Legal Gambling States
Across these United States, there are countless individuals who love to gamble—whether by playing slots or poker, by betting on horses or simply playing bingo. While gambling opportunities are plentiful, however, legal ones can sometimes be a bit harder to come by. The Internet Age has led to more gaming options than ever before, but it has also muddied the waters, making it increasingly difficult for players to determine which gambling opportunities are safe and legal, and which are not. Knowing the states that have legal gambling is important, then—but where to begin?
This page will seek to address this question and more. Because gambling laws vary from one state to the next, it is impossible to offer a simple or easy answer to the question of online gambling and its legality. As such, this site will offer specific pages aimed at individual states. This page, however, will offer some broad, general comments about the states that have legal online gambling.
States That Have Legal Online Gambling
It almost goes without saying that the first state on the list is Nevada. Nevada was the first state to officially open its online gambling enterprise—specifically, a number of online gaming sites, affiliated with the state’s many casinos. What might surprise you, though, is that while these are the nation’s first legal online gambling options, they are not the most comprehensive. Currently, these sites offer only legal online poker, though an expansion, with more casino games and betting opportunities, is coming.
There are a couple of other states that are not far behind Nevada; though their online gaming portals are not yet open, the plans have been laid, and the sites are poised to open later in 2013. These states include Delaware and New Jersey. Both states intend to offer wide-ranging online gambling, not just poker.
Online Gambling is in Flux
There are other states that we might add to the list, including Illinois, which has openly discussed the legalization of online gambling. Of course, other states take a more restrictive approach to online gambling.
How USA Players Can Gamble Safely and Legally
An important point to make is that, even if you happen to live in a state where gambling is not yet legally sanctioned, there are still avenues you can take to bet and to wager, free from any risk of legal peril. The secret lies in selecting a legal, licensed gambling site that is based offshore—beyond the reach of US lawmakers. US players can gamble through a reputable gaming site, licensed and regulated by the Canadian or Panamanian government, for example, and not have to worry about legal woes.
What this means is that, while not every individual state offers legal gambling, players in all states can engage in gambling that is both safe and legally admissible. The only trick is finding a site that is licensed offshore. Again, these are the sites that are safe for players. Some of the best options are highlighted elsewhere on our site.
Legal Land-Based Gambling
Also worth pointing out is that some states that are not yet on-board with online gambling do offer legal land-based gaming. While sports betting is only legal in a couple of states, legal casinos can be found in several states, to say nothing of racetracks, bingo games, poker rooms, and private, in-home games. Again, the legality of these activities varies from one state to the next. Check out the laws for your individual state, and make sure you are clear on the states that have legal gambling.
