Gambling laws are not regulated on a federal level, instead each state can decide how to regulate it, whether in the real world or online. The states are catching on to the fact that gambling is an enormous revenue generator. The number of regulated online casinos, poker sites and sportsbooks is growing steadily, but it will take some time before the whole country has access to them.
It takes some time for laws to catch up to new technology, and this is largely what happened with legalized online gambling in the US. During the 2000s, online casinos and gambling websites proliferated in an unregulated environment, and millions of dollars were wagered every day. However, in 2011, the Justice Department indicted PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker for violating the UIGEA and ushered in a period of regulation.
As the regulated online gambling market matured, many of the largest operators began to open their doors to US residents. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both launched regulated online casinos in 2013, while Delaware added sports betting to its repertoire of online gambling offerings the following year.
Despite a shaky start, the online casino industry has been very successful. These platforms have created a great deal of jobs, and they provide tax revenues for the states in which they operate. In the US, there are twenty-four states that offer some form of regulated online gambling.
In the past few years, a handful of states have passed legislation to legalize iGaming, including Connecticut, Michigan and Pennsylvania. New York and Indiana both have bills in the works that could eventually bring them on board as well.
Online casino gaming is a convenient way to enjoy the thrill of the casino without having to go out of your home. The games are played over the internet and players can play them on desktop computers, laptops or mobile devices. They also have access to a wide range of bonuses and rewards that are not available at brick-and-mortar casinos, such as free spins, deposit match bonuses and bonus cash.
Currently, there are two regulated online casinos in the state of Connecticut, both of which are operated by FanDuel and DraftKings. This is a result of partnerships with the state’s two tribal casinos. It is not clear when the other two online casinos in the state will launch, but they are expected to do so in the near future.
The Pine Tree State became the first state to legally allow sports betting online when Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 585 in April 2022. The state will soon follow suit with the launch of online lottery games and an expected rollout of iGaming in 2023.