The short answer to this question is yes, but the specifics of how can you gamble online legally depend on the state and country in which you reside. The United States, some provinces in Canada and most countries of the European Union all have legalized online gambling markets. In addition, most major reputable gambling sites will be licensed and regulated in the jurisdiction where they operate, which ensures that games are fair and that player funds are secure.

Despite the availability of legal online gambling, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of wagering money on the outcome of a game or event. This is why many states have enacted laws to protect players by requiring that all gambling activity takes place on land-based establishments or through state-approved operators. Some states, such as Utah and Hawaii, have banned all forms of gambling altogether, including social casinos.

In the past decade, a number of states have made it easier for residents to gamble online by legalizing sports betting and even casinos. This has largely been spurred on by the success of neighboring states like New Jersey and Delaware, which launched iGaming in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Pennsylvania followed suit just six months after the Supreme Court reversal, and West Virginia and Michigan have also joined in the fun since then.

While some states have taken a cautious approach to legalizing online gambling, others are embracing it with open arms. Connecticut has been a leader in this area, and it was the first state to legalize both iGaming and sports betting. Rhode Island has followed suit, and its iGaming market will launch on March 1, 2024. New York, meanwhile, is still without access to iGaming, although several efforts have been made in recent years to change this.

Illinois remains one of the few states that hasn’t yet legalized online casino play, though sports betting was approved in 2023. A constitutional amendment would need to be passed for online casinos to become legal in the state, and multiple legislative attempts have failed over the years.