Where is Online Gambling Legal in the US? Full List of States 2025

Delaware was the first U.S. state to legalize online gambling in 2012 via the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act. The law allowed for online casino games, sports betting, poker, and lotteries. The state partnered with its three racinos—Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway—to establish online platforms.

Importantly, Delaware has joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) with Nevada, New Jersey, and Michigan, allowing it to share online poker player pools and increasing the competitiveness and prize pools on offer.

Despite its small population, Delaware’s early adoption of online gambling regulations stands as a beacon of innovation within the gaming industry.

Until recently, Nevada had been considered the heartland of US gambling. In 2013, it took a huge leap into online gambling and regulated online poker. Although a ban has been placed on online casinos, traditional land-based casinos have been spared, and they have been moving slowly but surely into sports betting and online poker.

Nevada also joined the MSIGA, allowing its residents to share pools of poker players across state lines with states like Delaware, New Jersey, and Michigan. Mobile sports betting operates and is regulated under Nevada’s wide-ranging consumer protection framework and serves both residents and visitors.

Michigan joined the online gaming fold when it passed its Lawful Internet Gaming Act in 2019. Operations went live in January 2021, when online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms began to operate under a workable regulatory environment. Accordingly, the state launched industry leaders such as BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings, so there are plenty of games to choose from, including online casinos, mobile sports betting, and more.

Michigan has become a trendsetter with its comprehensive approach: stringent consumer protections and a guarantee for considerable revenue-sharing with the state to support schools and local governments. The fact that the state also included tribal operators along with commercial casinos underlines the collaborative nature of Michigan’s regulatory approach.

New Jersey made an early move to lead the regulatory race for online gambling in 2013, with legislation allowing online casinos and poker. Fast-forward to 2018, and after the Supreme Court repealed Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the state expanded to welcome mobile sports betting. Today, it is considered one of the most productive gambling markets in the United States, having yielded billions annually.

This far-reaching regulatory framework allows top operators like Caesars, PokerStars, and FanDuel to offer a variety of games and markets for their customers. New Jersey keeps setting the standard for protection, fairness, and responsible gaming.

Pennsylvania joined the online gambling scene in 2017 after the Pennsylvania Gaming Expansion Act was signed into law and legally regulated online casinos, poker, sports betting, and lotteries. The official launch of the activities took place in 2019. It brought it very quickly among the country’s largest gaming markets, considering the huge population and multiple options available.

Major operators like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel are very present in the state, offering various games and sports betting options. The high licensing fees and steep tax rates—54% on slots and 16% on poker and table games—have translated into tens of millions of dollars in revenue to benefit local public services.

Pennsylvania’s regulatory framework has a system that will provide a safe environment to maintain high compliance standards in terms of consumer protection for all players.

Rhode Island joined the online gambling market in March 2024, becoming the seventh U.S. state to legalize online casinos. This expansion was built upon the state’s 2018 legalization of sports betting following the repeal of the PASPA.

The Rhode Island Lottery oversees online gambling in partnership with the Department of Business Regulation (DBR). Bally’s Corporation, which owns the state’s two casinos, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton, helps operate these services. The partnership grants residents access to regulated online casino gaming that includes slots and table games.

Rhode Island’s model involves state control over gambling activities, with an emphasis on security and responsibility in operations. The legal framework focuses more on consumer protection and integrity in gaming operations, thereby offering a safe environment for online gamblers.

West Virginia joined the online gambling world in 2019, when the West Virginia Legislature passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act to permit the full range of online casino gaming, sports wagering, and poker. This act made West Virginia the first progressive state that could lead the sector forward.

Major operators like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are among the syndicates which the state partnered to ensure residents access to various online gambling platforms. This placed casino games, poker tournaments, and sports betting, among others, in front of West Virginians through regulated websites that ensure fairness and security.

While smaller in population, West Virginia has been using its sophisticated regulatory framework to ensure the steady growth of online gambling. Revenues derived from public programs attest to the state’s commitment to economic development and consumer protection.

Illinois has a history of progressive gambling laws, making it one of the states that allow sports betting and retail casinos.

The state’s success in generating significant revenue from sports betting has prompted discussions about expanding into online casinos and poker. Proponents argue that legal online gambling sites for casino games could further bolster Illinois’ gambling market, which is already among the largest in the Midwest.

Legislation has continued to be introduced, such as House Bill 2239 and Senate Bill 1656 in 2023 to legalize online casinos. Those failed to advance during the 2024 legislative session. State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. plans to reintroduce iGaming legislation in 2025, stressing any eventual regulation must protect consumers and ensure fair play.

In 2019, Indiana opted to join the ranks of states with legal sports betting, creating one of the best-regulated markets across the country and bringing in millions of dollars in tax revenue. However, attempts to allow legal online casino gaming have not yet succeeded.

In 2023, House Bill 1536, a measure to allow online casinos and poker, was not pushed forward by the legislature. Recent action—including the casino-related scandal—led legislative leaders this year to declare a halt to consideration of gaming bills in the 2024 session.

Despite these setbacks, the Indiana Gaming Commission continues to study the potential impact of iGaming, indicating ongoing interest in the future legalization of such gaming.

Massachusetts has been widening its gambling landscape, and online sports betting went live in March 2023.

Continuing with the momentum, State Representative David Muradian plans to introduce legislation in January 2025 to legalize online casinos, including poker. This would align Massachusetts with neighboring states like Rhode Island, which has already embraced online casino gaming.

The new bill will likely include tough consumer protections and responsible gaming measures, further evidence of the state’s serious commitment to a safe gambling environment. Although its passage is anything but certain, the bill nonetheless represents a key movement towards further development of the regulated gambling market in Massachusetts.

New York is actively exploring the expansion of its online gambling offerings beyond the mobile sports betting legalized in January 2022. In January 2024, State Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced Senate Bill S8185, aiming to legalize online casino gaming, including slots and table games, as well as online poker and lottery services.

The proposed legislation suggests a 30.5% tax rate on online casino revenues, with projections indicating that iGaming could generate approximately $1 billion annually for the state. Despite these potential benefits, Governor Kathy Hochul did not include online casino legalization in her 2024 executive budget, citing a preference to focus on awarding downstate casino licenses first.

In Hawaii, it’s not about religious values but more about maintaining a family-oriented culture and tourism-oriented economy.

Lawmakers feel the possible introduction of gambling will displace the social fabric and lead to disruptions in economic structures. Even state-run lotteries are also consistently rejected by the state. Hawaii remains firmly against all types of legalization related to gambling.