U.S Sports Betting and Gambling

With online casinos becoming more popular each year, it's important to understand the gambling laws of the United States. The US legal system offers different types of regulation across state, city, and federal levels.

US Gambling Sites

Depending on the online casino’s location, online gambling may be legal, illegal or somewhere in between. For example, online casinos in NJ are heavily regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, while permissible gambling activity in Michigan falls under the oversight of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

On the other hand, as of 2022, online casinos are not allowed to operate in states such as Hawaii, Texas, Mississippi and Utah.

Additionally, some U.S states such as Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, and Louisiana don’t allow online casinos but do allow online sports betting, horse racing and fantasy sports.

Licensed Casinos and Offshore Casinos

Licensed casinos are permitted by the US states to offer gambling services within their territory. Different regulatory bodies for different states license and regulate gambling activities. For instance, the Michigan Gaming Control Board is responsible for licensing and regulating online casinos in Michigan.

Another example of a state regulatory body is California Gambling Control Commission which regulates gambling establishments, third-party providers, and tribal casinos. The body also regulates all persons and transactions relating to the ownership interest of gambling establishments.

In contrast, an offshore casino is a casino located and operating outside of US borders and laws. These casinos allow players to access popular casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots from anywhere in the US. Wild Casino, Las Atlantis, Bovada, and My Bookie are a few examples of offshore casinos accessible in the US.

Real Money Games in the US

Real-money online casino games are legal in many parts of the US, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. There is no set minimum deposit for real money games in the USA. For many casinos, the minimum deposit can be as low as $5. However, it is usually between the $5-$10 range. To place wagers, players must meet the legal age requirement and be physically situated in a location where real money gambling is legal.

Playing Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are online games that are played with genuine, live croupiers as opposed to a computer. They offer a convenient alternative to visiting a physical casino. Instead of playing against a computer, gamers have virtual dealer deals cards that they see on theirr screens.

The minimum age requirement for playing live games in most states is 21 years. Some examples of licensed casinos that offer real money or live dealer games in the US include FanDuel Casino, Golden Nugget Casino, BetMGM Casino, DraftKings Casino, Ocean Casino, Caesars Casino, and BetRivers Casino. Others include Borgata Casino, Hollywood Casino, and PokerStars Casino. Although U.S. residents can also play live dealer casino games on unlicensed platforms, this may come with risks. Gamers who gamble for real money at unlicensed or unregulated live casinos risk exposing their personal and financial data.

Online Sports Betting in the US

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the US?

In 2018, the US Supreme Court made the decision to strike out a 1992 Federal Law that banned sports betting. Prior to this, gamers in the US made use of offshore wagering operations or illicit bookies. That has changed.

Following the court's decision, multiple US states that have proceeded to make avenues for safe sports betting. This also includes online sports betting. As of 2023, there are now 36 states in the US that allow sports betting. FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, WynnBET, BetRivers, and DraftKings are examples of sportsbooks available in many states across the US. American citizens can also bet on major leagues such as the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL).

Fantasy Sports Betting in the US

Fantasy sports betting is available in almost all states in the US. Many major leagues are available for fantasy sports betting, including the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL).

In 2006, the US government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to restrict internet gambling and protect consumers. However, fantasy sports leagues are exempt from this regulation.

Fantasy sports leagues are not considered online betting since they are regarded as a game of skill, not chance, under federal law. This permits fantasy sports betting but prohibits wagering on a specific match or player.

What is the Legal Age for gambling in the US?

The legal age for gambling in the US varies from state to state. It is usually between the ages of 18 and 21. For instance, while the legal age for gambling in Colorado is 21, it is 18 in Minnesota. Other states that have an age requirement of 18 include Alaska, Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and so on. Regarding tribal casinos, they are allowed to set the age limit they deem fit. For example, while commercial casinos will have an age requirement of 21, tribal casinos may have one as low as 18.

What is Responsible Gaming?

Responsible gaming refers to the set of social responsibility initiatives launched by the gambling industry, governments, regulators, operators, and vendors. These initiatives aim to ensure the integrity and fairness of their operations and raise awareness of the effects of gambling. These effects include things such as gambling addiction or clinical depression. To achieve the objectives set out in these initiatives, gambling platforms have begun to offer features such as self-exclusion programs and wager-time limits.

A self-exclusion program, as the name implies, is where you agree to exclude yourself from gambling and the gambling platform needs to take the necessary steps to stop you. While a wager-time limit is a limit on how much you can bet on a single game or event. For instance, a bookie may set a $50 limit on a particular event such as horse racing.

Gambling platforms also have a part to play in promoting responsible gaming and they can do so by:

• Creating and upholding ethical accounting processes and procedures.
• Conducting games in a fair manner.
• Upholding dependable record-keeping procedures.
• Submitting recurring reports to gambling regulatory bodies.
• Upholding strict adherence to all applicable laws, rules, and minimal internal controls related to gaming.