• Can You Legally Gamble Online In The Usa
• Is It Illegal To Online Gamble In Us
• Can I Legally Gamble Online In The Us

This is a common question that has Americans concerned. Can you legally gamble online in the US? The answer to the question is murky at best, however there are some things that seem to be easy to understand.

The forms of online games that are legalized in the state are online sports betting, online casino, and online poker. Despite the legalization of either live or online gambling in New Jersey, it is still required that a particular kind of gambling. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, enter online poker tournaments,. Online casinos are legal in most parts of the world. Many world governments have written laws specifically addressing the legalities of real money online gambling; others like the United States depend heavily on state law and an existing legal vacuum to keep online gambling in check. The legality of an online casino has something to do with that casino.

I’ll start by saying that this isn’t legal advice, it’s simply what I’ve found from my own research and reading all over the internet, and talking to people in the poker world that play online. Take it how you will and understand that these things change so you should try to look things up yourself and research them some more if you’re very concerned about them. Use this as a starting place, and remember that laws are always changing.

Has anyone gone to jail for gambling online?

As far as I know there hasn’t been anyone that has gone to jail for gambling online from the comfort of their own homes. If you ask me, it’s completely ludicrous that this is even a subject. Nobody should be told that they can’t enjoy themselves from their own home with games of chance and/or skill, but I digress. This isn’t about what I think or what you think should be allowed, it’s about what IS allowed, and what IS happening right now.

As far as federal laws go, there isn’t anything that is specifically banning you from playing online. There are no specific laws that explicitly prohibit gambling online (again I’m not a lawyer). I’m sure if you spoke to a lawyer in your own state they may tell you something completely different. The best advice you can get is to speak with a lawyer in your own state if you must be sure. Hold someone that understands the law accountable.

At this point it seems important to bring up the point that online gambling may be defined differently in different parts of the country. It might be defined as online Gaming in some places. Even still, Poker, for example, is taking a stance that it is a game of skill, and therefore it may not be categorized with other gambling like slots or blackjack. The fight for online poker being played across the USA is further along than the fight for other online gambling simply because of the fact that it does have an argument for being skill based.

No matter what all this means the fact remains that there isn’t any records of anyone going to jail for gambling online. If I had to choose the riskiest types of bets you can make online it would likely be anything related to sports betting as those seem to be the ones with the most “legal” jargon behind them. Poker, in my opinion, would be the least likely candidate for troubles.

What US States ban online gambling or poker?

Even though gambling at the federal level may be allowed right now (or may not be depending on who you ask) There remains to be the fact that some states have already started regulating online gambling and/or poker. Three states, Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, have passed laws that explicitly allow regulated online gambling. In these states it is 100% legal to play on any of their regulated gambling sites.

Everyone should check the rules of their state before deciding to play or not to play, but these states below are especially vulnerable to more rules and regulations when it comes to online gambling or gaming. They are:

Washington:
Washington passed a law in 2006 that explicitly outlaws online poker and making it a felony. Yes a felony! That’s as bad as you can get when it comes to breaking the law. Why they chose to go this route is beyond me, but if you’re in this state my advice would be to stay away from poker and other online gambling. Check up on your state laws to make sure they haven’t also taken an extreme stance like this.

Nevada:
Yes, Nevada does have regulated online poker and gambling, but what it also has is explicit rules against playing at other sites that are not regulated. If it’s not a state regulated gambling site and you like in Nevada then you best stay away from it.

The rest of the list of US states that have explicit laws that outlaw online gambling is this:

Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Montana
Oregon
South Dakota

If you live in one of these states then you should keep doing your research before making that first bet online.

By the time you’re reading this things may have changed again. Maybe if we’re all lucky one day everyone in the US would be able to freely make whatever decision they want about online gambling from their own homes. That doesn’t seem like something so far fetched for the land of the free.

In the meantime, do your homework, do your research, and keep bugging your lawmakers to make poker, and/or other online gambling legal in your state. Not sure how to get started? Check a site like theppa.org for easy ways to get involved.

We've compiled this legal online betting reference to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each American state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state-by-state US gambling guide which will give players all the information they need to make smart decisions about how and where to bet online.

This state-specific data will include the state laws governing Internet gambling opportunities in all relevant markets, including online casinos, online poker, and online sports betting.

Each state approaches the legalization of online gambling differently, so it's necessary to detail state-licensed options as well as legal international gambling opportunities. We also address some of the most commonly asked questions about gambling in each state and provide various helpful resources. Such information is covered in greater detail at each specific state page linked below.

Is Online Gambling Legal In My State?

It definitely might be! At this moment, at least 25 US states have legalized and regulated online gambling in some form. However, most states have limited their legalization efforts to sports betting.

Nevertheless, we expect that the majority of these states will also embrace legal online poker games and legal online casino games eventually. Of course, if they don't, you can still wager legally and safely using online overseas operators.

Online Poker & Casino

• Delaware - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Michigan - Online Poker (launch TBA), Online Casinos
• Nevada - Online Poker
• New Jersey - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• West Virginia - Online Poker, Online Casinos

Online Sports Betting

• Arkansas*
• Colorado
• Delaware***
• Louisiana**
• Maryland**
• Michigan
• Mississippi*
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico*
• New York*
• North Carolina**
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota**
• Washington**
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

*Retail only, online TBA

**Legalized but pending launch

***Retail available, online pending launch

To date, TN is the only US state that has domestic sportsbooks available exclusively online, as there are no provisions in Tennessee sports betting laws to allow for retail brick-and-mortar gambling locations.

Online Lottery

• Illinois
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

Is Licensed Offshore Gambling Legal In My State?

While the above states offer regulated online gambling, residents in most of them still have the option to use licensed offshore betting sites. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, enter online poker tournaments, and bet on sports.

This is because no local gambling laws in any of the other 48 states specifically prohibit betting real money with an international operator.

Additionally, there are no federal laws that bar the activity, as all US betting mandates apply only to domestic sportsbooks (i.e. the Wire Act) and US-based financial institutions (i.e. the UIGEA), not to players themselves.

What Is The Minimum Online Gambling Age in the US?

There is no single minimum gambling age in the US, as these are set and regulated by each individual state. The minimum age within each state is affected by various factors such as betting markets, casino game types, venue amenities, and more.

Most states set all their gambling age minimums to 21 years of age, though a few have sports betting options and other kinds of Class II style gambling opportunities for 18+ players.

That said, licensed international online gambling sites offering casino games, poker rooms, and sports betting amusements almost always accept USA players at just 18 and up. These reputable sites also award their members bigger bonuses and perks, more varied electronic casino game options, and better sports betting odds.

U.S. States Where You Can Legally Gamble At 18 And Up

Below, you can learn more about the minimum legal online gambling age by state:

Online Gambling Laws in The United States

Gambling laws can be a complex topic these days, as there a pair of prominent US federal gambling laws to account for, and there are several local gambling laws in every single state.

The reason for this is that the US DOJ has declared that each state has the authority to determine its own destiny concerning both land-based and online gambling. This is especially true now that PASPA (1992-2018) has finally been overturned.

Since 2018's PASPA overturn, a large number of US states have legalized various forms of online gambling (mostly sports betting) within their borders. Many other states are currently in discussions to do the same.

Can You Legally Gamble Online In The Usa

Nevertheless, even if you live in a state without legal local gambling options, you still have them. US players outside of WA and CT are permitted access to multiple licensed, certified, and regulated online gambling sites hosted outside of the United States. This is a nice alternative allowing those players aged 18 and up to enjoy real online gambling while their states get their ducks in a row.

States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation

• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• New York
• Virginia

US States That Offer Active Domestic Sportsbooks

• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

Is It Illegal To Online Gamble In Us

US States With Legal Sports Betting Pending Launch

Can I Legally Gamble Online In The Us

• Louisiana
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington