The online gambling industry is gradually being legalized and legitimized nationwide, bringing safe and secure ways to access web-based casinos to millions of Americans as a result.
This vibrant, economically important marketplace is having its effects felt in many states that have chosen to embrace the opportunities it affords. So let’s go through some of the biggest players in this burgeoning scene, and look at what makes legal online casinos significant.
New Jersey has the biggest, longest-established online casino system
AS New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize online gambling, it should be no surprise to see that it has enjoyed the most significant uptick in wagering, as well as reaping the rewards of increased tax revenues as a result.
The best legal online NJ casino operators have benefitted from record-breaking levels of sports betting, in addition to the wagers generated by other activities such as slot machines and poker.
This is all the more impressive given that it is almost ten years since New Jersey state authorities gave the go-ahead for online gambling to be made legal, indicating that stellar growth can be achieved as changing consumer habits, as well as outside pressures, put more emphasis on web-based services rather than land-based casinos.
Delaware was another early adopter of legal online casinos
Like New Jersey, it was back in 2013 that Delaware saw the first flurry of legal online casino sites launching following a change in legislation to allow for this type of business to thrive without existing in a bit of a gray area.
Another consistent requirement for online casinos in this state, which is seen everywhere else in the US as well, is that they must be tied to a land-based casino brand in order to be granted a license.
This comes out of the need to appease bricks and mortar gambling outlets, which would otherwise have been resistant to the idea of legal online gambling if pure play digital brands were able to encroach on their turf, figuratively speaking.
Michigan was later to the party but is catching up quickly
Flash forward to 2020 and Michigan became one of the latest states to usher in a new era of legal online gambling, first focusing on sports betting and soon after allowing operators to provide a broader array of experiences.
There was a modicum of disruption to this segment brought about by the pandemic, although like several other online industries it actually proved to be a boon for operators, since while land-based casinos were either closed or operating with limited capacities, online equivalents were able to remain open and serve customers remotely.
Nevada is an interesting case
If you think of casinos, you probably think of Las Vegas, so it’s a little strange that Nevada’s online casino scene is relatively limited.
Sports betting is the main activity available, as land-based casino operators are obviously keen to avoid letting the kinds of games they provide appear in large numbers online, which might reduce the in-person visits their venues receive.
Thankfully you can enjoy online poker in Nevada in a completely legal way, and if you do fancy trying other casino games, you’ll never be far from a bricks and mortar location offering such services as a resident or visitor.
More states are following this trend
Other states that have recently joined the online casino party include Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with the momentum gathered by the movement to legalize gambling likely to transfer to neighboring regions.
If you want to gamble online, make sure to adhere to the rules and regulations where you live, and only play with reputable sites.
