State Gambling Laws in the US: Complete List for 2024

Gambling laws in the US are changing quickly as more and more states are trying to capitalize on taxes from gambling revenue, which exceeded $50 billion in 2021. With that kind of money, high gambling taxes can generate substantial income for the state.

Whether you’re a casual gambler or looking to go pro, everything you need to know about the state of legal gambling in the US can be found right here in this guide.

Gambling Laws by State

Most gambling in the United States is regulated by the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970. Outside of Nevada, New Jersey, the tribal casinos regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and a few other spots, legal sports betting and gambling were not a thing – until recently.

This section will summarize gambling laws in each US state. As the majority of states limit gambling in some way, make sure you understand the law before you play. Gambling charges can result in thousands of dollars in fines or even jail time, be they misdemeanors or felonies.

Alabama Gambling Laws

All forms of gambling were forbidden by Alabama’s Constitution in 1901. However, the state is not entirely free of games of chance, as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has a license to operate five tribal casinos, in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka.

Alabama allows pari-mutuel betting as long as the activity is licensed by the state and run through the municipal gambling commission for the area. The Birmingham Racecourse hosts dog races and is the state’s only spot for legal live betting. Off-track, you can bet at Birmingham, Greenetrack, Victoryland, and Mobile Greyhound Park, or online via TwinSpires.

State lotteries are illegal in Alabama, as is online gambling via offshore sites. The latest attempt to introduce a state lottery and non-tribal casino gambling was the Alabama Senate Bill 293, which failed to pass the Senate vote.

Alaska Gambling Laws

Casino-style games are banned in Alaska. Even tribal gambling establishments exist, they are not allowed to have slot machines, table games, or video poker. Online gambling on offshore sites is also forbidden by law.

Alaska has no live poker rooms, but no-rake poker is allowed in social settings. In addition, gambling devices are limited to those in Indian reservations, but they can only be used to play bingo.

On a case-by-case basis, the state allows gambling on the following contests:

• Salmon classics
• Dog musher contests
• Cabbage classics
• Calcutta pools
• Animal classics
• Moose derbies
• Snowmachine classics
• Fish derbies
• Contests of skill

Most daily fantasy sports sites allow Alaskan residents to participate, but DFS is not explicitly regulated by Alaska state law. There’s also no statewide lottery in Alaska.

Arizona Gambling Laws

Arizona law defines all gambling as illegal unless explicitly stated otherwise by a specific statute or law.

Thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, there are over 20 tribal casinos established in Arizona. Additionally, in-person betting is legal at horse racetracks and authorized off-track locations, and there is an Arizona state lottery.

Online gambling is not explicitly mentioned in Arizona’s legislation, but that doesn’t make it legal. The state currently has no legal online casinos.

Arizona also grants exemptions for charitable gaming on a case-by-case basis.

In September 2021, sports betting (and online sports betting) was made legal in Arizona, as well.

Arkansas Gambling Laws

The oldest legal form of gambling in Arkansas is horse and greyhound race pari-mutuel betting. It was regulated by Act 191 of 1957. Since then, the next step in gambling legalization was the creation of the Arkansas state lottery: It was legalized and created in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Further progress was achieved when daily fantasy sports were legalized in 2017, and as of 2018, four locations in Arkansas can be used for casino and sports betting establishments. These locations are West Memphis, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), and Russellville (Pope County).

Participating in games of chance online is illegal if you’re doing so within Arkansas state borders, but as of March 2022, there is legal online gambling.

California Gambling Laws

Generally speaking, gambling is illegal in California. However, there are some exceptions: card rooms, tribal casinos run by the state’s Native American tribes, state lotteries, bingo, and horse race betting are permitted. As a result, there are 76 tribal casinos operating in California on reservation territory.

Gambling in California falls under the jurisdiction of the California Gambling Control Commission. The only exception is bingo, which is regulated by municipal authorities. California’s online gambling laws are nonexistent; as a result, the state has no legal online casinos at this time.

In November of 2022, residents of California will get to vote on whether to legalize retail sports betting in tribal casinos, or legalize online betting via big platforms such as DraftKings, or both. Neither bill is likely to pass, but these initiatives are probably not the last of their kind.

Colorado Gambling Laws

Gambling is outlawed in Colorado, except for the following categories:

• The Colorado Lottery
• Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing events on-track and at licensed off-track locations
• Charity bingo, raffles, and certain games of skill
• Social gambling in a private residence

Charitable organizations are allowed to sponsor gambling events at licensed casinos, but online gambling is illegal in Colorado, even if the gambling businesses are located outside the state, under the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

Connecticut Gambling Laws

Gambling is illegal in Connecticut unless authorized by state law. Pari-mutuel betting, charity gaming, and the state lottery are the only forms of gambling broadly allowed in the state, as are casinos on Native American land.

No online gambling is allowed for Connecticut residents, nor are they permitted to engage in any internet gambling business within the state. However, the use of offshore gambling sites is not explicitly prohibited, so some Connecticut residents use them.

Two tribal casinos are operational in Connecticut with table games and games of chance. Horse racing is allowed, but no horse tracks currently operate in Connecticut.

Delaware Gambling Laws

Gambling is illegal in Delaware, with the following exceptions:

• State lotteries
• Lotteries conducted under section 17B of the Delaware Code
• Pari-mutuel betting on horse races
• Bingo conducted under section 17A of the Delaware Code
• Casinos on tribal land

US online gambling laws are somewhat ambiguous in most states, but Delaware’s legislation explicitly legalizes it. What’s more, the First State was also the first state to legalize casino games online, through its 2012 iGaming bill.

Additionally, the state has three racinos that offer table games, poker, and online slots.

Florida Gambling Laws

Under the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering, Florida’s laws treat horse racing, harness horse racing, greyhound racing, jai alai games, and cardroom poker games as lawful. Moreover, pari-mutuel facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties are authorized to conduct slot machine gaming.

Florida currently has seven tribal-owned casinos offering table games, poker rooms, and slot machines, all of which are run by the Seminole tribe, except for Miccosukee Casino & Resort in Miami.

As of December 2021, Florida online gambling laws still prohibit online betting and gambling, after an agreement between the Seminole tribe and Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis aiming to allow it was blocked at the federal level.

Georgia Gambling Laws

Georgia is exceptionally puritanical when it comes to gambling. The only forms allowed are charity raffles, some bingo games (provided the prize pools don’t surpass $1,500 per day and $3,000 per week), and the state lottery. Georgia also doesn’t allow tribal casinos, racinos, or race tracks.

Offshore casinos and poker rooms accept players from Georgia, but online gambling is not legalized in the state. If Georgia players wish to gamble legally, they can only do so aboard the Emerald Princess cruise ship, once it sails into international waters.

Georgia lawmakers have been working feverishly for years to change the state’s stance on gambling, but have faced equally strong opposition. Therefore, there’s no predicted date when any gambling may become legal in Georgia.

Hawaii Gambling Laws

In Hawaii, gambling is explicitly illegal. Practically all forms of gambling are prohibited, as is gambling on ships within Hawaii’s waters. In addition, only social, no-rake gambling is allowed in private residences.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a getaway that includes a little gambling, Hawaii is not the place for you.

Idaho Gambling Laws

In Idaho, gambling is prohibited in most cases, thanks to Sections 18 and 20 of the state’s Constitution. The only forms of gambling allowed in it are:

• Pari-mutuel betting on-site at horse and dog tracks
• On-site at tribal casinos
• Contests of skill that award only entrants or owners of entrants
• Games that only award additional play
• Promotional contests
• State lotteries

Online gambling and betting are both illegal in Idaho, as are daily fantasy sports. DFS were legal as skill-based games until 2016, when their gambling elements were recognized, and they were subsequently outlawed.

Illinois Gambling Laws

Illinois has relatively loose gambling regulations: Casino gaming, poker, bingo, and sports/horse race betting are allowed in land-based formats. Betting on horse races and sports is allowed online, as well, and it’s regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois Racing Board, Illinois Lottery Control Board, and Department of the Lottery.

Riverboat casinos are allowed on any navigable stream, but they cannot sail on Lake Michigan. Online gambling is not permitted as of yet, and neither is any form of betting not regulated by the abovementioned organizations.

Social gambling, contests of skill, bingo, raffles, and charitable games are all allowed.

Indiana Gambling Laws

Although Indiana doesn’t allow gambling in most cases, it’s the only state whose riverboats are allowed to conduct gambling operations in Lake Michigan waters. The state has 10 licensed riverboat casinos, one tribal land-based casino, and two racinos.

You can only place legal horse racing bets at one of the racetracks, or off-track betting facilities, and there are no legal ways to place sports bets within Indiana state limits.

Online gambling and betting are illegal in all forms in Indiana.

Iowa Gambling Laws

Gambling has been legal in Iowa for quite some time. Although it was originally prohibited by the state’s Constitution, it was gradually legalized since the 1970s, starting with the creation of the Iowa Lottery. By 1994, raffles, bingo, the operation of gambling boats, slot machines at racetracks, and pari-mutuel wagering became legal as well.

As of 1992, it’s illegal to own and use video lottery machines that dispense tokens or cash prizes. Iowa defines gambling as participation “in a game for anything of value or making any bet.” Therefore, you’ll risk being charged if you engage in similar behavior outside the locations designated by Iowa law.

Internet fantasy sports are permitted in Iowa, as is online betting on sports. However, you may not participate in online casino games within Iowa state lines.

Kansas Gambling Laws

Kansas has these forms of sanctioned gambling:

• State-owned and tribal casinos
• State or charitable lotteries, bingo, and raffles
• Pari-mutuel betting at state-approved venues

Like many other states, Kansas doesn’t directly address the issue of regulated internet gambling. No online casinos operate in the state but some residents engage in offshore online gambling, as the authorities don’t take action against individual players, and most platforms outside of Kansas accept players from this state.

Kentucky Gambling Laws

Gambling in Kentucky is limited outside of state lotteries and pari-mutuel betting on one of the state’s many racetracks. Kentucky is well-known as a horse racing Mecca and gambling on horse racing is allowed in the state. In addition, off-track gambling on horse racing is the only form of online gambling allowed in the state.

A bill attempting to legalize and regulate select forms of gambling was proposed in 2022 as House Bill 606, but it has not yet passed the Senate vote.

However, daily fantasy sports are available. Gambling in offshore casinos is illegal, and although the Kentucky authorities have not yet pursued action against individual players on these charges, it would be within their rights to do so.

Louisiana Gambling Laws

The Pelican state had once banned gambling in the early 1800s, but a lot has changed since. Under its current legislation, Louisiana offers a range of state-sanctioned gambling activities:

• State lottery, as well as charitable raffles, keno, and bingo
• Pari-mutuel betting on-site
• Video and TV bingo
• Land-based casino gambling
• Riverboat casino gambling
• Video poker
• Fantasy sports

Despite its lax approach when it comes to in-person casino gambling, Louisiana hasn’t legalized online gambling. That said, state authorities have yet to prosecute a single person for online gambling.

Maine Gambling Laws

Gambling laws in Maine allowed casino gambling in 2003, thanks to a referendum. At the time of writing, the Maine Gambling Control Unit recognized two legal casinos in the state: one in Bangor, and one in Oxford. However, online casinos are prohibited, although individuals engaging in these activities have proven difficult to prosecute, as in other states.

Other legal forms of gambling in Maine include the state lottery, charitable bingo, daily fantasy sports, sports betting within a tribal establishment (as of 2022), and poker (within Hollywood Casino Bangor).

Maine’s criminal code makes an individual guilty of unlawful gambling if: “That person intentionally or knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity.”

Maryland Gambling Laws

Practically all forms of gambling are legal in Maryland. It has six casinos licensed to offer slots and table games, four poker rooms, a state lottery, bingo games, sports betting (as of 2022), and horse race betting. Pari-mutuel wagers on horse races can be placed online, as well.

Maryland gambling laws apply equally to operators and individual gamblers, although operators are charged with illegal gambling more often.

Massachusetts Gambling Laws

Gambling legislation in Massachusetts underwent a significant change in the previous decade, with the signing of the Expanded Gaming Act into law in 2011. The act allowed up to four casinos to be established in three regions in the state and created the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. More than 10 years later, a bill allowing sports betting in the state was signed into law, as well.

Daily fantasy sports, the state lottery, and charitable bingo are all legal in the Bay State.

There are currently no laws regulating online gambling in the state, so it might be wise to err on the side of caution and access offshore gambling sites exclusively while outside state lines.

Michigan Gambling Laws

Michigan is one of a handful of states that allows online sports betting. Additionally, you may legally do the following in Michigan:

• Place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing outcomes on-site
• Gamble in person at tribal casinos on Native American land
• Bet on low-stakes league bowling
• Play daily fantasy sports
• Play bingo

Michigan is well ahead of the curve when it comes to online gambling. The state legalized online sports betting in 2019, and the first legal online casinos launched in the state in early 2021. If you’re over 21 and want to try your luck at online gambling, Michigan is a great place to do so.

Minnesota Gambling Laws

In Minnesota, licensed charitable gambling is allowed, such as bingo, pull-tabs, raffles, and the state lottery. Outside of those, Minnesotans can place pari-mutuel wagers on horse races and participate in games of chance on tribal land. There are currently 19 tribal casinos in Minnesota operated by 11 federally recognized tribes.

If you’re after online gambling, Minnesota is not the place to find it. Online casinos are illegal here, and the act of gambling—excluding the outlets mentioned above—is criminalized due to the state’s broad definition of the activity.

Missouri Gambling Laws

Missouri legalized some forms of gambling back in 1984 (pari-mutuel horse racing betting and a state lottery), and has since continued on this path. You can now legally participate and profit from riverboat casino gambling as well, or take part in charitable bingo, raffle, and sweepstakes games.

There are 13 riverboat casinos in the state, but no land-based establishments.

Online gambling is illegal in Missouri; the most recent attempt to legalize it, part of a broader push to regulate sports betting in the state, has been shot down by the Senate.

Montana Gambling Laws

Montana has made these forms of gambling legal:

• State lotteries
• Sports betting
• Live poker games at licensed establishments
• In-person gambling at tribal casinos
• Social gambling and charitable games
• Video gambling machines
• Authorized Calcutta pools
• Licensed casino nights

Montana was the only state to expressly ban daily fantasy sports betting by phone or on the internet. It also addressed online gambling to avoid loopholes, making all online casinos (even offshore options) illegal.

Nebraska Gambling Laws

Casino-style gambling and sports betting, recently legalized in Nebraska, will probably become available in the state soon. Other than that new addition, the following forms of gambling are allowed in the Cornhusker State:

• Pari-mutuel betting on live and simulcast horse races
• Charity bingo games
• Nonprofit raffles, lotteries, and gift enterprises
• State lotteries
• In-person gambling at tribal casinos

The state’s laws haven’t been updated to include legislation about online gambling explicitly, so it remains relatively unregulated.

Nevada Gambling Laws

Nevada has a fully regulated gambling industry with around 440 operational casinos and continues to be the country’s top gambling destination.

The gambling industry is a massive part of Nevada’s state revenue, even though only 7% of Las Vegas visitors go there to gamble. Still, the laws are extremely accommodating for those who intend to establish gambling venues. However, that freedom comes at the price of harsh punishments for any form of illegal gambling.

Nevada gambling law envisages stringent fines for out-of-state betting and using offshore gambling sites within state lines. Casino-style gambling is legal statewide with no restriction on the types of games allowed. Slot machines of all types and sports betting are legal in Nevada as well, at licensed establishments in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the state.

Online gambling is partially legal in Nevada, and it’s regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission. You can place sports bets online and play poker, but you can’t participate in other casino-style games via the internet.

New Hampshire Gambling Laws

Despite not having any commercial casinos, New Hampshire has a thriving charity gambling industry. Charity organizations can and do run poker rooms that are often confused for casinos. However, online poker isn’t regulated, and playing in offshore poker casinos is not legal.

Sports betting is also legal in New Hampshire, as long as it is conducted on the DraftKings mobile platforms. DraftKings currently retains exclusive control of New Hampshire sports betting.

Daily fantasy sports are available through national providers, but the issue isn’t directly addressed by legislation, so it’s tacitly legal.

New Jersey Gambling Laws

New Jersey, known for its Atlantic City casinos, is one of the least restrictive states when it comes to gambling. As such, it boasts 22 licensed casinos, only nine of which are commercial casinos.

Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is allowed on-site at one of the state’s three tracks or off-track licensed facilities. You can also engage in sports betting at nine brick-and-mortar locations in the state.

Many sites offer online gambling in New Jersey. But, the NJ Attorney General’s Office makes it perfectly clear there are no approved online casinos for the state.

New Mexico Gambling Laws

Approved gambling in New Mexico includes:

• Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing on-site only
• Slot machines operated at licensed locations (tribal casinos and racetracks)
• Pull tabs
• Casino-style gambling at tribal casinos
• Charity bingo and raffles
• State lotteries
• Sweepstakes are legal as long as they promote legitimate business goals

Online gambling is not allowed in New Mexico, and the state’s definition of gambling is sufficient to make it explicitly illegal. Daily fantasy sports betting is also unlawful in the state, and you’re unlikely to see it become legalized any time soon.

New York Gambling Laws

You can gamble in the state of New York in the following instances:

• Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing
• In-person gambling at licensed commercial and tribal casinos and racinos
• State lotteries
• In-person and online sports betting
• Charitable bingo games

Daily fantasy sports were legalized in 2016, but were then deemed unconstitutional, only to finally be fully legalized through the Court of Appeals. What’s more, online betting is legal in New York state, but online gambling still isn’t.

North Carolina Gambling Laws

Gambling in any form is mostly illegal in North Carolina. In fact, the only games of chance allowed are state lotteries, charitable bingo, and raffles. If you wish to gamble in this state, you’ll have to go to one of its two tribal casinos.

It’s one of the most limiting states when it comes to gambling, and there doesn’t seem to be much political initiative to change that. The only exception was a recently filed Senate bill that would allow tribal casinos to offer online gambling, but it failed on its second reading.

North Dakota Gambling Laws

You can gamble in North Dakota only in these cases:

• Pari-mutuel betting on-site at horse racing facilities and race simulcasts
• Casino-style gambling at tribal casinos
• Charitable gambling, including low-stakes blackjack
• State lotteries

Like so many other states, North Dakota hasn’t updated its laws to ban online gambling. Specifically, there has been no precedent where someone was actually charged for using offshore gambling sites in this state.

Ohio Gambling Laws

Ohio has a relatively outdated definition of gambling but still manages to maintain a well-regulated gaming industry.

In this state, you can participate in state lotteries, casino-style gambling at licensed casino locations, video lottery terminals at racinos, pari-mutuel betting on-site and at off-track facilities on horse racing, daily fantasy sports platforms, charity bingo events, and tag fishing tournaments operated with a permit.

Due to Ohio’s peculiar definition of gambling, many expert sources claim it’s technically legal to gamble online in Ohio, so long as you don’t do it professionally.

Oklahoma Gambling Laws

You may be surprised that Oklahoma is second only to Nevada in the number of casinos. The state legalized tribal casinos in 2004, and there are currently over 100 of these establishments across its territory. The casino industry exploded overnight and continues to grow.

Here’s how you can gamble in Oklahoma:

• In-person at over 100 casinos
• Pari-mutuel betting on horse races on-site and online
• Charity and commercial bingo, where licensed
• State lotteries

Oklahoma doesn’t explicitly regulate online gambling except for allowing online gambling on horse racing. Most daily fantasy sports providers serve Oklahoma residents, but this sector is not clearly legalized via statute.

Oregon Gambling Laws

In terms of types of gambling permissible by law, only Nevada is less restrictive than Oregon.

• In-person gambling at tribal casinos
• Bingo
• Sports betting
• Pari-mutuel betting on horse races
• Social gambling
• Video lottery at licensed establishments

Hosting unlicensed online gambling sites in Oregon is outlawed, and you can only participate in online gambling via state-sanctioned sites.

You can’t bet on daily fantasy sports in Oregon yet and DraftKings stopped offering its services to Oregon residents as of 2021.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania allows plenty of gambling activities, including:

• Pari-mutuel betting on horse races on-site and at off-track betting locations
• Casino-style gambling at authorized racinos, casinos, and resorts
• State lotteries
• Bingo, raffles, and other games of chance at charity events and authorized taverns
• Daily fantasy sports betting
• Sports betting
• Video gambling at qualified truck stops

Pennsylvania made online gambling legal in 2017 through the Expanded Gaming Act, but you must gamble at licensed sites or sites partnered with licensed gambling providers in the state.

Rhode Island Gambling Laws

There are two full-service casinos in Rhode Island, authorized to offer slots and casino table games. Other than that, you may enjoy the following:

• Land-based and online sports betting at authorized venues (as of 2018)
• Daily fantasy sports
• State lotteries
• Charity bingo and raffle games

There are no provisions for casino-style online gambling in Rhode Island, and nothing has been explicitly legalized, so accessing offshore sites from this state is certainly risky.

South Carolina Gambling Laws

All gambling in South Carolina is illegal, with the exception of the state lottery (started in 2002), charitable bingo, and raffles. South Carolina legalized casino-style gambling on cruises only in 2008.

You won’t find any online casinos based in South Carolina, nor is gambling in offshore online casinos legalized.

Tennessee Gambling Laws

Tennessee is another state with a comprehensive definition of gambling and an overall prohibitive attitude toward this activity. It allows participation in its state lottery and charitable bingo, as well as DFS (as of 2016).

In 2020, online sports betting became another legal form of playing. However, retail betting was not legalized, and this activity is limited to mobile betting apps. All other forms of gambling are illegal, and there are no land-based casinos in the state.

Texas Gambling Laws

Although it prohibits gambling, Texas law makes exceptions for these activities:

• Pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog races on-site or at off-track authorized locations
• State lotteries
• Social gambling in private homes (provided no one had any economic gain from it)
• Charitable bingo, raffles, and pull-tab games
• In-person gambling at tribal casinos

Online gambling sites are illegal in Texas. Offshore gambling is not explicitly illegal but could land you in trouble since the state’s gambling definition is quite broad.

Utah Gambling Laws

Utah, along with Hawaii, outlaws all forms of gambling. There are no casinos, no sports betting, and no horse racing – there isn’t even a state lottery.

Some companies offer daily fantasy sports betting to Utah residents, but it is not legalized. In short, don’t go to Utah if you want to gamble, and don’t gamble if you’re already there.

Vermont Gambling Laws

Vermont experimented with many forms of gambling over the years. But, unfortunately, most didn’t last, and the state only offers the below options for gamblers today, whereas everything else is explicitly illegal.

• Unrestricted access to all daily fantasy sports betting platforms
• State lotteries
• Charity bingo games
• Social gambling

Online gambling remains unregulated and could thus lead to fines. However, no one has been prosecuted for using offshore gambling sites in the state as yet.

Virginia Gambling Laws

Virginia has recently legalized the operation of casinos within its borders, but none have been established as of yet. You can expect the first casino-style gambling locations to open in Virginia by 2023.

However, you can find legal gambling in these forms:

• Pari-mutuel horse race betting on-site and at licensed off-track locations
• State lotteries
• Charity bingo
• Sports betting
• Social gambling in a private residence
• Daily fantasy sports
• Certain skill games

Washington State Gambling Laws

Sanctioned forms of gambling in Washington State include:

• Pari-mutuel horse race betting on-site and at off-track licensed locations
• On-site gambling at tribal casinos
• Social gambling
• Charity bingo and raffles
• State lotteries

Every other form of gambling is illegal, and according to the Washington State Gambling Commission, online gambling is a Class C felony in the state.

West Virginia Gambling Laws

West Virginia legalized casinos in 1994 and is home to five land-based casinos, none of which are tribal.

Other forms of gambling that are legal in the state include:

• Pari-mutuel horse race wagers
• Online sports betting
• Daily fantasy sports
• Charity bingo
• Online casinos
• State lotteries

The state recently started regulating online gambling, and up to 15 online casinos can be active—three for each licensed land-based casino.

Wisconsin Gambling Laws

In Wisconsin, you can gamble in these instances:

• In-person at tribal casinos
• Commercial and charity bingo and raffles
• Pari-mutuel gambling on horse races on-site and at licensed off-track locations.
• State lotteries

Daily fantasy sports platforms offer their services to Wisconsin residents, but they’re not officially legalized.

Online casinos aren’t legal in the state yet, and online gambling isn’t regulated by state law. So, predictably, many people use offshore online casinos, but their use could constitute criminal activity in Wisconsin.

Wyoming Gambling Laws

Wyoming makes these forms of gambling legal:

• Pari-mutuel betting on horse races
• State lotteries
• Charitable gaming
• Social poker games
• In-person gambling at tribal casinos
• Sports betting
• Daily fantasy sports platforms

No online casinos operate in Wyoming. You risk fines or criminal charges if you choose to use offshore gambling websites in Wyoming.

Gambling Laws in the US — Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s legal framework makes gambling broadly legal on the island. You can find anything from casino-style gambling to electronic lotteries in Puerto Rico.

Notably, cockfighting was recently banned in Puerto Rico and remains one of the few illegal forms of gambling.

US Online Gaming Laws — Why The Confusion?

Gambling was prohibited in most of the US for a long time, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970 only enforced this. However, since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), many states have been focusing on passing laws to capitalize on the billions of dollars of revenue that gambling (especially online gambling) generates.

In many instances, it’s not entirely clear whether a state allows online gambling at offshore sites. And there are two main reasons for that:

• Generally, laws are more about what you can’t do.

Many states still haven’t updated their laws to include language that addresses online gambling specifically. And when a law doesn’t expressly say you can’t do something (e.g., gamble online), some people make the case that you don’t have anything to fear.

That is, quite clearly, not true and gambling laws by state are more complex than that. For definitive information, contact the organization that regulates gambling in your state.

• Gambling laws mainly target providers rather than players.

In most states, regulatory bodies are more interested in penalizing those who provide gambling services than those who engage in them. In many cases, state authorities aren’t too interested in going after individual gamblers who are breaking internet gambling laws.

Crucially, however, that doesn’t mean the activity is legal.

Conclusion

Having a long and complicated history, gambling laws will certainly continue to change over the years. That’s why staying up-to-date with your state’s gambling laws is always advisable.

But with this comprehensive list, you never have to guess. All that’s left is to place some bets!