Over the past few years, the United States has been experiencing a domestic sports betting boom, with more than 38 states and Washington D.C. legalizing in-person sportsbooks. Many states have also legalized online sports betting with mobile capabilities but have different laws concerning who can play and how players can sign up.
Currently, 30 states have authorized some form of online sports betting, but when compared to online casinos, those numbers drop to just seven states. Only Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia offer online casinos from state-regulated sources.
Many industry professionals believe online casinos will eventually get their boom, but the wait is taking longer than expected. There are 44 states with local casinos and 50 with access to offshore 18+ casinos.
Since most offshore casino and sportsbook brands have been operating in all 50 states since the early 2000s, they have become the norm and have obtained a vast player base in many cases. This is no surprise to many industry professionals who say that the convenience of online casinos and sportsbooks often outweighs the risks.
Will US States Pass Online Casino Laws?
As mentioned above, only seven states have authorized local casinos to offer online services. Rhode Island became the seventh state to launch domestic online casinos in March 2024. Five states, California, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, and New York, are working on legislation allowing online casinos. The likelihood of all those states passing legislation in the next year or two is slim, but other states could join that list after seeing yearly revenue reports.
Online casino expansion will likely boom in the years to come once states realize the benefits of allowing both residents and tourists to gamble online.
Can I Play Online Casinos At 18?
Yes, eighteen-and-up mobile casinos are available in all 50 states. While some sites have opted out of some markets, a reputable casino online is often just a few clicks away. Since no states have passed any laws concerning online gambling from international sites, U.S. players can wager as much as they like without breaking any laws.
Only a handful of states offer gambling services to legal adults under 21. Those options are usually limited to horse racing or the lottery system, but a few exceptions apply.