If you’re interested in trying your hand at online slot gambling, you may be wondering whether it’s legal or not. The good news is that it’s becoming more common for state and federal lawmakers to approve of various types of gambling, including online casino games, and digital slots. In fact, the Supreme Court ruled that the Wire Act – a federal law that prohibited sports betting across state lines – violated the Constitution’s 10th Amendment in 2018, opening the door for wagering to occur.
Delaware was ahead of the curve when it comes to legalizing iGaming, launching their first online casinos in 2013. While they only have three online options for players to choose from at this time, the products are reputable and well-known. In addition to the online casino offerings, they also offer sports betting, horse racing wagering, and charitable gambling like bingo and pull-tabs.
Pennsylvania took a bit longer to get its iGaming market up and running, but launched its first sites in October of 2017. It was a slow start, but the Keystone State is now replete with safe and authorized online casino options. The state’s biggest brick-and-mortar powers like Parx and Rivers now have online extensions, while major iGaming brands such as BetMGM and FanDuel Casino are available too.
West Virginia was another early adopter of iGaming, passing legislation to legalize it in March of 2019. While the Mountain State only has nine regulated online casino partners at this time, the potential is there for more to come. The state’s three commercial casinos and twenty-two tribal venues can each partner with up to three online casinos, allowing for a total of fifteen fully regulated casino sites.
Rhode Island made history in 2023 by being the seventh state to launch its iGaming industry, following New Jersey, Delaware, and most recently Pennsylvania. The Ocean State’s iGaming market will be the largest in the nation once it launches in 2024, and it’ll feature a mix of major brand names and smaller, niche operators.
Despite being one of the most populous states, Arizona doesn’t have any legal online casinos. Nonetheless, residents can enjoy the fun of playing a wide variety of popular games for free via social online casinos.
Lastly, Hawaii is perhaps the most restrictive state when it comes to online gaming, with residents only allowed to place bets on sports and horses. However, the Aloha State could eventually add a regulated online casino, as its legislators have discussed it in recent years. This is unlikely to happen anytime soon though, as the state’s voters rejected a 2022 initiative that would have approved it.