Los Angeles > Criminal Defense Blog > Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Every State in the USA?
by Ambrosio Rodriguez | Feb 02, 2023 | California Law
Gambling has been a popular pastime for thousands of years, but since the dawn of the internet age, it’s taken a huge leap forward. Today, you don’t have to go to a casino or attend a horse race to place bets. You can gamble online from the comfort of your own home!
But just because online gambling is available everywhere doesn’t mean it’s legal everywhere. Read on to learn which states allow online gambling and which don’t.
Different Types of Online Gambling
There are a few different types of online gambling that we have to discuss before we can dive into the legal issues. The three types of online gambling include online casinos, online sports betting (including horse racing), and online lottery tickets. Each state regulates these classes of gambling differently.
Online casinos allow you to play games like poker, blackjack, and even slots from the comfort of your home.
Online sports betting lets you put money on certain sporting events, including football, horse racing, and so on.
Online lotteries allow you to purchase lottery tickets for drawings like the PowerBall or MegaMillions online instead of at retail stores.
States That Allow Online Gambling
Overall, forty-eight states allow some form of gambling, with Hawaii and Utah being the only exceptions. Which states allow which forms of online gambling, however, vary.
Online Casinos
Only six states currently allow residents to gamble in online casinos for poker games. Those include
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Interestingly, Nevada doesn’t allow gambling in online casinos – only online poker games – and Michigan is set to legalize online poker games soon.
Online Sports Betting
Thirty-five states, including Washington, D.C., allow online sports betting or will launch it soon. These states include
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
New Mexico currently only allows in-person sports betting, but will likely launch online betting soon. Florida, Massachusetts, and Nebraska have legalized online sports betting, but haven’t launched it yet. And Delaware currently has retail sports betting available, but is expected to legalize online sports gambling soon.
Online Lottery
Like online casinos, online lotteries are a lot less popular than online sports betting. The eight states that have online lotteries are
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
A number of other states offer lotteries, but you have to buy the tickets online, often using cash.
States in the Process of Legalizing
There are several states that are in the process of legalizing various forms of online gambling. Those laws haven’t officially passed yet, but most people expect to see those changes in the next few years.
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.
States Where Online Gambling Is Illegal
As we mentioned, gambling in all forms is currently illegal in Utah and Hawaii, and that’s unlikely to change. 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.
These include
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Idaho
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
If you are caught gambling online in one of these states, you could face time in jail or on probation.
Avoid Legal Trouble for Online Gambling
Laws change all the time, and it’s always best to double-check the current regulations in your state before gambling online. Even if your state has technically legalized online gambling, make sure those laws have gone into effect before placing your bets. And always check on the types of online gambling that are legal in your area – just because online sports betting is legal doesn’t mean online casinos are.
If you’re in legal trouble for online gambling, you need a strong lawyer defending you. The Rodriguez Law Group will fight to defend your freedom and your future. Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your case and get the representation you need.
Contact the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Law Firm of The Rodriguez Law Group Today For Help
For more information please contact the Los Angeles Criminal Defense law firm of The Rodriguez Law Group for a free consultation, give us a call at (213) 995-6767 or visit our convenient location:
The Rodriguez Law Group – Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
626 Wilshire Blvd Suite 460, Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States
