Legal aspect of online gambling is the only hurdle American gambler stumbles upon when deciding to gamble online. This article aims at shedding light on the regulation of online gambling in United States.
- Online Gambling Legislation Usa
- Online Gambling Legislation Us
- Gambling Federal Legislation
- Gambling Legislation In Georgia
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. Definitely Not Legal Forms of Gambling It is never legal to gamble on a website based in the United States. Also, if you are planning to operate an online gambling site, stay outside of the United States. You must also deal only with casino and poker wagers (not sports bets) from people in the US. US Gambling Laws & Regulations. The gambling laws in the US are rather complicated and sometimes difficult to understand due to the fact that they are state-based and often different for each type of real money gambling. Almost every state, however, have either legalized or allowed a certain form of gambling.
Though it is technically illegal in most parts of the U. S, its residents can play all the casino and poker games as the respective bill only targets fund transfer mechanisms and companies that carry out financial transactions prohibiting them to carry out online gaming transactions.
US Gambling Laws and Regulations
Online gambling is regulated by three federal laws:
- The Wire Act of 1961 (Federal Wire Act) prohibits the use of electronic wiring to transmit funds to the certain types of wagering business.
- The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibits the majority of states to legalize sports gambling. This Act is applied to operators only and not players.
- The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) outlaws the online gaming transactions carried out by financial institutions.
The Federal Wire Act. In fact, the Act is quite ambiguous. The Act states that 'the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.' First, this means that this Act can be applied exclusively to sports betting and not any other form of online gambling. Second, the 'wire communication facility' can only be used concerning transmissions that use wires and the proliferation of wireless Internet access is not controlled by the Act.
Concerned with the problem of online gambling, US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that was signed by George Bush on Oct.13 2006 thus marking the beginning of the end of US online gambling industry. Although the measure did nothing to change the players' right to bet online, it eventually forced American banks and other financial institutions to block some types of electronic transactions to Internet gambling businesses making it impossible for the USA gamblers to deposit and withdraw money in online casino. In response, most online casinos banned US players from playing at their casinos although USA was the most prolific provider of online casino players in the world. Read more
The Act itself leaves room for interpretation. The UIGEA outlaws the transfer of money to an online gambling site by financial institutions but online gambling itself is NOT prohibited. Under the Act, to be legal the wager has to be permitted both by the customer's place of residence and the operator. The wager falls under definition of staking anything value conditioned on the outcome of a game of chance, a sporting event, or any other form of contest where the outcome is uncertain. Stock trading, online video games and most fantasy sport are beyond the scope of the Act. The law is applied to the games of pure chance like online slot-machines, any kind of wager on the outcome of sporting or election events and the games of skill like online poker.
As operators don't have right to carry out an US based business many online casinos are located outside the US and work under a license given out by Antigua, Gibralta, Kahnawake or Malta. Some operators closed US player accounts and stopped to accept US players and others continued to accept US players offering them a number of payment options available to US gamblers like UseMyBank.
Payment methods that are available for US gamblers are: Visa, MasterCard, Western Union, Wire Transfer, MoneyGram, Amex, eWalletXpress, eCheck, Solid Debit, NetPay, Diners Club. We strongly recommend to each player to check if the option is valid before trying to make a transfer.
Payment methods that are NOT available for US gamblers: PayPal, ePassporte, FirePay, Instadebit, Neteller, MoneyBookers, EcoCard, UseMyBank, Central Coin, PaySpark, Gift Cards, Quick Tender, Citadel and myCitadel, Instacash, ATMOnline, Nexum, Click2Pay, PayPal.
When European online gaming operators left the American market, American economy suffered heavy losses. US used to reap billions in tax revenues from the online gambling industry. The studies carried out by Price Waterhouse Coopers show that US can collect at least $8.7 billion and up to $17.6 billion in as little as 10 years. These numbers can make some lawmaker change their mind concerning online gambling, especially taking into account the recession US economy undergoes now.
On May 6, 2009, Senator Barney Frank challenged the UIGEA with an Act designed to overturn it - what many see as a welcome first step towards regulation, although this could take years. The Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act will establish federal regulatory as well as enforcement framework for online and land-based gaming. Read more
The Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act would establish the framework under which US-based companies online gaming operators could get licenses to be able to accept bets from US residents legally.
Gambling operators would be subject to reviews of how the entire operation is run. Department of Treasury will have the right to review anything from financial history, to employee background checks. Under the Act, the operators are supposed to have appropriate safeguards in place to avoid underage gambling, protect the privacy and security of the players, combat compulsive gambling and fraud.
The Department of Treasury will also be responsible for enforcing licensing, imposing fines, and or imprisonment or license revocation for those whom violate the provisions of this bill.
The Act also would automatically create an exception for poker to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
In order to gamble, deposit and withdraw money successfully and with minimum hassle at online casinos you need to follow the instructions given by the gambling site you have chosen. Each reputable online casino has 24/7 customer support so this will not be a problem.
USA Gambling Legislation
- Federal Anti-Lottery Laws
- The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)
- Illegal Money Transmitting Business Act of 1992
Anomalies in the American's gambling law:
1. Californian casinos are prohibited by law from playing blackjack. Therefore they have added a twist to the game and the game is played to 22 rather than 21.
2. Soundboard motor city casino calendar. The UIGEA has provisions for betting on horse racing. During the bill's inception in 2006, horse racing was granted an exemption under the UIGEA in order to protect that industry.
Disclaimer
CasinosDoc is not a legal authority. We remind you the information presented should not be treated as a legal advice but we sincerely hope that it will be of use to you. To get accurate information or advice on online gambling, consult the laws of the country where you reside or jurisdiction in which you are playing.
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. Penny slots at rivers casino. 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
Online Gambling Legislation Usa
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.
In order to gamble, deposit and withdraw money successfully and with minimum hassle at online casinos you need to follow the instructions given by the gambling site you have chosen. Each reputable online casino has 24/7 customer support so this will not be a problem.
USA Gambling Legislation
- Federal Anti-Lottery Laws
- The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)
- Illegal Money Transmitting Business Act of 1992
Anomalies in the American's gambling law:
1. Californian casinos are prohibited by law from playing blackjack. Therefore they have added a twist to the game and the game is played to 22 rather than 21.
2. Soundboard motor city casino calendar. The UIGEA has provisions for betting on horse racing. During the bill's inception in 2006, horse racing was granted an exemption under the UIGEA in order to protect that industry.
Disclaimer
CasinosDoc is not a legal authority. We remind you the information presented should not be treated as a legal advice but we sincerely hope that it will be of use to you. To get accurate information or advice on online gambling, consult the laws of the country where you reside or jurisdiction in which you are playing.
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. Penny slots at rivers casino. 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
Online Gambling Legislation Usa
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.
Online Gambling Legislation Us
States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation
Gambling Federal Legislation
US States That Offer Domestic Sportsbooks
Gambling Legislation In Georgia
US States With Passed Sports Betting Legislation (Pending Launch)
