Us states with legal online casinos (and 5 that aren't)

The internet has made it pretty easy to find online casinos willing to take your deposits and offer you thousands of slots and table games to play. But just because an offshore casino can accept players from across the country doesn't mean that venture is completely legal.

Every state in America is free to make its own rules about gambling within its borders, and most have said very specific things about accessing Internet casinos. Some states have their own licensed, regulated online casino sites, while others outlaw both operating and playing at such sites.

It's our job to keep track of those gaming laws so that you don't have to. What we've found is that most states fall into one of six different categories when it comes to online casino gambling.

States with Legal Online Casinos

The eight states you’ll see below all offer legal online casino gambling to their constituents. All told, these states contribute a small but growing portion of the overall US online casino market.

Are more states on the way? It certainly seems likely, as more and more Americans become accustomed to placing legal sports wagers online via websites and apps run by their own state’s regulatory agency. This concept – known as “state-regulated” or “licensed and regulated” gambling – is the only way to offer safe, secure, and fully legal online casino sites & apps.

For now, though, most American gamblers must choose between two broad options when it comes to online casino gaming:

  • States offering legal, state-regulated casino sites
  • Offshore gambling sites which operate legally under decades-old federal legislation
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Let’s discuss each option and outline which states currently offer legal, in-state online casino gambling.

Michigan

Michigan was one of many states which saw a wave of pro-gambling legislation in the aftermath of Murphy v. NCAA, the 2018 case which struck down PASPA and began the age of legalized sports betting throughout the United States. That new regulatory environment gave several pro-gambling lawmakers the political cover they needed to push iGaming legislation through their state houses and senates.

Michigan’s first internet gambling options went live in January of 2021, and interested adult players aged 21 and up are now able to open real money accounts at several major online casinos.

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Games offered on Michigan’s state regulated online casino sites include slots, video poker, virtual roulette and blackjack, along with live dealer versions of those table games.

This means players in the Great Lakes State can enjoy a truly “casino floor to couch” experience, going from land-based casinos like MGM Grand Detroit to their favorite chair or couch top in a smooth and seamless manner.

That’s the beauty of state-regulated online casinos – players know they are getting fair games and honest payouts, as all of the games and software have been rigorously tested and certified by the state’s gaming control authority. Players also enjoy the knowledge that their financial and personal data is kept safe and sound due to strict security regulations.

Finally, players who have a problem know they can get help via the self-exclusion tools and problem gambling hotlines which are easily accessible on each state-regulated Michigan online casino site.

Some of the nation’s larger casino brands operate Michigan’s state-regulated online casino sites, including:

  • BetMGM Casino MI (betmymGMcasino.com)
  • DraftKings Casino MI (app.draftkings.com)
  • FanDuel Casino MI (www.fanduel.com)
  • William Hill Casino MI (williamhill.us)
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For more information on getting started with state-licensed casino gaming in Michigan, please visit our detailed review page via the link below.

Check out Michigan's top casino apps below:

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania became one of the first US states to pass a comprehensive iGaming law back in 2017, beating Michigan to the punch by a few months. That law allowed for both online casino gaming and legal online poker sites, making PA something close to a true “triple threat” gambling state (along with New Jersey and Delaware).

Of course, PA hasn’t been able to quite match the revenue figures seen in large markets like New Jersey or the UK. However, Pennsylvania’s combined online casino / online lottery sales topped $436 million in 2020, good for 2nd place among all US states.

This shows that there is a large appetite among Pennsylvanians for quality online casino action. Some of the biggest brand names in entertainment and gambling operate PA’s online casino sites, including:

  • BetMGM Casino PA (betmymGMcasino.com)
  • DraftKings Casino PA (app.draftkings.com)
  • FanDuel Casino PA (www.fanduel.com)
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All told, there are currently over a dozen unique online casino “brands” spread across ten different physical casino properties in the state of Pennsylvania. That gives players plenty of choices, but it also means a great deal of variety when it comes to software, promotions, and game selections.

For example, some PA online casinos feature hundreds of slot machines, while others offer fewer than 100. Many offer live dealer table games, while others do not. Some PA casinos online offer generous deposit matching signup bonuses, while others use a point-based rewards system.

One thing all of these sites have in common is that they are licensed and strictly regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). That ensures players will receive honest payouts and quick withdrawals, while knowing their funds are being held in segregated bank accounts for later use.

For more information on signing up, verifying your account, and making deposits and withdrawals at a legal Pennsylvania online casino, please visit our complete PA casino online reviews via the link below.

Check out Pennsylvania's top casino apps below:

New Jersey

No state has won bigger when it comes to the post-PASPA world of legal online casino gaming than New Jersey. As one of the plaintiffs in Murphy v. NCAA (alongside league officials and the state of Delaware), “Atlantic City” New Jersey played a large role in bringing about the end of the federal ban on sports betting.

That same legacy of progressive gambling laws has helped New Jersey become the largest online casino market in the United States outside of the UK. With over $800 million in annual iGaming revenues, New Jersey’s collection of online casinos & poker rooms is roughly four times larger than its next closest competitor (Pennsylvania).

Another interesting aspect of New Jersey’s online casino industry is how heavily focused it is on dual gaming products. Several companies — most notably the Roar Digital joint venture of bet365 and Flutter Entertainment (parent company of PokerStars) — offer both online casinos and separate online poker sites. This allows these operators to cross-promote poker and casino cash games, poker tournaments, and online casino slots and table games to their existing customer bases.

Other companies opt to focus on a single product, either casino (BetMGM, Unibet) or poker (PartyPoker, 888poker). Regardless of the business model, all online sites and apps operating in New Jersey must obtain a full online gaming license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).

This requires a hefty initial fee ($400,000 + annual renewals of $175,000), passing stringent technical audits, and forming a partnership with an already-licensed Atlantic City land-based casino. For players, this means that all transaction and game outcomes are verified and certified by the NJDGE, providing a layer of trust and safety unavailable at offshore casino sites.

Speaking of which… if you’re a New Jersey resident, here’s a helpful list of websites the state has deemed unapproved:

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That does not mean residents face jail time for using foreign-operated sites. It does mean that those sites have not agreed to the same financial and game transparency standards demanded by US state regulators. Every state-licensed online casino in New Jersey also offers a mobile app you can download to your phone or tablet.

Read our comprehensive guide to New Jersey's top casino apps below:

Connecticut

Connecticut entered the online casino space in 2021 with a uniquely-structured law which featured a number of compromises designed to get governance and regulation past the finishing line. One compromise was that only the state’s federally-recognized Indian tribes were allowed to offer online casino gambling or online sports betting.

The other big limitation placed on online casino sites in Connecticut is that they may not offer online poker. A badly-written section of the bill signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont explicitly permitted all forms of online gambling … except online poker. That means Connecticut’s two state-sanctioned online casino launches in 2021 did not include poker, though that could change in future years.

Another big compromise in the CT online gambling law concerned regulation. Rather than creating a new state regulatory body for online gambling, oversight of Connecticut’s online casinos was left to the two tribal gaming commissions which already regulate the state’s land-based slot palaces and casino resorts.

This has raised questions as to the independence and impartiality of the regulation provided by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission (MTGC) and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Gaming Commission (MPTGC). Both groups answer to the respective tribal councils of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, which stand to benefit financially from the success of online gambling affiliates.

Despite those concerns, both the Mohegan Sun Online Casino and the Foxwoods Online Casino received temporary approval to go live with real-money games in July of 2021. Both sites are skim milk vanilla in terms of their visual design and game selection offerings, though they do carry a healthy selection of slots and table games from respected software providers.

This means players can expect honest payouts and quick withdrawal times, as long as the games and random number generator software are independently verified by third-party testing laboratories. Connecticut Law requires all online casino revenue to be split 25/75 between the state and the operating tribe.

The 25% tax revenue from iGaming is earmarked for various educational programs throughout the Nutmeg state, which should help ease some liberal lawmakers’ worries over the expansion of gambling.

See our complete list of casinos in Connecticut below:

Delaware

Delaware was something of a pioneer in the modern history of American online casino gambling. That’s because Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway had already been offering networked slot machine jackpots between their three properties for many years prior to the advent of the Internet.

State legislators drew upon that existing infrastructure when they passed the Delta Lottery Modernization Act of 2012. That law amended the original Delaware Video Lottery Act of 1999 to add language allowing the three horse tracks to offer state-wide, wireless internet lottery games. Those games were defined as both instant-win games (slots) and tablet games (table games), effectively defining Delaware as an online casino state.

Delaware joined the Multi-State Internet Gambling Agreement (MSIGA) in 2014, which allowed the three racetrack casinos to offer the Multi-State Special Jackpot (MSSJ) to players around the state. This jackpot was later renamed the Delaware Progressive Jackpot.

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All told, Delaware’s three online casino sites – owned by the three racetracks – have shown modest growth since 2013. Revenues routinely hover around the $5 million per month range, good for third place among the state’s various lottery products.

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Nevada

How odd is it that the world’s premier gambling destination sat on the sidelines while other lesser-known states like New Jersey and Delaware rushed to fill PASPA-vacuum with legal online casinos? Well, odds are you’ve been asking “why?” instead of “how odd is it,” and that’s a perfectly reasonable question.

The short version of the story is that the mandataries of Sin City were happy with the billions of dollars tourists and visitors continued to pour into the city’s fabled Strip and downtown casinos. Why rock the money boat by introducing a new product which might cannibalize some of that land-based action?

Those concerns about cannibalization may yet prove prophetic, as Nevada’s meager online casino numbers show minimal crossover between the state’s online and land-based casinos. Another big reason for Nevada’s lackluster online casino numbers is the fact the state’s chief regulators imposed a number of arbitrary restrictions on operators.

Among the more absurd rules put in place by the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) were bans against using the word “Casino” in an online gaming domain name, as well as a prohibition against offering any bonus offers or loyalty reward schemes. These rules were eventually modified, but not before many potential operators decided to sit out the Nevada market altogether.

Today, NV online casinos remain rare birds in the Silicon Desert. Currently, there are only two websites offering traditional table games to complement their vast libraries of online slot machines:

  • (Mobile App)
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As you can see, WSOP.com NV is the better of the two sites due to its higher win percentage for players, as well as its networked player pool which permits games against neighbors in the nearby online casino markets of New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.

Interestingly, Nevada law does not allow WSOP.com to offer its popular fast-fold CASH Game online poker variant to non-poker players. This means interested parties must head to the all-in one online casino and poker site in New Jersey or Nevada’s neighbor to the west, Delaware.

Here are the best online casinos available in Nevada:

New York

There isn’t a legal online casino monopoly in New York just yet, but it certainly looks like one is coming sooner rather than later.

In January of 2022, Resorts World Catskills became the first operator authorized to offer online casino games. And while the licence has officially been granted, the governor and state legislature still need to agree on the details of the online gaming rules.

Once those rules are approved, Resorts World – and perhaps other commercial and tribal casinos – will be able to launch online casinos and mobile gambling apps.

Gov. Hochul has been vocal in her support of online gambling, calling it a matter of “fairness” since up to 90% of New Yorkers can currently just hop over their neighbor’s fence to enter another state and gamble online there.

What kinds of online gambling will be permitted in the Empire State? Looks like it will be limited to online roulette, blackjack, and slots. No word yet on whether online casino poker will be on the table but – considering NY’s four licenced card rooms must geo-fence Manhattan to avoid cannibalizing their own revenue – it seems unlikely.

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One more caveat: Progressive Democrats in Albany are pushing to dedicate a significant chunk of online casino revenue towards low-income tax credits. Whether that proposal makes it into the final online gambling authorisation remains to be seen.

One thing that won’t be part of legal New York online gambling is sports betting. The rules being drafted specifically exclude sports wagering to an online platform, meaning that Governor Cuomo will need to kick off his own personal March Madness tradition of suing major sports leagues if he wishes to offer legal New York sports betting during March Madiness 2023.

Stay updated on NY online casinos with our dedicated page below:

Exploring State-Regulated Options

So why choose a state-regulated online casino over its offshore competitors? There are several key reasons to limit your play to safe, secure, and legal gambling sites.

First and foremost among those reasons is player safety and protection. When you deposit money with a gambling site which is licensed and regulated by your home state, several important things happen behind the scenes.

For starters, that state regulatory agency will require the online casino site to submit to regular financial audits. This means you can rest assured your deposits will be kept safe and sound until you’re ready to gamble them away.

Additionally, state-regulated casino sites must verify the random number generator (RNG) software which determines where the digital reels stop after you hit the ‘Spin’ button on a slot machine or table game. Independent testing laboratories like eCOGRA and GLI test RNG software to ensure it starts each game with fair odds and continues to provide those equal odds with every spin, roll, and deal.

Finally, state-licensed online casinos must submit to regular security audits to ensure customer data is being kept safe from hackers and data thieves. This includes both personal information (name, address, social security #) and financial data (bank account info, credit cards).

Offshore Casino Sites

State-regulated online casino markets in America continue to grow and expand year after year. However, that leaves the majority of the United States without a convenient, close-at-hand option for legal internet gambling.

That’s where offshore online casinos come into the picture.

These websites have operated semi-openly for decades, offering casino patrons outside of gambling meccas like Las Vegas or Atlantic City a chance to enjoy the latest slots and classic table games right from their home computer or smartphone.

Offshore casino sites serve a valuable purpose for millions of American players, but they also operate in a legal gray area.

That’s because the main law governing online gambling in the United States — the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 — takes a convoluted view on the issue.

The UIGEA forbids online gambling sites based within the United States, but it does not clearly state that it is illegal for a American citizen to gamble online at a site based outside of the country. This loophole has permitted offshore online casino sites to operate with impunity for decades, though there are occasional threats from rogue AGs looking to make a name for themselves.

Are Offshore Casino Sites Safe?

That depends entirely upon which sites you choose to visit. Here at Heavy , we’ve spent nearly 25 years building a reputation as the leading industry watchdog group. We’ve worked tirelessly to build a thorough understanding of the inner workings of online casino sites, poker rooms, and sportsbooks, so we know what to look for underneath the hood.

Our staff of writers, editors, and developers has decades of direct experience working with online casino sites in one capacity or another, giving us a unique understanding of what makes for a safe, reputable online gambling provider.

We have worked directly with several large public companies in the past, and we currently maintain ongoing business relationships with several large, reputable online gaming organizations. Our team members have also worked alongside scores of private entrepreneurs who have launched online gambling businesses over the years, and we know the good ones from the bad ones.

When we discovered numerous shady operators popping up to serve newly-legalized US markets in New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada, we knew we had to step up and start pointing readers toward the best online gambling sites available. That led to the creation of our own set of certification standards, which all sites wishing to be listed on Heavy .com must meet or exceed.

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Those certifications standards include several key components, including:

  • Licensing and regulatory compliance. All sites listed on Heavy.com operate with the consent of the appropriate governmental authorities. This usually takes the form of licenses issued by one or more legitimate land-based gambling operations which serve as a sponsor or guarantor for their online affiliate. Additionally, some national governments – most notably the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority – issue pan-European gambling licenses which also qualify as a stamp of approval for US online casino patrons.
  • Security. Every online gambling site we recommend uses Secure Socket Layers (SSL) encryption technology to scramble all sensitive data before it is sent over the internet. This includes your name, address, credit card numbers, and banking info, keeping it safely out of reach of hackers, identity thieves, and other ne’er-do-wells. In addition, all reputable online casino sites employ modern password protocols, two-factor authentication schemes, and a variety of other best practices to further lock down customer data.
  • Audited and Verified Games. Every reputable online casino site uses random number generator (RNG) software to determine the outcome of all slot spins, roulette rolls, blackjack deals, and other casino game actions. However, the only way to know whether those RNG units are actually providing fair, unbiased results is to have them verified by independent testing laboratories. Every site you’ll find on Heavy.com uses gaming software that has been audited and verified by trusted companies like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and Gaming Associates.
  • Fast Payouts. When you win money playing online casino games, you want to get your hands on it as quickly as possible. Reputable online gaming sites make that possible through a variety of reliable payment processors. Look for sites which have a proven record of honoring withdrawal requests in a timely fashion.
  • Customer support and service. Even the best casino players need a little help now and then. That’s why it’s important to have access to friendly, knowledgeable customer support representatives whenever you need them. The best sites offer live chat support with fast, efficient answers to your questions. Even sites without live chat should offer phone and email support with similarly prompt answers.
  • Experience and reputation. If heavy.com recommended online gambling sites based solely on certification checks, we wouldn’t be doing our job quite right. After all, you can’t judge a book by its government-issued licenses – even in the online gambling world. So in order to wind up on this page, an online gambling site must have not only a clean license record, but also a lengthy track record of providing fair, fun gaming experiences for its customers.
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Every site you’ll find on Heavy.com has passed our certification checks with flying colors. They also have the endorsement of our staff of writers, editors, developers, and designers – all of whom are experienced online casino players with discerning tastes.

This does not mean that every other offshore casino site operating in the United States is unsafe or should be avoided. However, it does mean those sites do not meet the minimum standards of safety, security, and customer care required to be listed on a high-traffic website like Heavy.com.

If you’ve had positive experiences with another site not listed here, that’s great. By the same token, if you run into problems with a site you find on this page, let us know. We actively monitor all of our recommendations, and we’ll immediately remove any site from this page if they fail to live up to our standards.

How We Rate Offshore Casino Sites

While they may not be able to offer the same location-specific bonuses, promos, and game choices as state-licensed online casino sites, the best offshore casino sites offer a wealth of positive attributes. Here’s what to look for on the foreign-based sites that accept US players.

  • Bonuses and promotions. It is rare to find an offshore gambling site without a welcome bonus or free spins offer. These sites rely on the ability to offer enticing promotional offers to acquire and retain customers, so they tend to be quite generous with their deposit matches and freebie giveaways. Of course, it is important to read the fine print regarding wagering and other terms before accepting any bonus, but you should be able to find at least one suitable offer for your playing style.
  • Slots selection. Even the smallest online casinos typically offer 100 or more different slot machines, often sourced from multiple software providers. You can generally find all of your old standbys from slot developers like IGT, Williams Interactive, Playtech, and Rival Gaming, though you may need to search the jackpot pools.
  • Table games selection. Blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker are staples at most offshore online casino sites, and most offer live dealer versions of some games. Some sites go above and beyond with novelty games like scratchcards, Keno, bingo, and lotto.
  • Payment processing. All reputable online casinos accept major credit cards, and most take debit cards and prepaid cards as well. Wire transfers are available at most sites, and most now accept Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Etherium.
  • Customer support. Live chat support with fast, efficient answers to your questions is standard fare at most online casinos. Email and toll-free telephone support are also commonly available, sometimes for a limited number of hours.
  • Reputation. The best way to determine the character of an online casino is to do a Google Search with the name of the site and the words “review,” “scam,” “bad,” and “shitshow” to see what players have to say. Also check third-party blacklists like to see if the site is known stealing from players or avoiding regulators.
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US States That Prohibit Online Casinos

As you can probably guess, most of the states which prohibit all forms of online gambling are puritanical, Bible-thumping denominations which eschew anything resembling fun or pleasure. That would be you too, Kentucky ClDerbachella.

Seriously, though, the official reason most anti-gambling state legislatures give for their opposition to online gambling is their belief that it will harm the citizens of XYZ state.

Now, one would think that the citizens of said state are capable of opening their own computers, visiting whatever online casino or poker room they wish, and responsibly enjoying said site’s offerings without becoming raging alcoholic gambling addicts who steal from their wives to feed their nasty habits.

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Unfortunately, many state legislatures simply cannot resist the urge to protect their populations from themselves, no matter how silly they look to the rest of us. If that sounds vaguely familiar, it should – it’s the exact reasoning employed by the various states which banned the sale of alcoholic beverages inside their boundaries back in the day.

Is it Illegal to Play Online Casino Games From the USA?

Technically, yes – but only if you visit a gambling site which is based in the United States and choose to play games there.

That’s because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 outlaws operating an online gambling site within the United States. It does not, however, explicitly state that a U.S. citizen is breaking the law by visiting a gambling site located outside of the country.

This legal loophape has allowed dozens of reputable online casino sites to continue serving American players for the past two decades.

There is always the possibility that a rogue attorney general – or even a state gambling regulator looking to drum up a bit of extra news copy – could decide to target offshore online casinos. However, none have successfully done so to date, and the prevailing legal opinion holds that playing online casino games is not itself illegal.

For instance, in 2011 – shortly after the DOJ seized domain names belonging to several prominent online poker sites – the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice released a statement clarifying their interpretation of the UIGEA:

“The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has issued an opinion addressing whether certain activities concerning online gambling constitute illegal gambling under the Federal wire acts, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1952-1953, in light of the Department’s April 15, 2011 announcement that the wire act is limiting statute as it relates to online gambling. The OLC opinion concludes that the wire acts do not prohibit certain activities related to online gambling.

“The activities addressed in the opinion include those involving online gambling that are not related to a sporting event or race, and involve only cash prizes (i.e., no tournament entries or other in-kind prizes). Copies of the October 18, 2011 opinion are attached. As we indicated in our April 15, 2011 announcement, the Department intends to issue regulations addressing whether the wire acts restrict the ability of persons to participate in online gambling conveyed across state lines, and we will not initiate prosecutions of such activities consistent with those regulations for the duration of the regulatory process.”

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Basically, the OLC stated that online casino gambling was not illegal under the UIGEA unless it involved sports betting or racing. Additionally, any online casino site which offered only straight cash prizes and no tournament entries or other in-kind goods or services would not be in violation of UIGEA provisions.

Important caveat alert: This opinion was rendered by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. This does not preclude a civil suit by the Department of Justice’s Civil Division seeking injunctive relief and/or penalties against an online gambling site owner or manager. However, such civil suits are quite rare, and targets generally have ample opportunity to comply with the provisions of the UIGEA before any action is taken.

This means that American citizens are not technically breaking the law by visiting an online casino site located outside of the United States. Obviously, this could change in the future, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Can you be arrested for playing online casino games?

Absolutely not. The UIGEA is a complicated tangle of banking provisions, not a criminal code. There are no provisions in federal law that make online casino patrons criminals.

Could that change in the future? Yes, but the likelihood of that happening is extremely remote.

For one thing, the US Treasury – which oversees enforcement of the UIGEA – has no interest in turning its attentions to individual players. Besides, even if the federal government did decide to reclassify online casino patrons as criminals, US Attorneys would have neither the time nor the resources to pursue such a wide-ranging campaign.

In practical terms, this means that you can visit reputable online casinos, play by the house rules, and enjoy your favorite slot machines, table games, and specialty titles without living in constant fear of a Knock and Needle.

However, we should note that individual states have their own anti-gambling laws on the books, and enforcing agencies such as state police departments have less paperwork to contend with than federal agents. While such instances are rare, they have occurred in the past.

In late 2017, for example, lawyers for the State of Illinois confiscating gambling site owner Denise Herdman’s bank accounts under state law. Herdmann ultimately lost her appeal and was forced to plead bankruptcy, surrendering all assets aside from her home and antique furniture.

States with Restrictive Gambling Laws

Washington

Washington is one of the few states which outlaws all forms of gambling, both online and in brick-and-mortar establishments.

The Washington Code Section 9.46.240 states that “A person is guilty of gambling when he or she engages in gambling as described in this chapter.” (RCW 9.46.020)

The following RCW sections detail the specific types of gambling which are covered under this provision:

  • RCW 9.46.020 – Definitions
  • RCW 9.46.030 – Wagering on contest of skill – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.040 – Wagering on futurity – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.050 – Definition of “meeting” – Wagering on meeting – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.060 – Definitions – Racing offense – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.070 – Keeping place for wagering – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.080 – Betting privileges – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.140 – “Banked” card game – Definition – Violation
  • RCW 9.46.150 – Conducting “banked” card game – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.160 – Participating in “banked” card game – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.170 – “Nonbanked” card game – Definition – Violation
  • RCW 9.46.180 – Conducting “nonbanked” card game – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.190 – Participating in “nonbanked” card game – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.200 – Definitions – Pawnbroker violations – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.210 – Making loans on pledged personal property – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.220 – Keeping gambling devices – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.230 – Possession of gambling device – Penalty
  • RCW 9.46.240 – Gambling – General prohibition – Potential penalties
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Essentially, Section 240 makes gambling of any kind illegal in Washington state.

However, the Washington State Gambling Commission regulates several forms of gambling within the state, subject to various potential penalties outlined in Chapter 9.46 RCW:

  • Bingo
  • Card rooms
  • Charitable gaming
  • Horse racing
  • Indian gaming compact
  • Keno
  • Lottery
  • Slot machines