While the coronavirus outbreak has significantly affected numerous niches all over the world, it left an opposite impact on online gambling. Since people were forced to stay home, they suddenly started to look for additional ways of entertainment. Online slots & table games are a perfect solution giving a high level of adrenaline with an opportunity for winning a life-changing fortune. With this in mind, we decided to create a list of the states you can legally play your favorite casino games online in.
Online gambling industry in the United States
While expanding at a slower pace than sports betting, legal online casinos are steadily growing their footprint in the country. Some of the biggest names in the niche, such as Caesars Casino online, have already expanded in several states. Many more domestic and foreign high-profile brands are expected to follow the pattern and expand their respective business line. So, let’s get straight to the main question: “Where can you legally play online casino games in the United States?” At the moment, three states have a fully legalized online casino market, including:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Michigan are expected to join them in the first half of 2021 as it laid the groundwork for online casinos in December 2019.
New Jersey
Before 2019, New Jersey was the only American state with a legal online casino industry. They’ve opened up the doors for the new online niche via the A2578 bill in February 2013. The market was launched in November that year. At the moment, the Garden State players have the luxury of playing the popular online casino games with more than 20 operators, including the likes of Unibet, PartyCasino, Betfair, Tropicana, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Borgata, etc.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was the first state to follow New Jersey’s path. Although the state officials legalized online gambling in October 2017, the players had to wait for almost two years to legally spin the reels there. Nevertheless, the online casino niche is now flourishing in Pennsylvania. Currently, its residents have more than 10 distinct online gambling websites at their disposal, and the number is only expected to grow in the times to come. Parx and Rivers are Pennsylvania’s brick-and-mortar heavyweights. They both have strong online extensions in the state now. We have reasons to say the players are spoilt for choice in such circumstances.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice is a casino owner himself and it was natural to expect this state to be among the first to embrace the new online activity. While the legislation adopted online gambling by transforming the bill into law in March 2019, the players did not have the chance to enjoy the final products before July 2020. Back then, DraftKings officially raise the curtain on the new market. BetMGM joined the train a month later. West Virginia have five brick-and-mortar casinos and each of them is permitted to host up to three online skins based on their respective licenses. In theory, it means the West Virginians could have 15 distinct online casino websites at their disposal. It might take some time for them to get there, but the slot & table games aficionados will certainly not feel the lack of options.
