Several things have changed in the United States gambling industry regulations in recent years. Some gaming and gambling activities previously illegal are now legal in some states. This article will give you an overview of the US gambling laws in 2022 to keep you abreast of the recent changes.
You will get a lowdown of the states where gambling is legal and where it is not. Further, we’ll walk you through some legal aspects of the US gambling laws, such as the legal gambling age and the legal status of online casinos, including bitcoin casino sites.
Is Gambling Legal in the United States?
Decades ago, it was illegal to gamble in most of the states in the US. However, after the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) 2006 and the revocation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, most states passed legislation supporting one or more forms of gambling.
The United States has no central regulatory body overseeing gambling, so each state has statutory bodies saddled with this responsibility. Below, we’ll give you a picture of the US states that frown upon gambling and those where you can gamble legally.
Which US states allow gambling?
As of the time of writing this post, 80% of US states have legalized some form of gambling. While some states support sports betting, bingo, physical casinos, online casinos, and many more, other states only support one or two forms of gambling.
For instance, Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates sports betting, poker, and horse racing. However, the board is yet to approve the bitcoin casino sites. Likewise, sports betting and lottery are legal in Florida, while online gambling is illegal.
Other states that support some gambling activities and restrict others include Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
On the flip side, the US states where all forms of gambling, including online gambling, sports betting, lottery, and online casinos, are legal are Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, and Michigan. Others are New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhodes Island, and West Virginia.
Which US states are gambling illegal?
Although more and more US states are embracing gambling, Utah and Hawaii disapprove of all forms of gambling. This restriction is linked to the large population of Mormons, a religious group that considers gambling sinful in the state. So, if you are a resident of Utah or Hawaii, you will have to travel out of the state to partake in any form of gambling, whether online casinos, sports betting, bingo, or lottery.
Other aspects of US gambling laws
To be sure you are gambling legally in the US, you must familiarise yourself with some essential aspects of US gambling regulations. Some of these aspects are:
- Legal gambling age
The legal gambling age in the United States differs from state to state. For instance, the legal gambling age in New York and Montana is 18, while it is 21 in states like Delaware and Colorado. However, the legal age ranges from 18 – 21 years across all the states.
- The legal status of gambling companies
There are myriad options when it comes to gambling in the US. Many casinos, sportsbooks, and more are springing up every now and then. However, before you wager on any of these sites, you must confirm that it is licensed and regulated by your state’s gambling and gaming regulatory body.
- Language and currency
The accepted currency in the US gambling industry is US dollars, and the language on most sites is English. Nonetheless, some betting companies have websites that give bettors the option to change the language to what they prefer.
Changes to expect before the end of 2022
As the year draws to an end, we expect more US states to review their current gambling regulations and expand them to capture more gambling activities.
There is obviously pent-up demand for sports betting, online casinos, and more across the country. States that refuse to take advantage of this trend will lose revenue to other states or countries.
Bottom Line
Gambling is legal in almost all the states in the United States, except Utah and Hawaii. Each state has its regulatory body and makes its gambling regulations. As a bettor, you must find out which gambling activities are legal in your state before partaking in them. Overall, we believe more US states will expand their gambling laws to cover more gambling activities, so they can capture the revenue they are already losing to offshore bingo companies, casinos, and sportsbooks.