Whether or not online slot gambling is legal depends on state law, which is set by each individual state. States determine what kinds of gambling they allow within their borders, where the games can be played, and who may gamble. They also set the minimum gambling age, with some requiring the same age for all types of gambling, while others vary by activity. The legal status of online slots is changing rapidly as many states are moving toward allowing them, while others have not yet done so.
Online gambling has become a massive industry that is only now beginning to take hold in the United States. In the past, it was illegal in most places, but in the early 1990s, the World Wide Web allowed site operators to circumvent government regulations and prohibitions by simply establishing a business in a jurisdiction that allowed them. This created a loophole that the federal government eventually closed. But the legality of online gambling is constantly being debated, especially after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018.
In the 2021 legislative session, several bills were introduced to make online casino gambling legal in Idaho, but none made it through the entire process. However, the state still has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country, and online casinos are unlikely to be legalized any time soon.
Hawaii is another state where it’s impossible to gamble legally. In addition to being banned from launching online casinos, sports betting is also prohibited in the state. The only way to play gambling games online in Hawaii is to join a foreign site that accepts players from the state.
There are a few more states where it’s not legal to play real money casino games online, including Alabama, California, and Utah. But despite these bans, the majority of online casinos have no problem accepting American players. Many sites use tools like geofencing to detect a player’s location and only serve them content that is legal in their jurisdiction.
Unlike sports betting, which was quickly adopted by most states, the legalization of online casinos and poker took much longer. New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada were the first to launch online casinos and poker sites back in 2013, but it was a year before Pennsylvania joined the party.
And it was only in 2019 that West Virginia finally began offering iGaming to its residents. In addition to these states, Iowa has been a holdout when it comes to legalizing casino games online. But it seems that the Hawkeye State is finally considering passing legislation to open up its virtual doors in 2023.