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These are the big picture laws that have an impact across all fifty states. Federal laws set the general tone for gambling, but tend not to be too specific in nature.

State betting laws impact things on the state level and cover everything not already covered by federal gambling laws. State laws tend to be more specific in nature as they fill in the gaps left by federal law. This is why, for example, when PASPA a federal law was in effect, states had no option to legalize and regulate sports betting.

After PASPA was stricken down, states gained the ability to legalize sports betting if they choose. Some states have since chosen to legalize, regulate, and tax sports betting. In other states, sports betting is still prohibited by state law. State laws also tend to deal with the nitty gritty details of gambling regulation.

This is where state gambling commissions come into play and spell out all the rules for legal forms of gambling within each state. It is state law that determines things such as accepted business hours for casinos, how quickly winning sports wagers must be paid and so on.

This all goes to explain why we have a page dedicated to the betting laws of every US state. The laws and legal forms of gambling vary from state to state. Overall, the general tone in the United States today is drifting to a more accepting view of gambling.

No states have moved to clamp down on gambling to any major degree in recent years, but many states have instead chosen to expand legal gambling options for their citizens.

As new developments take place in the US, we will update our state-by-state pages to keep you informed and up to date. Individual states now have the right to legalize and regulate sports betting as they see fit. This is a fairly recent development because for years, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act PASPA prevented all but four states from authorizing sports betting.

Of those four states, only Nevada had a complete exemption allowing true, single-game sports betting. Beyond that, no state was allowed any form of sports betting. That all changed in May of when the Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional and struck it down in its entirety.

The removal of PASPA did not automatically legalize sports betting across the nation, though. Each state must now alter its own laws to bring sports betting back into play. Lawmakers in three dozen states have introduced legislation seeking to legalize and regulate sports betting.

To date, the following states have passed laws and either already have sportsbooks in operation or will soon. We will update this list and cover the latest legislative actions across the United States as more states legalize sports betting,. This page describes what types of wagers are legal right now , along with a preview of things to come based on legal issues playing out in legislatures across the country.

Federal law largely leaves the regulation of online horse racing betting to the states. Some states expressly prohibit horse racing betting in all its forms, but most either passively allow the activity or have laws on the books to regulate in-person and online horse racing betting.

Furthermore, exemptions written into federal gambling laws allow horse racing betting operators that are licensed in one state to offer their services in other states provided the activity is legal in both jurisdictions. As a result, a handful of operators run by well-known brands in the horse racing industry offer their services across most of the country.

The confounding factor in all of this is that the law in many states is outdated and unclear on the legality of online horse racing betting, leaving it up to individual operators to interpret the law in each state and determine whether or not they are comfortable offering their services there.

As a result, not all horse racing betting sites are active in all states. Readers can visit each state page on BettingUSA for up to date legal information where they live and a list of safe, legal betting sites that are available in that state.

The daily fantasy sports DFS industry has received carveouts from federal anti-gambling laws that result in the activity being regulated primarily at the state level.

The legality of online DFS was unclear in the majority of US states during the early years of the DFS boom, but much progress has been made on the legislative front since then. Today, most states have laws on the books that specifically legalize and regulate DFS operators.

A small number of states still prohibit the activity, but most states have either passed legislation to regulate fantasy sports sites or permit DFS under existing law. Sports fans can read more about the legality of DFS in each state, as well as see which fantasy sports sites are active in each state, here:.

The Federal Wire Act prohibited online casinos and poker nationwide until because the Department of Justice interpreted the law as applicable to all forms of online gambling. As a result, no US state had the authority to legalize online poker or casino sites, even if they passed legislation to do so.

That changed after lottery officials in New York and Illinois asked the Department of Justice to issue guidance regarding their plans to begin selling online lottery tickets. The Department of Justice responded in with a memorandum stating it has reinterpreted the Wire Act as only applying to sports betting.

Several states have since jumped on the opportunity to legalize, regulate, and tax online casino games and poker. States that allow online gambling online casino games, online poker, or both include:.

Unlike sports betting, the legalization of online casinos and online poker in the US has been a slow grind. Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey became the first legal online gambling states in , when each launched online casinos, poker sites, or both.

Since then, only four other states have legalized online poker and gambling: Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. With online poker and online casino legislation, progress is about small victories, and the hope is that at least one of these states will pass legislation authorizing online gambling in the next 12 months:.

The authorization of online lottery products predates sports betting and online poker and casino by several years, with an important caveat: The first online lotteries were subscription-based. More than a dozen states have legal online lottery sales to some degree.

Some states now sell a full range of lottery products online, including access to instant win games and keno along with tickets to all drawing games. Other states limit online purchases to subscriptions for draw games. Interestingly, it was the push to legalizing online lotteries that led to states gaining the authority to regulate online casino games and poker as well.

In , lottery officials from Illinois and New York requested an opinion from the Department of Justice on whether or not their plans to legalize online lottery sales would violate the Federal Wire Act.

BETMGM Long known for its resorts and casinos, BetMGM also offers a mobile sportsbook app for all your favorite sports betting games, including all major and professional sports. The BetMGM Online Sports Betting app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.

CAESARS Another well-known brick-and-mortar brand with glitzy properties from Atlantic City to Las Vegas, the Caesars Sportsbook app offers hundreds of ways to bet like a Caesar. The Caesars Sportsbook app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.

BET Well-known for sports betting in the UK, bet has made its entrance into the US with a sports betting app that offers a wide range of sports and bets in select states. The bet Sports Betting app is available in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.

Additionally, in-person sports betting is available in Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.

Here's a state-by-state breakdown of where the country stands on sports gambling, as of June And remember, if you live in a state where sports gambling is legal, check out SportsLine for expert predictions.

The state has proposed multiple bills, including one in , but all have been shot down. Alabama currently doesn't have any commercial casinos. In , the state put legalizing sports betting under consideration and Gov.

Mike Dunleavy even showed support for the bill. However, the COVID pandemic put an end to its consideration and the bill ended up expiring in May Sports betting became legal on April 15, The legislation in place permits 20 operators in Arizona.

First official sportsbook launched in July and first online sportsbook launched in February Betting on in-state professional and collegiate teams is permitted. California : Not legal. There were two major propositions on the November ballot that could have legalized sports betting in California, one to legalize in-person sports betting and the other to legalize online sports betting.

Both propositions broke spending records and had active ad campaigns, but both were heavily voted down by Californians. It is not known at this time if the topic of legal California sports betting will be brought back up in Colorado became the 19th state to legalize betting and as of May 1, multiple operators allowed residents to open accounts online and place wagers.

There are restrictions involving in-state college games: Betting on game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited. In the election, Colorado expanded both the number and type of casino games it is able to offer.

The state also eliminated some wagering limits. Delaware launched legal sports betting in less than a month after the Supreme Court's decision.

Online sports betting is legal, although there are no in-state online sportsbooks. All betting on in-state collegiate teams is prohibited. Florida : It's complicated. Sports betting in Florida was legalized for only three weeks in before a judge ruled that an agreement between the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida was illegal.

In June , a D. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision that had blocked regulated sports betting in the state. After a series of hearings, the tribe was allowed to continue and announced a limited "test" of Hard Rock Bet in early-November to Florida customers.

Since then, an urgent request has been filed to shut down mobile sports betting in the state. How long customers will be allowed to bet legally in the state is uncertain. Georgia : Not legal. A group of Georgia lawmakers filed bills in January that would have legalized Georgia sports betting in the Peach State and wouldn't have needed to be voted on by Georgia residents.

But on March 6, , the Georgia Senate voted down multiple bills that would legalize sports betting in Georgia and the House failed to get legislation of their own voted on before the deadline for new bills passed. A bill was proposed in January of that would've allowed for the regulation of sports gambling through a newly-established corporation, but the bill was denied.

Legislation was passed in June to allow sports gambling, though in-state collegiate games will be off-limits under the new law. It will make gambling lawful in a variety of locations both in-person including at Wrigley Field and online.

Bets were allowed in the state as of March 9, Bets on collegiate games can only be placed in person, not online. Betting on in-state collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets are prohibited.

Wagering on pro and college sports became legal in September of with both mobile and in-person betting permitted at multiple locations. Betting on collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.

Iowa legalized sports gambling in , with multiple sites beginning to take bets at the end of that summer.

New Jersey Rhode Island Pennsylvania

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States that allow online gambling - Michigan New Jersey Rhode Island Pennsylvania

Other legal forms of gambling in Maine include the state lottery, charitable bingo, daily fantasy sports, sports betting within a tribal establishment as of , and poker within Hollywood Casino Bangor. Practically all forms of gambling are legal in Maryland. It has six casinos licensed to offer slots and table games, four poker rooms, a state lottery, bingo games, sports betting as of , and horse race betting.

Pari-mutuel wagers on horse races can be placed online, as well. Maryland gambling laws apply equally to operators and individual gamblers, although operators are charged with illegal gambling more often.

Gambling legislation in Massachusetts underwent a significant change in the previous decade, with the signing of the Expanded Gaming Act into law in The act allowed up to four casinos to be established in three regions in the state and created the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. More than 10 years later, a bill allowing sports betting in the state was signed into law, as well.

There are currently no laws regulating online gambling in the state, so it might be wise to err on the side of caution and access offshore gambling sites exclusively while outside state lines.

Michigan is one of a handful of states that allows online sports betting. Additionally, you may legally do the following in Michigan:. Michigan is well ahead of the curve when it comes to online gambling.

The state legalized online sports betting in , and the first legal online casinos launched in the state in early In Minnesota, licensed charitable gambling is allowed, such as bingo, pull-tabs, raffles, and the state lottery.

Outside of those, Minnesotans can place pari-mutuel wagers on horse races and participate in games of chance on tribal land. There are currently 19 tribal casinos in Minnesota operated by 11 federally recognized tribes. Missouri legalized some forms of gambling back in pari-mutuel horse racing betting and a state lottery , and has since continued on this path.

You can now legally participate and profit from riverboat casino gambling as well, or take part in charitable bingo, raffle, and sweepstakes games. Online gambling is illegal in Missouri; the most recent attempt to legalize it , part of a broader push to regulate sports betting in the state, has been shot down by the Senate.

Montana was the only state to expressly ban daily fantasy sports betting by phone or on the internet. It also addressed online gambling to avoid loopholes, making all online casinos even offshore options illegal. Casino-style gambling and sports betting, recently legalized in Nebraska , will probably become available in the state soon.

Other than that new addition, the following forms of gambling are allowed in the Cornhusker State:. Still, the laws are extremely accommodating for those who intend to establish gambling venues. However, that freedom comes at the price of harsh punishments for any form of illegal gambling.

Nevada gambling law envisages stringent fines for out-of-state betting and using offshore gambling sites within state lines. Casino-style gambling is legal statewide with no restriction on the types of games allowed. Slot machines of all types and sports betting are legal in Nevada as well, at licensed establishments in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the state.

Despite not having any commercial casinos, New Hampshire has a thriving charity gambling industry. Charity organizations can and do run poker rooms that are often confused for casinos.

Sports betting is also legal in New Hampshire, as long as it is conducted on the DraftKings mobile platforms. DraftKings currently retains exclusive control of New Hampshire sports betting.

New Jersey, known for its Atlantic City casinos, is one of the least restrictive states when it comes to gambling. As such, it boasts 22 licensed casinos, only nine of which are commercial casinos.

You can also engage in sports betting at nine brick-and-mortar locations in the state. Many sites offer online gambling in New Jersey. Daily fantasy sports were legalized in , but were then deemed unconstitutional, only to finally be fully legalized through the Court of Appeals.

Gambling in any form is mostly illegal in North Carolina. In fact, the only games of chance allowed are state lotteries, charitable bingo, and raffles. The only exception was a recently filed Senate bill that would allow tribal casinos to offer online gambling, but it failed on its second reading.

Specifically, there has been no precedent where someone was actually charged for using offshore gambling sites in this state. Ohio has a relatively outdated definition of gambling but still manages to maintain a well-regulated gaming industry.

In this state, you can participate in state lotteries, casino-style gambling at licensed casino locations, video lottery terminals at racinos, pari-mutuel betting on-site and at off-track facilities on horse racing, daily fantasy sports platforms, charity bingo events, and tag fishing tournaments operated with a permit.

You may be surprised that Oklahoma is second only to Nevada in the number of casinos. The state legalized tribal casinos in , and there are currently over of these establishments across its territory.

The casino industry exploded overnight and continues to grow. Most daily fantasy sports providers serve Oklahoma residents, but this sector is not clearly legalized via statute. Hosting unlicensed online gambling sites in Oregon is outlawed, and you can only participate in online gambling via state-sanctioned sites.

Pennsylvania made online gambling legal in through the Expanded Gaming Act, but you must gamble at licensed sites or sites partnered with licensed gambling providers in the state.

There are two full-service casinos in Rhode Island, authorized to offer slots and casino table games. Other than that, you may enjoy the following:.

There are no provisions for casino-style online gambling in Rhode Island, and nothing has been explicitly legalized, so accessing offshore sites from this state is certainly risky. All gambling in South Carolina is illegal, with the exception of the state lottery started in , charitable bingo, and raffles.

South Carolina legalized casino-style gambling on cruises only in Tennessee is another state with a comprehensive definition of gambling and an overall prohibitive attitude toward this activity.

It allows participation in its state lottery and charitable bingo, as well as DFS as of In , online sports betting became another legal form of playing. However, retail betting was not legalized, and this activity is limited to mobile betting apps.

All other forms of gambling are illegal, and there are no land-based casinos in the state. Although it prohibits gambling, Texas law makes exceptions for these activities :. Online gambling sites are illegal in Texas. Utah, along with Hawaii, outlaws all forms of gambling. Some companies offer daily fantasy sports betting to Utah residents, but it is not legalized.

Vermont experimented with many forms of gambling over the years. Online gambling remains unregulated and could thus lead to fines. However, no one has been prosecuted for using offshore gambling sites in the state as yet.

Virginia has recently legalized the operation of casinos within its borders, but none have been established as of yet. You can expect the first casino-style gambling locations to open in Virginia by Every other form of gambling is illegal, and according to the Washington State Gambling Commission , online gambling is a Class C felony in the state.

West Virginia legalized casinos in and is home to five land-based casinos, none of which are tribal. The state recently started regulating online gambling, and up to 15 online casinos can be active—three for each licensed land-based casino.

So, predictably, many people use offshore online casinos, but their use could constitute criminal activity in Wisconsin. No online casinos operate in Wyoming. You risk fines or criminal charges if you choose to use offshore gambling websites in Wyoming.

You can find anything from casino-style gambling to electronic lotteries in Puerto Rico. Notably, cockfighting was recently banned in Puerto Rico and remains one of the few illegal forms of gambling.

Gambling was prohibited in most of the US for a long time, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act of only enforced this. However, since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act PASPA , many states have been focusing on passing laws to capitalize on the billions of dollars of revenue that gambling especially online gambling generates.

And there are two main reasons for that:. That is, quite clearly, not true and gambling laws by state are more complex than that. For definitive information, contact the organization that regulates gambling in your state.

In most states, regulatory bodies are more interested in penalizing those who provide gambling services than those who engage in them. Having a long and complicated history, gambling laws will certainly continue to change over the years.

But with this comprehensive list, you never have to guess. Yes, gambling is legal under US federal law. Specifically, federal gambling laws do not prohibit the activity. Legal online betting is quickly becoming a reality in the United States. Most US states have had legal online horse racing betting for several years now, but more recently we are starting to see individual states legalize additional forms of online betting such as casino games, poker, daily fantasy sports and lotteries.

In , the Department of Justice issued a legal opinion that changed the way the federal government interprets the Wire Act of Essentially, what the Department of Justice opined was that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting, not to other forms of online gaming.

This decision ultimately made it possible for individual states to legalize and regulate new forms of online gaming.

New Jersey , Nevada and Delaware quickly got on board and legalized online casino games, online poker or both provided organizations seeking to organize such games are properly licensed and approved. Pennsylvania joined the party in and was followed by West Virginia in Michigan got on board in early with the launch of online sports betting, poker, and gambling.

Legal sports betting has expanded as well thanks to a Supreme Court decision striking down the federal prohibition. In addition to Nevada, we now have legal sports betting in Delaware , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , West Virginia , Mississippi and additional states since then.

The Department of Justice complicated things in with a sudden decision to go back to its pre interpretation of the Wire Act. Under the current opinion, the DOJ believes the Wire Act applies to all forms of gambling. The implications of the decision are unclear, but the decision has not stopped a growing number of states from taking up sports betting legislation.

For example, it may not be immediately clear what it means for gamblers in your state specifically when you read that the Supreme Court has stricken down the federal sports betting prohibition. In short, there are two sets of laws we must address in any discussion of sports betting or gambling.

First, there are federal betting laws that apply to all states across the nation. These are the big picture laws that have an impact across all fifty states. Federal laws set the general tone for gambling, but tend not to be too specific in nature. State betting laws impact things on the state level and cover everything not already covered by federal gambling laws.

State laws tend to be more specific in nature as they fill in the gaps left by federal law. This is why, for example, when PASPA a federal law was in effect, states had no option to legalize and regulate sports betting. After PASPA was stricken down, states gained the ability to legalize sports betting if they choose.

Some states have since chosen to legalize, regulate, and tax sports betting. In other states, sports betting is still prohibited by state law. State laws also tend to deal with the nitty gritty details of gambling regulation. This is where state gambling commissions come into play and spell out all the rules for legal forms of gambling within each state.

It is state law that determines things such as accepted business hours for casinos, how quickly winning sports wagers must be paid and so on. This all goes to explain why we have a page dedicated to the betting laws of every US state.

The laws and legal forms of gambling vary from state to state. Overall, the general tone in the United States today is drifting to a more accepting view of gambling.

No states have moved to clamp down on gambling to any major degree in recent years, but many states have instead chosen to expand legal gambling options for their citizens.

As new developments take place in the US, we will update our state-by-state pages to keep you informed and up to date. Individual states now have the right to legalize and regulate sports betting as they see fit.

This is a fairly recent development because for years, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act PASPA prevented all but four states from authorizing sports betting. Of those four states, only Nevada had a complete exemption allowing true, single-game sports betting.

Beyond that, no state was allowed any form of sports betting. That all changed in May of when the Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional and struck it down in its entirety.

The removal of PASPA did not automatically legalize sports betting across the nation, though. Each state must now alter its own laws to bring sports betting back into play. Lawmakers in three dozen states have introduced legislation seeking to legalize and regulate sports betting.

To date, the following states have passed laws and either already have sportsbooks in operation or will soon. We will update this list and cover the latest legislative actions across the United States as more states legalize sports betting,.

This page describes what types of wagers are legal right now , along with a preview of things to come based on legal issues playing out in legislatures across the country. Federal law largely leaves the regulation of online horse racing betting to the states. Some states expressly prohibit horse racing betting in all its forms, but most either passively allow the activity or have laws on the books to regulate in-person and online horse racing betting.

Furthermore, exemptions written into federal gambling laws allow horse racing betting operators that are licensed in one state to offer their services in other states provided the activity is legal in both jurisdictions. As a result, a handful of operators run by well-known brands in the horse racing industry offer their services across most of the country.

The confounding factor in all of this is that the law in many states is outdated and unclear on the legality of online horse racing betting, leaving it up to individual operators to interpret the law in each state and determine whether or not they are comfortable offering their services there.

As a result, not all horse racing betting sites are active in all states. Readers can visit each state page on BettingUSA for up to date legal information where they live and a list of safe, legal betting sites that are available in that state. The daily fantasy sports DFS industry has received carveouts from federal anti-gambling laws that result in the activity being regulated primarily at the state level.

The legality of online DFS was unclear in the majority of US states during the early years of the DFS boom, but much progress has been made on the legislative front since then. Today, most states have laws on the books that specifically legalize and regulate DFS operators.

A small number of states still prohibit the activity, but most states have either passed legislation to regulate fantasy sports sites or permit DFS under existing law. Sports fans can read more about the legality of DFS in each state, as well as see which fantasy sports sites are active in each state, here:.

The Federal Wire Act prohibited online casinos and poker nationwide until because the Department of Justice interpreted the law as applicable to all forms of online gambling. As a result, no US state had the authority to legalize online poker or casino sites, even if they passed legislation to do so.

That changed after lottery officials in New York and Illinois asked the Department of Justice to issue guidance regarding their plans to begin selling online lottery tickets.

The Department of Justice responded in with a memorandum stating it has reinterpreted the Wire Act as only applying to sports betting.

Several states have since jumped on the opportunity to legalize, regulate, and tax online casino games and poker.

States that allow online gambling online casino games, online poker, or both include:. Unlike sports betting, the legalization of online casinos and online poker in the US has been a slow grind. Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey became the first legal online gambling states in , when each launched online casinos, poker sites, or both.

Since then, only four other states have legalized online poker and gambling: Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. With online poker and online casino legislation, progress is about small victories, and the hope is that at least one of these states will pass legislation authorizing online gambling in the next 12 months:.

The authorization of online lottery products predates sports betting and online poker and casino by several years, with an important caveat: The first online lotteries were subscription-based. More than a dozen states have legal online lottery sales to some degree.

Some states now sell a full range of lottery products online, including access to instant win games and keno along with tickets to all drawing games. Other states limit online purchases to subscriptions for draw games. Interestingly, it was the push to legalizing online lotteries that led to states gaining the authority to regulate online casino games and poker as well.

In , lottery officials from Illinois and New York requested an opinion from the Department of Justice on whether or not their plans to legalize online lottery sales would violate the Federal Wire Act. The DOJ responded with an opinion in that had implications well beyond the legality of online lotteries.

Online gambling is legal in six US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Mobile sports betting is legal in 32 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.

Lawmakers in additional states are actively considering authorizing online sports betting. Online horse racing betting advance deposit wagering is available in more than three dozen states.

However, the exact legal status of advance deposit wagering is unclear in many states because their laws do not directly address the issue.

That said, most horse racing betting sites accept customers from 30 or more states. Online poker is legal in seven US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Twelve US states have passed legislation authorizing online lottery sales, and third-party lottery ticket couriers such as Jackpocket operate in up to 18 additional jurisdictions. Jackpocket and other services like it are actively expanding their reach as they confer with local regulators for approval.

Fantasy sports contests are explicitly legal in 24 states that have passed laws legalizing and regulating DFS providers.

States that allow online gambling - Michigan New Jersey Rhode Island Pennsylvania

Which states allow which forms of online gambling, however, vary. Only six states currently allow residents to gamble in online casinos for poker games. Those include. Thirty-five states, including Washington, D. These states include. New Mexico currently only allows in-person sports betting, but will likely launch online betting soon.

And Delaware currently has retail sports betting available, but is expected to legalize online sports gambling soon. Like online casinos, online lotteries are a lot less popular than online sports betting. The eight states that have online lotteries are. A number of other states offer lotteries, but you have to buy the tickets online, often using cash.

There are several states that are in the process of legalizing various forms of online gambling. States like Indiana and Maryland may soon legalize online casinos.

California may join the ranks of online gambling states, and Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Nevada may all introduce new forms of online gambling. But there are several states where online gambling remains illegal while in-person gambling is allowed.

Violating these laws could get you charged with a misdemeanor crime. If you are caught gambling online in one of these states, you could face time in jail or on probation. Even if your state has technically legalized online gambling, make sure those laws have gone into effect before placing your bets.

When New York and Illinois began selling lottery tickets online they wanted to make sure they were not violating any federal laws, so they asked the justice department for some guidance.

In , the Justice Department issued a memorandum stating that it had reinterpreted the Wire Act. At that time, they stated that the Wire Act would only apply to sports betting and not other types of gambling.

As a result, their interpretation opened the door to the vast majority of types of online gambling, which is why it is now legal in some states. Now, there are several states that have opened the door, realizing that there is an opportunity to take advantage of online gambling. A lot of states want to have online gambling because it makes it easier to regulate, reducing the chances of someone getting hurt while playing.

In addition, having online gambling available opens the door to additional tax revenue, which a lot of states desperately require.

Connecticut , Delaware , Michigan , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , and West Virginia all allow online casinos. Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania along with Nevada additionally allow for online poker games.

Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia give residents the option of online sports betting as well. Even though sports betting has been legalized very quickly in a lot of places across the country, the legalization of online casino games and online poker has been a bit slower.

Online poker and online casino games became legal in Nevada in New Jersey and Delaware quickly followed suit. With the absence of real-money online casino gambling, Arkansas allows social casinos often known as Sweepstakes casinos - free-to-play online sites that use a 'coin' based system for wagering instead of real money.

Social casinos provide the perfect chance for players to enjoy their favorite casino games in a free and legal way or to test out new games and playing strategies. Looking for the best social casinos? We recommend Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

In addition, poker fans can check out the free-to-play poker sites Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. The largest state in the US does not currently allow any form of online wagering, either on sports or casino games. This remains the case despite recent legislative efforts to legalize sports betting.

Land-based casinos are available in great numbers in California owing to The Golden State having the largest tribal casino count in the USA. Free casino games and slots are available to play online at social casinos in California.

Social casinos often known as Sweepstakes casinos are online casinos that are free-to-play, employing a system of 'coins' in place of real money for wagering. Social casinos are popular among players as they allow them to discover new slots and casino games and test out skills and strategies in a risk-free environment.

Our most highly recommended social casinos in California are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Our favorite free-to-play poker sites in California are Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Colorado does not allow online casino gaming. The state has permitted online sportsbooks since , but there are currently no plans to extend this to online casinos.

Despite the lack of online casinos, there are around 30 land-based casinos for players from The Centennial State to enjoy. Available in the absence of real-money online casino sites, social casinos often known as Sweepstakes casinos are popular and available to play in Colorado with a full range of casino games and slot games on offer.

Social casinos are free-to-play because they use a 'coin' based system rather than one that uses real currency.

This model is popular as it means players can play their favorite casino games for free. The best social casinos in Colorado are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

The best free-to-play poker sites in Colorado are Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Real money casino games and slots are available to play in Connecticut, being legalized in May alongside poker and sports betting. Social casinos use a 'coin' based system rather than real money to operate their casino games and slots.

They are popular among players for the free-to-play model, allowing players to try out new games or test new strategies with no risk attached. Our favorite social casinos in Connecticut in Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

The best free-to-play poker sites in Connecticut are Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. There are three online casinos available to players in The First State, which are online incarnations of Delawarian land casinos.

In addition to the real-money online casinos available in Delaware, social casinos often known as Sweepstakes casinos are also available to players who want to enjoy free-to-play casino games and slots. Unlike real money casinos, social casinos use a 'coin' based system instead of real currency on site.

This allows games and slots to be played with no risk attached, meaning new games and strategies can be tried without worrying about losing your cash.

Some of the best social casinos in Delaware include Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Our favorite free-to-play poker sites in Delaware are Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Florida does not allow real money online casinos, with any attempt to legalize online gambling experiencing strong pushback in the legislature.

Natives of The Sunshine State can take advantage of several tribal-operated land casinos in the absence of online gambling, which is unlikely to change soon. Happily, social casinos often known as Sweepstakes casinos are available in Florida!

Instead, social casinos use a 'coin' based model that eliminate the need to deposit real dollars. Players often enjoy the risk-free nature of social casinos as they allow you to try out new games and strategies with no money on the line.

Our most highly recommended social casinos for players in Florida are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Or, if free online poker is your game, check out these casinos - Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Georgia does not allow online casinos or any online gambling at the moment.

However, there have been recent attempts by state legislative bodies to legalize online casinos, which so far have proven unsuccessful. Furthermore, Georgia does not have any land-based casinos, meaning real money gambling is impossible for citizens of The Peach State.

Using a 'coin' based system that is separate from regular currency, social casinos are popular as they allow players to play their favorite casino games and slots in regulated states that may not otherwise allow it. Hawaii has incredibly restrictive gambling laws, not allowing online or land-based casinos in the state.

Currently, there are no plans to change the laws in Hawaii meaning it could be a long time before the Aloha State sees any form of gambling.

Social casinos are also not legalized in Hawaii, making it virtually impossible for Hawaiians to play online casino games or slots. Although there are no imminent breakthroughs expected in the legalization of online gambling, Idaho natives do have the choice of several land casinos that are open for casino play.

However, as previously noted, Idahoans who want to play at real money online casinos do not have the option at the moment. Our favorite social casinos in Idaho are Chumba Casino , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Or, if you prefer to play free online poker, check out these casinos - Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Illinois has not legalized online casinos in the state despite having had online sports betting for a number of years.

Although there is no imminent prospect of online casinos becoming legalized, there are several land casinos that players in Illinois can visit and enjoy. In Illinois, as is the case in numerous states, social casinos sometimes known as Sweepstakes casinos have gained popularity for providing a legal avenue to play free casino games and slots.

The PokerNews picks for social casinos in Illinois are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Alternatively, if you're a free online poker fan you should sign-up at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play.

Despite having a large number of land casinos, Indiana still prohibits the operation of online casinos. The legalization of online casinos in Indiana is not imminent, but watch this space as talks are ongoing at the legislative level. Social casinos, or 'Sweepstakes Casinos,' are widely embraced in Indiana, offering a legal means to play casino games and slots in the absence of real money online casinos.

Social casinos available to players in The Hoosier State include Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Indianan poker fans can also play free online poker at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play.

Kansas offers land-based casinos for those based in the state but online casinos and other forms of online gambling remain illegal. Players in The Sunflower State can play at social casinos. Social casinos are online casinos that use 'coins' instead of real money to facilitate free-to-play, legal casino games and slots.

Social casinos are hugely popular as they allow players in regulated states to enjoy the buzz of casino games and slots enjoyed in non-regulated areas. The best social casinos available to players in Kansas are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Free online poker is also available in the state at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. The home of the eponymous Kentucky Derby, Kentucky, recently legalized sportsbook betting but has not done the same for online casino gambling at this current time.

Also lacking land casinos, real money casino fans in Kentucky currently have few options, unfortunately. Social casinos are free-to-play online sites that use 'coin' based systems instead of wagering for real money, which makes them legal.

Social casinos are popular in regulated states like Kentucky, allowing players to get involved in the casino fun. Our top social casinos in The Bluegrass State are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Top class free online poker is also available in the state at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play.

Online casino gaming is illegal in Louisiana, with no clear pathway to legalization at the present time. However, the vast majority of the state has legalized sports betting, which in other cases has acted as a forerunner to a further deregulation of online gambling.

Social casinos, or 'Sweepstakes Casinos,' are available in Louisiana and enable users to engage in casino entertainment without using real money, thanks to their 'coin-based mechanics. Discovering new games, playing old favorites, and testing out new skills for free are some of the reasons social casinos are hugely popular.

First-rate social casinos in The Bayou State are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Unfortunately, Maine does not currently allow the operation of online casinos, despite sports betting having been legalized fairly recently in the state.

Although there are no plans at the legislative level to legalize online casinos at the present time, many will be hoping the success of sports betting can be a catalyst for change. Social casinos are free-to-play and use a 'coin' based system for wagering that eliminates the need to use real money.

This makes social casinos legal and a great means of getting involved in the casino action for free. There are a number of excellent social casinos available to players in The Pine Tree state, these include Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Free-to-play online poker also exists in Maine and can be enjoyed at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Marylanders are currently unable to play at online casinos with these being subject to regulation in the state. Online sportsbooks are operational however, as are land-based casinos where casino fans can enjoy their favorite games.

As it stands, Maryland is not expected to announce the legalization of online casinos in the near future. Although real money online casinos are unavailable in Maryland, social casinos are available and are popular among players in regulated states.

Our top choices for social casinos in The Old Line State are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas. Poker fans can also enjoy free online poker at social casinos such as Global Poker , and PokerStars Play.

The state allows sportsbook gambling online and there are a trio of land casinos currently open to players in the state at the present time. The absence of real-money online casinos is filled by social casinos, available in Massachusetts and offering free-to-play casino games to players in this regulated state.

The best social casinos in The Bay State are Chumba Casino , Pulsz Casino , LuckyLand Slots , Slotomania , and WOW Vegas.

Fear not, free online poker fans! You can also play with free poker available at Global Poker , and PokerStars Play. Yes — you can safely and legally play real money casino games online in Michigan.

Michigan was one of the earlier states to adopt online casino play, with online gambling legislation coming into effect in December of The Covid pandemic put a pause on online casinos actively setting up operations in the Great Lakes State so it was until January until we saw casinos offering real money slots and casino games in the state.

There are now over 10 online casinos offering their casino games so there is plenty of choice for MI residents when it comes to playing real money slots and games. Our recommended online casinos for Michigan include: FanDuel Casino , PokerStars Casino , BetRivers Casino and BetMGM Casino.