USA Gambling Laws
The laws relating to gambling in the United States can be rather confusing if you are not well-versed in legalese. Although sometimes it seems as though the courts make it as complicated as possible, the laws are relatively easy to understand if you break it down to federal and state law. Federal law is overarching and acts as an umbrella for the states. Federal law grants states the right to regulate certain forms of gambling, such as casinos. When it comes to things like sports betting, though, the laws are much more draconian. Let’s take it slow and start with the easy questions.
Is It Legal To Gamble Online In The United States?
Yes, gambling is legal in the US. Under federal law, states are allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to have gambling. Over half the states have at least one casino. Some forms of gambling, such as sports betting, are much more restricted. As it stands, the only states that allow sports betting are Nevada and Delaware. Online gambling is also very restricted, but not overseas online gambling. In other words, you cannot legally use an internet gambling site based inside the US unless you live in said state. You can, however, use online gambling sites that are based outside the US.
Federal Law Related To USA Gambling
Federal law dictates what states can and cannot do with regard to gambling. There are three major federal laws that pertain to gambling. We will go over the basics of these laws in the next section. There is, of course, the age-old debate over states’ rights versus federal law. Many people believe that states should have the right to allow sports betting if they so choose. New Jersey is an example of a state whose lawmakers are trying challenge federal law to allow sports gambling.
The Wire Act
By 1961, organized crime related to gambling was become a major problem. Bookies and gangsters were engaged in major money-making operations. This criminal element led to the passage of the Federal Wire Act, which barred the transfer of money or wager-related information from state to state using a wire communications facility. Since 1961, the Wire Act has been changed several times. There has been a recent attempt by legislators to restore the Wire Act to its original form. This rollback, called the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, or RAWA, is controversial and is not likely to pass into law.
PASPA
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was passed in 1992 and was designed to outlaw sports betting in America. Like the Wire Act, it was also partly an attempt to crack down on organized crime. What it did was to banish sports gambling from all but a few states which were given one year to pass legislation making sports betting legal. Nevada and Delaware were the only states that acted quickly enough to get sports betting legalized. As previously mentioned, though, New Jersey lawmakers have recently been challenging PASPA in court.
UIGEA
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was designed to limit the way in which internet gambling sites can transfer funds to players. Currently, the only states that are allowed to host their own internet gambling sites are Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. The UIGEA is controversial for several reasons. For one, it was tacked on to a completely unrelated homeland security bill, the Safe Port Act. Because it was added at the last minute, no one in Congress had time to read it. Critics also contend that the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Best Legal Gambling Sites For US Players
Since not everyone lives a close enough to a land-based casino to make a quick trip, lots of people choose to sign up with online sites. There are many really excellent online gambling sites out there that offer amenities that land-based casinos do not have. For example, you won’t find many bonuses at land-based casinos, but you’ll find plenty at online casinos. You’ll be able to save money the more you bet by receiving 25 to 50% off for every qualifying deposit you make. You can also try out great new features like live betting and mobile betting. Gambling online in the U.S. is not just “the next best thing.” They are in some ways superior to traditional land-based casinos.
Best Online Sportsbooks
State Laws About Gambling
States are granted the right to regulate their own land-based casinos, although some states have just a few and some don’t have any at all. Nevada has the most, and California and Oklahoma have a bunch. The only states that have sportsbooks are Nevada and Delaware, although Delaware’s options are pretty limited. Many people say that states should have the right to regulate any and all forms of gambling, including sportsbooks.
Legal Gambling Age
This varies from state to state. The minimum legal gambling age is 18, although in many states it is as high as 21. One state, Alabama, sets the gambling age at 19, while Florida, Hawaii, Utah, Tennessee, Kentucky, Vermont, Virginia, Alaska, and the District of Columbia do not have any set age laws at all. In these states with legal gray areas, you’ll want to go by the age dictated by the site.