A quick guide to online casino wagering in America: where it is legal, what can you play, which are best sites?
In January of 2022, New York legalized online sports betting after years of negotiations and legislation.
Of course, betting had been allowed in the Empire State at various tribal casinos and other physical brick and mortar casinos in upstate New York since July of 2019. But once online sports betting was legalized, bettors no longer had to make the trip upstate to place their wagers: they could do it on their mobile devices from anywhere inside state lines.
However, if New York residents want to play casino games, they still have to get in their car (or bus, PATH train, or other form of conveyance) and make a trek either upstate or across state lines.
For now.
That may change soon.
What is Online Casino wagering, and what games do they have?
If you have ever been to a physical casino, you will see rows and rows of slot machines, blackjack tables, roulette wheels, baccarat and dice tables, plus either video poker or poker tables.
In six states across USA, you can also play those games on your mobile device for real money. For instance, many New Jersey online casinos have all of the above games. They also have live dealer games as well, if you want to wager against a human dealer with other online bettors.
It is basically like being at the casino, but you are sitting in your house.
Connecticut does not allow online poker, but Nevada does.
What are the top 10 Online Casinos?
- Bally Casino
- Bet MGM Casino
- Betway
- Caesars Casino
- FanDuel Casino
- Golden Nugget Casino
- Hard Rock Casino
- Hollywood Casino
- UniBet
- Virgin Casino
Where is Online Casino wagering legal in the United States?
Currently, there are only six states where online casino betting is legal in the United States of America: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. That number might soon increase, after various studies showed how much tax revenue states are missing out on each year.
According to this story on PlayIndiana, the Hoosier State may attempt to get a law passed to make Indiana the seventh state to allow iGaming along with sports betting. Nearly half the states around the country now have some form of online or physical sports betting, so it might not be very long before that number gets to double digits.
When will it be legal in New York?
As of the end of 2022, sports betting has now been legal in the Empire State for a year (January 8, 2022). If you remember how long that process took from the time New Jersey legalized sports betting in June of 2018, you will know that sometimes, these things move very slowly in the New York Legislature.
But every year without iGaming means that New York is missing out on billions of dollars of tax revenue. In fact, it might be over $10 billion lost according to this study done by Martin Eriksen.
It should only be a matter of time before the Empire State joins three of its neighbors raking in the revenue from online casino wagering. Will it happen in 2023?
Check back here to find out! Here is an overview of NY potential online casinos.
