USA’s Gambling Industry: Are We Suffering from the Fact that Casinos Are Legal in Only 6 States?
Online casinos are now incredibly popular. Several countries throughout Europe have legalized the industry, which has heavily contributed to iGaming generating billions in revenue every year. In the United States, the industry has not been embraced so fully. And yet, six states have deigned to legalize online casinos. In this article, we would like to take a look at whether the USA could greatly benefit from a broader legalization of online gambling.
Why Online Casinos Are Popular?
The appeal of online casinos cannot be understated. Their accessibility is what makes them most popular. However, they also come with a variety of other advantages that has made people interested. One of the biggest draws of online casinos is that they come with different bonuses, that makes gambling a lot easier.
Some of the most popular bonuses include welcome offers. As you may have gathered, welcome bonuses entail giving players some kind of advantage right from the start. These incredible first deposit casino bonus offers are a huge part of what makes online casinos so successful.
Other than the bonuses, there are plenty of other reasons to visit an online casino. From the wide variety of games, to the accessibility factor, to the increased emphasis on safety, security, and anonymity, it isn’t surprising that the iGaming industry has become a massive success.
Legality in the USA
The massive success of online gambling makes it strange that the United States of America has not embraced online casinos. Of course, the practice is legal in some states; six to be exact. The following is a list of the six states in the USA that have legalized online gambling:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Connecticut
- West Virginia
- Michigan
- Delaware
Out of the six, New Jersey is the one that has the most successful and vibrant iGaming industry. Unsurprisingly so, as it was the first to legalize the practice in the early 2000s. The industry in New Jersey generates millions of dollars annually. Which begs the question; is the USA missing out?
Is the USA Missing Out?
From a monetary perspective, the USA is definitely missing out by not legalizing online casinos. In countries where online casinos are legal, we can see a notable boost in economy. Not only do countries reap rewards of tax revenue, but online casinos also provide dozens, if not hundreds of jobs. There is definitely a notable benefit to legalizing online casinos.
On top of that, in US states where gambling online is legal, we can see an overall boost in the economy. The New Jersey iGaming industry produces millions of dollars in tax revenue a year. We see similar numbers in the other five states, though not to the same degree, as New Jersey’s online gambling industry is the biggest in the USA.
In 2018, the US government legalized sports betting on a federal level. Perhaps in the near future, we will see a federal law legalizing all forms of online gambling.