For years there were states throughout the country that placed a moratorium on online gambling. Those within these states were allowed to play casino style games or gamble only in state approved facilities that were located within the state itself and where people are playing poker from the USA in the simplest and most entertaining ways. But there are some changes going on now and these bans are starting to be lifted in many different states. But there’s a whole lot more to know about these bans and just what they might mean for these states and the people in them. So, let’s take a closer look.
The Truth About Online Gambling
For many years there were some misconceptions about what online gambling really meant and what type of people were inclined to do it. The truth is that online gambling is much the same as what you would do in a casino or in any other lottery establishment. You can purchase tickets the way that you would through a convenience store. You can also place a bet on something to happen (or not happen) in sports or anything else. In fact, online gambling has started to explode and now, people can bet on just about anything they want, if you can find someone who cares to make the wager with you.
When it comes to sports gambling, however, that’s another area entirely, and it’s one that, up until recently, was exceedingly difficult to get into legally. That’s because the four major sporting franchises, NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB, had a moratorium on being able to bet on sports. You could do it in Nevada and nowhere else. But that has finally ended with a Supreme Court decision just this past year. As a result states throughout the country are now able to make their own laws regarding sports betting, and most of them are getting into it.
Where it’s Legal
There are actually a number of different games that you can play online in different states, so take a look at where your state stacks up (UsSportsbonus.com is a great place that sums up most good places for betting) and what you should know about the opportunities for gambling that are available right now. Other states allow only online versions of their own lottery (or no online gambling at all) as the only form of gambling that can be played online.
Legal Online Casinos:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
Legal Online Poker
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Nevada
- Delaware
Legal Online Sports Betting
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Nevada
- Mississippi
The Initial Ban
When gambling was initially banned in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and continues to be banned in many other states, there were a number of questions about just what it would mean for the community. The reasons for the ban were generally focused around morality and the idea of gambling, and especially online gambling, being unsecure, immoral and in other ways just dangerous for the people within the community. Because of the lack of regulations and the lack of control, it was definitely something that people were concerned about and the government decided to act.
While we can commend the government for acting in what they believed to be the best interests and security of their state, we can see that they definitely overreacted. What the state needed was not a blanket ban on online gambling. Rather, the state needed more support and more regulation regarding the gambling. It needed better security for information that was sent and accessed over the internet and it needed a way to weed out the good sites from the bad ones. As the gambling ban is starting to be reversed, it’s possible that these things will be aided as well.
In a number of states, however, there are still bans on online gambling and there’s no telling when or if these bans are going to be removed or changed. With the changes that are happening within the sports betting world (and just how much people seem to be getting into this area) it’s likely that more states will follow suit at least partially. After all, just about every state would love to see even a portion of what Nevada brings in each year for gambling and they’re not going to be able to do that with physical casinos alone. They’re going to need online options.
Sport gambling is a highly lucrative type of online gambling and it’s one that only continues to grow in popularity over time. What that means is more and more people are going to be interested in it if it comes to their home state as well. So, why wouldn’t a state want to get involved in that highly lucrative area now that the Supreme Court has said that it’s allowed? We’ll see more and more states start making regulations regarding this type of betting and we’ll definitely see changes to other areas of online gambling that go alongside it as time goes on.
Where You Can Start Gambling
Several different states are starting to open online gambling establishments of their own now, since rulings from the Supreme Court have started to trickle down. And it’s starting to become a much more lucrative experience. Who wouldn’t want to check out new and improved opportunities for gambling? With the new changes that are going into effect there are actually a number of different ways that you can indulge in your favorite pastime (or a new favorite pastime). The key is just figuring out what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.
New Jersey is one of the states that has recently started opening up online casinos and online gambling for their own residents. Keep in mind that for New Jersey the law requires that you must be located within the state jurisdiction in order to gamble there. That doesn’t mean you need to be a resident or that you need to be residing there for any length of time. Rather, you just need to be in the area at the time that you’re gambling. This gives a whole lot more leeway to those who are visiting just for a day or less.
Pennsylvania is another one that has started allowing online gambling within the last couple years. In fact, they made online casinos and online poker legal only in 2017. This means that there are a number of other electronic forms of gambling that are still prohibited in Pennsylvania, so it’s important that you keep an eye on the type of online gambling that you’re engaging in. Even still, the expansion to allow certain types means that this state also might start to look at more options as time goes on. Especially as they see how it can help their economy.
What Does This Mean For You?
So, what does it mean for you that you can now gamble online in these states? It means that you’re opening up an entirely new world of opportunities. Where before you were only able to gamble in a few states or you had to be located in a physical location in order to gamble, you now have the freedom and the ability to gamble directly from your own home or a vacation establishment. It’s entirely up to you where and when you want to gamble.
Even better, you’ll be able to do it as often or as long as you want. Who really wants to drive all the way to the casino to spend just a few minutes there? No one really, right? Well, with the changes in gambling laws and the ability to gamble from home you can spend those five minutes while you’re waiting for your dinner to finish or the 20 minutes before that show you want to watch comes on just playing a few games. You don’t have to feel obligated to ‘make it worth your while’ because you drove so far.
Another benefit is that you can still get all of the same features and opportunities with online gaming as you do with the gaming in casinos, and often even more. After all, it’s a whole lot easier for an online gaming establishment to open up thousands of games than it is for a physical casino. That means you’re going to have a whole lot more variety to the games that you want to play. If you want to bet certain amounts there will be games available for those price ranges, and more than what you’d find in a casino.
Wrapping it Up
Overall, you’re going to find a number of great reasons that you should be checking out online gambling establishments. Whether you’ve gambled online before (in other states of course) or this is the first time you’re checking it out, there are all kinds of great things that you can and should be doing. Whether you want to start playing casino games or you’re looking for online poker or even sports betting (in states other than Pennsylvania) you’ll definitely find a host of different options and opportunities to choose from. It’s all about where you start your search.
