Today, most states are recognizing that online sports betting is the most important segment of the market. States that have included online sports betting in their legalization plans have been the most successful in the new legal market and offer bettors a regulated environment to place bets. In a nutshell gambling at an online casino is allowed in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. However, when looking to play Online Poker, players need to travel to New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and Pennsylvania. However, online sports betting is available in several states with the numbers growing on a daily basis. Neither of these states has state-sanctioned sports betting yet, which means that many bettors will be turning to online sportsbooks in order to wager on the big game. The big Super Bowl sports betting sites include such names as Bovada, MyBookie and BetOnline, and they provide solid service to bettors who wish to wager on the Super Bowl.
We've compiled this legal online betting guide for US players arranged by state, to provide accurate and up to date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each US state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state gambling directory which will empower players with the information to make informed decisions about online gambling.
This state-specific data will include a look at the state laws governing online gambling opportunities from online casinos, online poker, to online sports betting.
Each individual state is approaching the legalization of online gambling differently, thus it is necessary to detail lawfully available state-licensed options, and sanctioned licensed offshore online gambling opportunities. We also address some of the most commonly asked questions about gambling in each state and provide some helpful resources for players to access. This information can only be covered in depth within each of the state pages we offer, which you can find listed within this guide.
Is Online Gambling Legal In My State?
To avoid confusion, we have marked US states which offer state-regulated gambling options in the table below with a check mark. At this moment in time, eight US states have legalized and regulated online gambling in some form. For example:
Online Poker & Casinos:
- Delaware - Online Poker and Online Casino gambling
- Nevada - Online Poker
- New Jersey - Online Poker, Online Casinos
- Pennsylvania - Online Poker, Online Casinos
- West Virginia - Online Poker, Online Casinos
Online Sports Betting & Fantasy Sports
- Illinois - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
- Indiana - Offers Online Sports Betting
- Iowa - Offers Online Sports Betting
- Massachusetts - Fantasy Sports Allowed
- Mississippi - Online Allowed At Casinos Only
- Montana - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
- Nevada - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
- New Jersey - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
- New York - Allows Fantasy Sports And Domestic Sports Betting
- Oregon - Offers Online Sports Betting
- Pennsylvania - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
- Rhode Island - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
- Tennessee - Offers Online Sports Betting Apps
- West Virginia - Online Sports Betting Allowed State-wide
** Legalized but Pending launch
Online Lottery:
- Georgia - Online Lottery Allowed
- Illinois - Online Lottery Allowed
- Kentucky - Online Lottery Allowed
- Michigan - Online Lottery Allowed
- Minnesota - Online Lottery Allowed
- New Hampshire - Online Lottery Allowed
- Pennsylvania - Online Lottery Allowed
Is Licensed Offshore Gambling Legal In My State?
While the above-mentioned states offer regulated online gambling, they still maintain the option to utilize licensed offshore online options. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, poker, or bet on sports.
This is because no state laws in these other 48 states specifically prohibit or allow it - thus operating in a technical grey area, it is still considered safe to use because it is not likely these states will draft and pass legislation to specifically affect domestic access to licensed offshore gaming.
What Is The Minimum Online Gambling Age in the US?
There is no one minimum gambling age in the US as this is set and regulated by each individual state. The minimum gambling age within each state is affected by various factors such as game selected and licensor. By this, we mean state-regulated online gambling options require domestic players, whether residents or visitors, to abide by the state's minimum gambling age for that form of gambling on land within the state's borders.
However, licensed offshore online platforms which offer casino games, poker, and sports betting can lawfully accept players who are at least 18 years of age or older. These licensed offshore online sites also offer players much more in the way of bonuses and perks and the platforms we recommend are all extremely reputable.
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 in the USA.
| AL Offshore Yes:18 | IL Offshore Yes:18 | NE Offshore Yes:18 | SD Offshore Yes:18 |
| AK Offshore Yes:18 | IN Offshore Yes:18 | NV Offshore Yes:18 | SC Offshore Yes:18 |
| AZ Offshore Yes:18 | KS Offshore Yes:18 | NH Offshore Yes:18 | TN Offshore Yes:18 |
| AR Offshore Yes:18 | KY Offshore Yes:18 | NJ Offshore No | TX Offshore Yes:18 |
| CA Offshore Yes:18 | LA Offshore Yes:18 | NM Offshore Yes:18 | UT Offshore Yes:18 |
| CO Offshore Yes:18 | ME Offshore Yes:18 | NY Offshore Yes:18 | VT Offshore Yes:18 |
| CT Offshore No | MD Offshore Yes:18 | ND Offshore Yes:18 | VA Offshore Yes:18 |
| DE Offshore Yes:18 | MA Offshore Yes:18 | NC Offshore Yes:18 | WA Offshore No |
| FL Offshore Yes:18 | MI Offshore Yes:18 | OH Offshore Yes:18 | WV Offshore Yes:18 |
| GA Offshore Yes:18 | MN Offshore Yes:18 | OK Offshore Yes:18 | WI Offshore Yes:18 |
| HI Offshore Yes:18 | MS Offshore Yes:18 | OR Offshore Yes:18 | WY Offshore Yes:18 |
| ID Offshore Yes:18 | MO Offshore Yes:18 | PA Offshore Yes:18 | |
| IA Offshore Yes:18 | MT Offshore Yes:18 | RI Offshore Yes:18 |
Online Gambling Laws in The United States
Gambling laws can be a rather complex topic these days as there are several US federal gambling laws to account for such as the UIGEA, and the Federal Wire Act, as well as, several individual state gambling laws. The reason for this is because the United States DOJ has said that states have the authority to determine their own destiny concerning both land-based and online gambling.
Afterward, several states moved forward with legalizing some forms of online gambling for their region. Multiple other states are currently in discussions amongst themselves regarding the possibility of embracing this virtual gaming platform in their own territories. As discussed earlier and from what can be read from our laws page, 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 for those players not located in a state with its own regulated form of domestic online gambling.
States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation
US States That Offer Domestic Sportsbooks
US States With Passed Sports Betting Legislation (Pending Launch)
Millions of people in the United States of America are interested in the topic of whether or not online gambling is legalized in their area or jurisdiction. It is legal to gamble in the USA, but the laws vary from one state to another. Also, having your own casino or poker room is not permissible in most places. However, people are not prosecuted for having platforms online where you can bet.
Online gaming websites are licensed and are safe for users. Several states in the US are regulating online gambling as of late. States such as Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada were the first to legalize betting sites, and many more followed. Other states are still waiting to see if the department of justice in the US will ban these online betting spots.
Online Betting United States
US states with legal online gambling
Delaware
It is a US state that has a wide variety of online gaming. It legalized the process in 2012 for the residents. It allows casino games both online and in person. Nowadays, residents are not frequently commuting to brick and mortar casinos like they used to because of the ease of gambling at home. You are free to play and bet on the online gambling sites since there is no fear of being prosecuted if found. New sports betting.
Online gaming sites that have been created in Delaware permit residents to access and also provide 24/7 customer support via emails or phone in case you experience problems. Online casinos are legalized in this state. Residents and visitors are supposed to be within the borders of Delaware in order to use these gambling sites. Notably, those Delawareans in other countries will not be in a position to use these sites since they are only legal within Delaware.
New Jersey
Online Betting Banned States In India
It is among the online gambling pioneers in the USA. It legalized online casinos and sportsbooks in 2013. Ever since then, New Jersey has provided a multitude of online betting services to individuals and major brands. Gambling either online or offline in this state has strict rules. For you to start gaming and betting online, you are required to verify that your age is 21 years and above. However, you can play the lottery and physical horse racing if you are 18 years of age or older. You have to be physically present in New Jersey for you to gamble. Additionally, you can create an online casino NJ account outside the state but can’t play until you are actually inside state lines.
Nevada
It is currently among the US states with legal online gambling laws. Now, Nevada state has legislation that does not regulate online casinos. Residents of Nevada are enjoying web games through online licensed sites. Betting is controlled by the gaming commission and gambling control board that are based in this state. Nevada has more experience in making gambling laws compared to other states in the US. Therefore, lawmakers look to Nevada when they are designing their own regulations. Note that if a gaming operator gets a license from Nevada, other regulators in the US and the globe will license the company. It was amongst the first states to legalize online gambling, virtual sports betting as well as eSports betting.
Conclusion
Your ability to gamble online depends on the laws that have been created in your state. There are states whose online lottery does not involve legislation. Betting via the web is treated differently in various jurisdictions. Sports betting was illegal until in 2018, when the US Supreme Court allowed individual states to make decisions on whether to permit it or not. Also, with the online gambling being ever-evolving, it is increasing the tax revenue of many states. But with the rise in new technology, regulations are being violated, leading to the punishment of some people.