While only a handful of US states have legalized online casinos, users will find that they offer differently from one state to another. Therefore, what is permissible in one state may not be allowed in the next. Online gamblers should familiarize themselves with accepted norms, standards, and practices wherever they are gambling from.
Where do these differences stem from?
Federal vs. state law
While it took a Supreme Court overruling previous judgments and overturning federal law to allow online casinos to become a reality, each state governs its online gambling operations. Online casinos in Michigan must submit to the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s requirements, which may differ from the Pennsylvanian Gaming Control Board’s regulations. Operators take extreme care to adhere to these protocols as they risk losing their licenses for non-compliance.
These stringent rules apply to the real cash online casino setup, which differs from a social casino where no currency exchanges hands. However, oversight is necessary as soon as people are gambling with money, much like they would do in a land-based casino. Gambling with real money is risky and exciting, but it must remain fair. An operator’s failure to ensure this could expose consumers to scams, resulting in the loss of their hard-earned money. Gaming Control Boards prevent this from happening.
A brief history
New Jersey was the first state to allow an online casino to open in 2013. It was so well received that it allowed its operator to achieve breakout success in this new market. Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Michigan followed suit, with operators maintaining healthy revenue income due to their online operations during Covid-19.
This has given other states cause to consider enacting legislation facilitating the launch of online casinos. These include California, Indiana, New York, and Massachusetts. While Nevada currently allows online sports betting, it does not have licensed online casinos, although the process is underway to pave the way for such operations to launch.
The rationale
If nothing else, US gambling revenue numbers show that gambling is a popular pastime among Americans. As with all other industries, casinos need to move with the times, enabling online operations. This will facilitate even greater income for casino operators and the relevant states that receive significant tax income from casinos.
However, the legalization of gambling, whether in brick-and-mortar casinos or online, remains a state legislature matter. Native American tribes received federal permission to open casinos on their reservations, regarded as sovereign soil. However, they remain subject to state laws and must comply with them.
Similarities and differences
The most apparent difference between online casinos from one state to another comes in what is permitted in sports betting. States have lists of what sports bettors may wager on, with some lists including more sports than others. For example, some states with legalized online sports betting do not allow wagering on esports, while others do.
Most states with online casinos allow operators to offer classic table games, such as poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. They also permit slot games, with users having hundreds to choose from.
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