Where to Legally Gamble Online in the US?

Gambling is a massively popular pastime in the US, with the average American spending $261 on gambling and lottery tickets each year. Despite its popularity, it’s still heavily restricted in most states, and a lot of Americans are often unsure about the legality of gambling. In recent years, changes to the law have meant a lot of those restrictions are slowly being lifted, and gambling is becoming more accessible for American adults than ever before.

The internet has allowed people to get online and sign up for online casinos. With these sites, you can enjoy all the fun of the casino without leaving your home. Online gambling in Michigan and in other states is now a reality, but you still need to be careful that you’re playing at a legal site. Check the rules below to make sure you’re safe when gambling online.

States That Allow Online Gambling

The following states allow all kinds of online gambling, including sports betting and casinos:

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Delaware

The following states all allow some form of online gambling:

  • Illinois – sports betting only
  • Tennessee – Sports betting only
  • Indiana – Sports betting only
  • Iowa–Sports betting only
  • New Hampshire – Sports betting only
  • Nevada – Sports betting and online Poker
  • Oregon–Sports betting only
  • Rhode Island – Sports betting only
  • Montana – Sports betting only
  • Colorado – Sports betting only

Each of these states allows both residents and visitors to sign up and wager at licensed sites. Provided you’re at least 21 years old and within the state borders, you can sign up, make a deposit and start placing bets or playing casino games.

How to Find a Safe Online Gambling Site

The key to having fun and staying safe while gambling online is to find a legal gambling site. Not all of the sites you’ll come across will be legal, so take care to check before you sign up. While it is possible to play at off-shore sites, even if you live in a state that doesn’t allow online gambling, there’s no way to guarantee your money will be safe. When you play at a legal site, you know that your money is protected and that any winnings you make can be cashed out.

Follow these tips to find safe and trustworthy online gambling sites:

  • Check that the site is licensed in your state – To play and wager legally, you’ll need to make sure that the site you’re signing up to is licensed by your state. All states where online gambling is accepted have a gaming commission or state lottery that licenses sites before they can operate. This license not only shows you that the site is legal, but it’s also a good indication that the site is safe and secure.
  • Look to see if the site uses encryption – Any modern online site should use encryption if it involves taking payments and handling personal details. When you sign up for an online casino or sportsbook, you need to enter your personal information and will have to enter payment details to make a deposit. The site should use encryption to keep these details secure and prevent your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
  • Check reviews of the site, before opening an online betting account– As with buying a product, you’ll want to check out some reviews before you buy. Online reviews help you assess the quality of a site before you sign up and give you some insight into what features are available. Look up reviews from trusted reviewers and see the kind of casinos and sportsbooks available online.

Remember that you’ll need to check the rule relating to your specific state before you sign up for any site. While restrictions on gambling online are being lifted, some states still have strict rules about how and where you can gamble. In most cases, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old to sign up and bet. You’ll also need to be within the state lines when you play, as gambling sites use geolocation tools to check that you’re in the state.

Gambling online can be great fun, but it’s important to avoid gambling more than you can afford to lose. Always play responsibly, and if you find yourself forming a habit, use the gambling site exclusion tool to take a break.

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