If you’re in a state that oversees legal online casino games, you can gamble for real money anytime. Online gambling isn’t just convenient – it’s also safer than gambling in person. Many online casinos use strong encryption to protect players’ information. This makes it much harder for hackers to steal players’ personal and financial data. You can also play for free before depositing real cash if you want to practice your skills. Just make sure you choose a reputable website and read reviews before spending any money. You should also be aware of the laws in your jurisdiction before you start gambling.
Several states have passed legislation that allows their residents to gamble on regulated online casino games. These include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Some of these states also allow their residents to gamble on regulated online sports betting sites. However, some of these states are still considering whether to expand their gambling offerings beyond a few retail casinos.
Some states have even started offering lottery games online. These states have found that allowing lottery play in the online arena has been a successful way to increase ticket sales and raise revenue. The success of these efforts has made other lottery operators look into making their own online offerings. It may be just a matter of time before most states offer their citizens the opportunity to place bets on a wide variety of lottery-related events.
The Supreme Court’s decision on sports betting has also opened the door for states to legalize other forms of online gaming. In the past, federal law prohibited many of these activities. But in 2019, the Department of Justice changed its interpretation of the Wire Act, which allowed individual states to pass laws legalizing different types of online gambling.
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of the few states to have legalized both sports and online casino gambling. It took more than a year for the state to launch its first online casinos, but now it is replete with safe and licensed operators. Brick-and-mortar powerhouses like Parx and Rivers are joined by iGaming brands such as FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM.
California is another major player in the iGaming space, though it’s taken a little longer to get its online casinos off the ground. In fact, it wasn’t until 2022 that voters approved a bill to allow for legal online wagering. That measure was backed by some of the country’s largest online sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings.
Some states have yet to legalize iGaming, including New York. However, there have been multiple efforts in recent years to pass legislation that would allow for iGaming within the Empire State.