States That Have Legalized Gambling Average ratng: 5,0/5 4053 reviews
  • In 2018, their record-setting revenues totaled $41.68 billion, an increased of 3.5 percent from the previous year.
  • One of the first major casinos to open in Las Vegas was El Rancho Vegas, opened in 1941
  • The decision was made to allow states to set their own gambling policies, without federal government interference.
  • In 2018, there were 465 commercial casinos in the United States
  1. States That Have Legalized Gambling
  2. States That Have Legalized Sports Gambling
  3. States That Have Legalized Online Gambling
  4. States That Have Legalized Sports Gambling
  5. States That Have Legalized Casino Gambling
  6. States That Have Legalized Online Sports Betting
  7. States That Have Legalized Sports Betting

Gambling could well be America’s favorite pastime, with the commercial casino industry raking in billions every year. In 2018, their record-setting revenues totaled $41.68 billion, an increase of 3.5 percent from the previous year. This is a far cry from the New Orleans gambling halls of the 1800s, gambling halls of the Old West, and the small casinos that opened in Nevada in the 1930s.

One of the first major casinos to open in Las Vegas was El Rancho Vegas, opened in 1941. Although many did not set their stakes on casino gambling being successful, it grew by fits and starts and eventually shot for the stars.

Casino Industry Growth In The U.S.

Here's A Breakdown On Sports Gambling Legislation By State - Across America, US - Thirteen states have legalized, regulated sports betting industries, with many more in the process. After a nearly six year wait, Pennsylvania finally joined NJ in offering online casinos. The state legalized iGaming in October 2017, but took more than 18 months to bring its first products to market. Better late than never – PA is now replete with casino choices. More than 10 online casinos are now up and running within its borders. The Supreme Court of the United States lifted the federal ban on sports betting on May 14, 2018. Since the ruling, 11 states have legalized sports betting, including New York, New Jersey,.

In 1976, the U.S. Commission on the Review of the National Policy toward Gambling published “Gambling in America,” a report that studied attitudes about gambling in America. The Commission then made recommendations to different state governments that were thinking about legalizing gambling. The decision was made to allow states to set their own gambling policies, without federal government interference.

Just two years later, New Jersey opened its first legal casino in Atlantic City. Less than 20 years later, casino gambling was legal in nine more states. As of 2020, these states all have legal casinos. Some are the traditional Las Vegas style, some are land-based; others are Native American owned, on riverboats, or pari-mutuel (pool betting).

  1. Alabama
  2. Arizona
  3. Arkansas
  4. California
  5. Colorado
  6. Connecticut
  7. Delaware
  8. Florida
  9. Georgia
  10. Idaho
  11. Illinois
  12. Indiana
  13. Iowa
  14. Kansas
  15. Kentucky
  16. Louisiana
  17. Maine
  18. Maryland
  19. Massachusetts
  20. Michigan
  21. Minnesota
  22. Mississippi
  23. Missouri
  24. Montana
  25. Nebraska
  26. Nevada
  27. New Jersey
  28. New Mexico
  29. New York
  30. North Carolina
  31. North Dakota
  32. Ohio
  33. Oklahoma
  34. Oregon
  35. Pennsylvania
  36. Rhode Island
  37. South Carolina
  38. South Dakota
  39. Texas
  40. Virginia
  41. Washington
  42. West Virginia
  43. Wisconsin Casinos
  44. Wyoming Casinos

More Ways to Gamble

In 2018, there were 465 commercial casinos in the United States, with Nevada (334), California (150+), Oklahoma (134) and Colorado (40) leading the pack. This is merely the tip of the iceberg, though, as the proliferation of online casino gambling has created even more places to place bets 24/7, 365 days a year. There is also sports betting, lotteries, Bingo, and other games, and gambling laws vary by state.

Some of the live casinos are way over the top, especially ones like the Wynn in Las Vegas and Borgata in Atlantic City. Visitors enjoy spending long weekends – if not days – in these resort towns, taking in the local attractions, seeing shows, sampling the local food, and even going on breathtaking roller coasters. Smaller casinos can be fun too, but you may have to drive out of your way to get to some of them.

Gambling Restrictions

Some of the 44 states on the legal casinos list do place restrictions on their gambling. For example, New Hampshire, Indiana, and other states do not permit online gambling. Georgia only has one casino, and it is a cruise ship. There are two states in the country that have a 100 percent ban on all gambling, and they are Utah and Hawaii.

Legal Online Gambling Options In U.S. States

Alabama - Alabama is notorious for their tumultuous gambling scene. Currently, bingo halls are struggling with remaining legal. Legal Gambling in Alabama is still an option when you are looking for legal gambling states in the USA.

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Alaska - Alaska does not truly have any land based gambling. You will have to look for online gambling in order to enjoy any form of gambling. Legal online poker, sports betting, and casino gambling are all found through the Legal Gambling in Alaska.

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Arizona - Arizona has land based casinos and poker available for their residents. Legal Gambling can also take place over the Internet.

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Arkansas - Arkansas has only recently added a lottery to the state's gambling choices. Casino gambling is best done through the Internet or surrounding states.

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California - California is a state writhe with gambling choices. Many casinos and dozens of poker rooms can be found through California. The legal gambling states in the USA could learn a few things from California. Online poker is also on the way toward regulation in the state of California.

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Colorado - In Colorado there is a plethora of land based casinos, as well as a few card rooms. Colorado is as such one of the legal gambling states in the United States.

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Connecticut - Connecticut does have one of the most impressive legal online casinos and poker rooms in the United States. The Foxwoods Casino is one of the largest casinos in the World, and is an attraction for residents of all surrounding states.

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Connecticut Legal Gambling Age

Delaware - Delaware is one of the few legal gambling states in the USA that lets you bet on sports in a land based enterprise, even if it is limited. Casinos and poker are also a possibility in Delaware.

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Florida - Florida has a confusing series of gambling laws. There are some casinos in Florida, with slot games and the occasional table games. Florida is also a state chalk full of poker rooms. For all forms of gambling in one of the most extensive of the legal gambling states in the USA, online gambling is the place to go for Floridians.

Florida Legal Gambling Florida Legal Casinos Florida Legal Poker Florida Legal Sports Betting Florida Legal Gambling Age

Georgia - Georgia is not as relaxed in terms of gambling as the state to its direct south. Gambling in Georgia is best done over the Internet.

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Hawaii - Hawaii is still void of any gambling location on the islands. Unless you are planning a trip to Las Vegas, you will have to jump into one of the online gambling sites for your betting.

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Idaho - Idaho is in fact one of the legal gambling states in America. Idaho has several casinos within their borders. Legal US State Online Gambling is also an option.

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Illinois - Illnois is home to a few casinos and poker rooms. As one of the Legal Gambling states in the USA, you will be able to enjoy online gambling as well.

Illinois Legal Gambling Illinois Legal Casinos Illinois Legal Poker Illinois Legal Sports Betting Illinois Legal Gambling Age

Indiana - Multiple casinos are at hand in Indiana, as is the occasional card room. Online gambling remains the only safe option for legal sports betting.

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Iowa - Iowa is the home both for poker and casino gaming. This is one of the more extensive of the legal gambling in the United States.

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Kansas - Kansas has recently been working to make up for a lack of gambling. Casinos and poker will both be available to any legal aged play in Kansas.

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Kentucky - Kentucky does not have gambling choices for their players. In order to qualify as one of the legal gambling states in the USA, players will have to turn to online gambling in Kentucky.

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Louisiana - Louisiana has both casinos and poker rooms. Extensive gambling may be found in this state, providing players with a full range of entertainment.

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Louisiana Legal Gambling Age

Maine - Maine has a couple of casinos in the state, though they are not as diverse as the online gambling choices that have empowered Maine as one of the legal gambling states in the USA.

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Maryland - Maryland is currently working to add legal gambling choices to the state. Currently the Internet is the only medium through which online gamblers can enjoy the games.

Maryland Legal Gambling Maryland Legal Casinos Maryland Legal Poker Maryland Legal Sports Betting Maryland Gambling Age

Massachusetts - Massachusetts carries card rooms but not land based casinos. The only chance for casino or sports gambling without leaving the state is found through online gambling.

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Michigan - As with nearly every other state, sports gambling is not legal through any land based enterprise in the state of Michigan. However, casinos and card rooms are available to Michigander.

Michigan Legal Gambling Michigan Legal Casinos Michigan Legal Poker Michigan Legal Sports Betting Michigan Gambling Age

Minnesota - Another of the Legal Gambling States in the USA is Minnesota. No sports betting will take place off of the Internet, but there are casinos and poker rooms available in the state.

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Minnesota Legal Gambling Age

Mississippi - Mississippi is another of the legal gambling states in the USA. Without a doubt, you will see poker and casino gaming ready to be played, though as usual sports betting is not an option.

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Mississippi Legal Gambling Age

Missouri - Missouri is another of the card room, casino combination states. Both exist in enough variety for all players to enjoy.

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Montana - The State of Montana has plenty of poker rooms for players to sling some cards, though there are currently no casinos to be found within the state. Sports betting could be introduced, though it has not yet been enacted.

Montana Legal Gambling Montana Legal Casinos Montana Legal Poker Montana Legal Sports Betting Montana Gambling Age

Nebraska - Nebraska is one of the few states with no forms of gambling outside of the Internet. You will have to find online gambling in order to play the games in Nebraska.

States

Nebraska Legal Gambling Nebraska Legal Casinos Nebraska Legal Poker Nebraska Legal Sports Betting Nebraska Gambling Age

States That Have Legalized Gambling

Nevada - As if we need to say anything. Nevada is the main hub of gambling in the United States. All forms of gambling can be found within Nevada, both online and offline.

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New Hampshire - New Hampshire lacks casinos, but poker games can be found through card rooms in the state. Casino and sports gambling must be found through the Internet.

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New Hampshire Legal Gambling Age

States That Have Legalized Sports Gambling

New Jersey - New Jersey has a serious gambling community, both for poker and casino gaming. Jersey is also making a push for legal sports betting to round off their status as one of the legal gambling states in the USA.

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New Jersey Legal Gambling Age

New Mexico - New Mexico is another of the legal gambling states in the United States. Card rooms are also prevalent in the state of New Mexico. Online gambling is also an option.

New Mexico Legal Gambling New Mexico Legal Casinos New Mexico Legal Poker New Mexico Legal Sports Betting
New Mexico Legal Gambling Age

New York - New York has a fairly active gambling scene. Horse races, the occasional casino, and poker rooms are all industries found in New York, as are online gambling.

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New York Legal Gambling Age

North Carolina - If you live in North Carolina, then you will find one land based casino and the occasional poker room. Turn to online gambling for the rest of your choices.

North Carolina Legal Gambling North Carolina Legal Casinos North Carolina Legal Poker North Carolina Legal Sports Betting
North Carolina Gambling Age

North Dakota - North Dakota has very few gambling choices. These choices are almost limited to poker and a state driven lottery. For all other forms of gambling, you will have to turn to the Internet.

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North Dakota Legal Gambling Age

Ohio - Ohio is rapidly becoming one of the US states with legal gambling. Casino gambling has recently been introduced. When these casinos are erected, poker will also be added. Sports betting is not an option in this state unless you turn to the Internet.

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Oklahoma - Oklahoma has an abundance of casinos - over fifty in fact. Poker is also incorporated into the state. Online gambling is also part of Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma Legal Gambling Age

Oregon - Oregon is another one of the legal gambling states in the USA. Oregon has poker as well, and sports betting can be achieved on the Internet.

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Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania has recently established some serious casino action. Poker is going also incorporated into these venues. Pennsylvania is also becoming one of the most popular places for casino gaming in the North Eastern United states.

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Pennsylvania Legal Gambling Age

Rhode Island - Rhode Island has been mulling over the possibility of adding casinos to their state. Thankfully the state is small enough so that you travel to another state for your gambling.

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Rhode Island Legal Gambling Age

South Carolina - South Carolina is one of the most uptight states pertaining to gambling. Even playing a card game in your home could get you into trouble.

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South Carolina Gambling Age

South Dakota - South Dakota is another location with several casinos and poker rooms. There are plenty of ways one can gamble within the state. Online gambling can fill any gap you may find.

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South Dakota Legal Gambling Age

Tennessee - Tennessee is not open to many forms of gambling. You will have to turn to the Internet in order to place wagers on casino games, poker, or sports.

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Tennessee Legal Gambling Age

States That Have Legalized Online Gambling

Texas - There is limited casino gambling in Texas. Poker is, a one might expect, quite popular. In order to round out your gambling options, turn to the Internet.

States That Have Legalized Sports Gambling

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Utah - Utah is not exactly one of the legal gambling states in the USA. You will want to turn to online gambling in order to accommodate your needs.

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Vermont - Vermont is limited in gambling choices, though the state's size permits potential players passage into states that are more lenient with gambling.

States That Have Legalized Casino Gambling

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Virginia - Virginia is not without its choices for poker rooms. Some talk of casino gambling has also been heard. Virginia online gambling is the best choice, however, for making this one of the legal gambling United

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Washington - Washington state has poker rooms, as well as several casinos. This state is full of gambling choices, and sports betting is only a few states away - or one internet connection.

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Washington Legal Gambling Age

States That Have Legalized Online Sports Betting

West Virginia - West Virginia has recently reopened the Greenbrier resort and casino. Casino gaming is at an all time high in West Virginia, as is poker. Sports bettors will take their path to the Internet.

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West Virginia Legal Gambling Age

Wisconsin - Wisconsin has poker, Wisconsin has casinos, and Wisconsin lacks sports betting. You will find that this is one of the easier legal gambling states in the USA however.

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Wisconsin Legal Gambling Age

States That Have Legalized Sports Betting

Wyoming - Wyoming is essentially devoid of poker rooms, and also lacks casinos. This is not one of the best legal gambling states in the USA.

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