerning poker enthusiast who refuses to compromise on the quality of their poker game platform, and who demands a standard of excellence from their preferred USA online poker sites.

USA Online Sportsbooks – All sports betting buffs will love this section that highlights information information regarding the USA online sportsbook industry, as well as provides one click access to the top USA online sportsbooks on the Web!

USA Online Bingo – If its the thrills and frills of online bingo you seek, then this USA online bingo guide will become your most valuable resource for finding the highest quality, most riveting, and most rewarding online bingo action out there!

Is Online Casino Legal In Us

Legal Online Gambling – Get all the information you need to enjoy Legal Online Gambling, whether your gaming preferences lie with casino games, poker, sports betting, or bingo – we’ve got you covered by providing information on the best legal USA online gambling sites.

Online Gambling Laws – Get the 411 surrounding online gambling laws for your state. Find out which online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, or bingo halls are available for you to enjoy an exhilarating online gambling experience that is also legal!!

If you read a lot about gaming, you probably see advice telling you to gamble more online. I have given this advice myself because there’s really no better way to get a lot of games in quickly, gain experience, test yourself in tournaments, etc.

In fact, playing online poker is always widely regarded as one of the best ways to start earning serious poker income if you want to go pro.

There’s only one small problem with this particular piece of advice—online gambling is still either operating in a legal gray area or flat out illegal. If you don’t know your local laws, there’s a very good chance you could end up doing something that’s a crime with a very easy-to-follow paper trail.

The good news is that online gambling is getting legalized in more places all the time, and many states offer some sort of online gaming. Still, there are better and worse states across the United States when it comes to allowing online gambling.

It is my understanding (in other words, the understanding of a non-lawyer) that any game that doesn’t involve money is fair game. You can play as much video poker or roulette or whatever as long as you’re not wagering money.

Areas where you pay money to earn virtual currency that you can’t then cash out also appear to be legal as a few sites (like WSOP.com) appear to operate on this basis. Again, I am not a lawyer. Please feel free to contact a gaming law professional within your area for more specific information.

Is Online Gaming Illegal in the US?

No. Yes… Maybe?

There seems to be a lot of back and forth on the topic on whether it is illegal to play poker or table games at online casinos. (The matter of sports betting is far more certain as all parties agree that betting on sports is illegal in places unless it is specifically allowed.)

Still, there are several very good opinions about online gaming that generally boil down to the argument that there is nothing that specifically disallows one from gaming online. This is especially true if the casino is hosted outside the US.

On the other hand, the FBI has a very well-stated opinion on their site that says online gambling with real money is completely illegal and goes on to show that people have been arrested for it. This article, though dated in 2007, is a pretty strict warning to avoid online gambling.

Again, I’m not a lawyer, but I would never advise one to go against what the FBI said, even if it was in 2007. This is doubly true because a search of FBI.gov does not show that the 2007 opinion was reversed and, in fact, does show arrests for activities outside of online gaming. Therefore, you take your freedom in your own hands if you carelessly gamble online.

With that said, there are plenty of exceptions to whether you can or cannot gamble online, and they vary by state.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania Are the Best States for Online Play

Of the three categories of online gambling activities (casino, poker, and sportsbooks), if you live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you have room to celebrate. Your online gambling laws are the most lenient in the country, and you can do all three. More than likely, it won’t be long until more states adopt this attitude, but for now, these states are the most open to letting you gamble from your own home.

Delaware, Nevada, West Virginia, &, Rhode Island Have Online Gambling Options

If living in New Jersey or Pennsylvania is not an option for you right now, there are other states that openly allow some combination of the three major online gaming activities. Delaware will allow you to both frequent an online casino and play poker online.

West Virginia and Rhode Island also allow online sportsbook betting, making them one of a very few number of states to allow sports betting. Strangely enough, Nevada, a state that has counties with legalized prostitution and legalized recreational marijuana will only let you play poker online. They want you to visit in-person casinos for your table games. Nevada sportsbooks do offer online betting through land-based sportsbooks and their respective apps.

Some States Operate in a Gray Area

If you don’t live in one of the states mentioned above, it’s time to start asking around to see what is and isn’t legal. (By the way, don’t just blindly trust the internet on this matter. If you have any concerns, always seek out a legal gaming professional with a real understanding of the law.)

With that said, a lot of state laws are strange or poorly worded when it comes to online gambling. For instance, both Kansas and Missouri have laws that generally fail to mention online gambling. Given how old some state constitutions are, this is hardly surprisingly. Still, both have laws that deal with gambling, though they focus on specific areas (for Missouri, riverboats; in Kansas, lotteries and moral crime).

Therefore, as concerned citizens, each of us has to ask themselves whether it makes sense to try gambling online. There are a lot of sites that preach a doctrine of whatever is not addressed specifically is legal.

For instance, according to K.S.A. 21-6404 of the Kansas Statutes, gambling, which is partially defined as “making a bet” is a class B nonperson misdemeanor. In other words, it’s a crime. So, while the Kansas Constitution doesn’t specifically call out online gambling as being illegal, it does say making a bet is a misdemeanor.

There’s likely an argument that a good lawyer can make in this case, which would somehow show that online gambling is not covered under those statutes. That’s for good lawyers and courtrooms to decide.

What it really boils down to is what the police or federal agents think when they decide if they are going to make an arrest, what the district attorney thinks when they decide to prosecute, and what the judge thinks when they hear the case. If that’s acceptable to you, then you can make that choice. However, online gambling is not for everyone.

Plus, Pennsylvania is apparently a really nice place to live and all online activities are legal there.

Best Bet: Find a Casino or a Non-Cash Site

Because I’m not a lawyer, I can’t tell you that anywhere in the United States is legal to gamble except the states mentioned above. Even then, I would argue that you should check to make sure laws haven’t changed.

As always, while playing poker or casino games online is fun, there are ways you can do it and not get in trouble with the law at all. When it comes to playing games for money, your best bet is to head out to a licensed, reputable casino offshore and play there. It’s a little more work and requires a little more planning, but it’s legal.

Is Online Casino Legal In Usa

Why Is Gambling’s Legality Even an Issue?

This is a good question, though one that’s shrouded in a lot of history. First, gambling in general has often been made illegal because it is an affront to “morality laws” which state the gambling leads to general bad behavior.

There are also a number of non-moral reasons for making gambling illegal, including protecting people from losing all their money on bets or falling into gambling addiction. Plus, physical casinos are notorious for money laundering. Online casinos have even less transparency.

There is some validity to this, too, though making it legal to operate an online casino from inside the US (and regulating and taxing it) would solve a lot of these problems.

Conclusion

Is Online Gambling Legal In Us

It is a little hard to draw a conclusion on the matter of online gaming in the United States. It seems strange that just about everywhere has some sort of legalized gambling outside the home, but few methods for gambling online.

Still, for now, this is the situation in which gamblers find themselves. There are a few places which clearly welcome online gamblers to peruse their hobby in some form. For most of the country, though, the online gambling is a gray area in which there is no specific law against gambling. There’s also plenty of general laws that prevent it.

In the end, the best policy is to hit a casino and lobby your Congresspeople to change laws. That keeps you out of hot water and playing the games you love so well.