LEGAL US GAMBLING GUIDE

New Jersey currently stands tall as the leader in the online gambling USA space.

New Jersey passed its online gambling law in 2013. The new statute allowed Atlantic City casinos to apply for internet gaming permits.

Those permits authorized the casinos to host a variety of online casino sites under their licenses. As a result, there are now more online casinos in New Jersey than in any other state in the union.

Almost every major casino operator owns a New Jersey-based online casino site.

SITES

Each online casino site must run through a land-based casino licensee. Here is a partial list of New Jersey online casinos:

• Golden Nugget Online: You are unlikely to find a finer online casino in the entire world. Golden Nugget’s success with traditional gambling and live dealer games make it a must-see for any players who want action.
• Virgin Casino: Virgin Casino Online is the online casino wing of Sir Richard Branson’s multimedia conglomerate. Visitors to the site will find a wide selection of games and constant promotional offers to sweeten the pot.
• Tropicana Online: Few names inspire classic gambling like Tropicana. The Trop Online is the perfect place for players who want things a little more old-school, a little more cultured than a typical online experience.

The law that gave the casinos the ability to host online casinos also authorized the introduction of online poker sites. Poker-hungry residents and visitors in New Jersey now have a plethora of options to quench their desire for Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or whatever other game strikes their fancies.

The NJ poker sites operating in the market include:

• WSOP.com NJ
• PokerStars NJ
• 888 Poker NJ

New Jersey is the most prominent state to offer sports betting right now. The Garden State spearheaded the downfall of PASPA and contributed the most time and effort to argue in front of the Supreme Court.

Currently, there are more than a dozen online sports betting apps (a number that is still growing) and a variety of land-based sportsbooks up and running in the state. Here is a partial list of online sportsbooks in New Jersey:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings was the first online sportsbook to launch in New Jersey when it opened its virtual doors in August 2018. Since then, the company has grown into a powerhouse in the sports betting community.
• Caesars Sportsbook: Part of the Caesars Entertainment empire, Caesars Sportsbook is a recognizable name in the gambling arena, and even more so since its acquisition of William Hill was complete in 2021. Customers that play here have the added benefit of earning and using Caesars Rewards.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel often seems to move in tandem with its archrival, DraftKings. However, FanDuel has used innovation and customer service excellence to distinguish itself as a superb sportsbook operator in its own right.

View all New Jersey sportsbooks here.

Retail Sportsbooks in New Jersey

New Jersey is also home to a wide selection of retail sportsbooks. The following are some of the options in the Garden State:

• DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts
• FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands
• Moneyline Bar & Book at Borgata
• Monmouth Park Sportsbook by Caesars
• The Book at Bally’s

The inaugural year for sports betting in New Jersey, 2018, yielded bettors who placed over $1.2 billion in wagers. From that figure, the industry itself held just over $94 million in revenue for the year. That number has grown considerably in 2020, as billions will be wagered in the state.

Online sports betting has eclipsed retail wagering in New Jersey by an almost 3:1 ratio. The limited accessibility of the state’s gaming areas makes betting through a device a much more palatable option for most residents and visitors.

Since Pennsylvania’s gambling expansion became law in 2017, there has been incredible anticipation surrounding the launch of online casinos in the state. Both Pennsylvanians and those in surrounding locations couldn’t wait to try out the Keystone State’s take on mobile casino play.

They finally got their wish in July 2019. Hollywood Casino Online and Parx Online both debuted on the same day and ushered Pennsylvania into the realm of online casinos.

Since then, several other casinos have joined the party. Here is a partial list of Pennsylvania’s online casinos:

• BetRivers: BetRivers serves as the online arm of the popular Rivers Casino Philadelphia. BetRivers is also the online casino for Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino.
• Hollywood Casino Online: Hollywood Casino Online is one of the original online casinos to launch in Pennsylvania. The experience edge shows, and players will find a broad base of slot and table games awaiting them.
• Unibet: Unibet is a recent addition to Pennsylvania’s online casino landscape. However, the European gambling giant is no rookie. It brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to aid its pursuit of success on this side of the pond.

Pennsylvania became an online poker state in November 2019, four months after the launch of online casinos in the state. PokerStars, the market leader for online poker in the world, opened its virtual doors to poker-hungry players in the Keystone State.

The result was an onslaught of activity. More players joined on PokerStars PA on its first night than at any point in the history of PokerStars NJ, even though the Garden State site had been active since 2013.

PokerStars remains in a de facto monopoly status for Pennsylvania online poker. However, there are several Pennsylvania casinos that have secured online poker licenses and could join the fray at any time. They are:

• Harrah’s
• Hollywood Casino
• Mount Airy
• Parx
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Valley Forge
• Wind Creek

With so much opportunity in Pennsylvania, it’s likely that at least one launch will be coming soon. Stay tuned.

Pennsylvania’s entry into the sports betting market was one of the most anticipated debuts since the fall of PASPA. The Keystone State is one of the most populous states in the country, and its appeal to sportsbook operators stems from that very fact.

The first online sportsbook to launch in Pennsylvania was PlaySugarHouse. The online arm of the Philadelphia-area casino opened its virtual doors in May 2019.

Two other online sportsbooks, Parx and BetRivers, joined PlaySugarHouse the following month. There are now eight online sportsbooks active in Pennsylvania, which include the following sites:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: For a time, it seemed as though DraftKings might be on the outside looking into Pennsylvania. However, a deal with the Meadows Casino allowed the company in black and green to launch its operations in November 2019.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel has implemented several customer-friendly initiatives since its launch in July 2019. Now, players can find seamless integration and a host of promotions anytime they log on.
• Unibet: Unibet, and its partner, Mohegan Sun Pocono, may have been a little late to the party with their November 2019 launch. However, the European giant is using its experience to make up for lost time quickly in Pennsylvania.

View all Pennsylvania sportsbooks here.

Retail Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania

Some people will always prefer a more visceral and tangible experience than online sports betting can offer. Thankfully, there are several retail sportsbooks accepting wagers in Pennsylvania each day. They include:

• DraftKings Sportsbook at The Meadows
• FOX Bet at Mount Airy Casino
• FanDuel Sportsbook PA at Valley Forge Casino
• Unibet at Mohegan Sun Pocono
• BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino Philadelphia

So far, sports betting in Pennsylvania has been big business. Monthly handle has already soared into the hundreds of millions.

*Off-track betting locations that now offer wagering on sports. Both locations are owned and operated by Greenwood Gaming, owner of Parx Casino.

West Virginia may seem an unlikely candidate to be at the forefront of gambling expansion. However, if New Jersey led the charge against PASPA, West Virginia was undoubtedly second in command.

West Virginia also bears the unfortunate distinction of being the only state to launch online sports betting twice. Although West Virginians celebrated the December 2018 debut of BetLucky, the embattled app only lasted until the following March.

That month, a disagreement with technical partners blossomed into the permanent cessation of BetLucky as a viable option. Retail sportsbooks at Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino also ceased operations, and have yet to resume.

However, West Virginia got a second chance a few months later. Here are the active online sportsbooks in the state:

• FanDuel Sportsbook: Thanks to some careful planning, West Virginia managed to restart online sports betting with the launch of DraftKings in August 2019. Players in the Mountain State can now enjoy the innovative technology offering that DraftKings brings to the table.
• DraftKings Sportsbook: FanDuel continues to mirror DraftKings’ expansion into sports betting by being the second online book to open for business in West Virginia. The company has actually been in West Virginia longer, due to its operation of the retail sportsbook at The Casino Club at the Greenbrier.

View more West Virginia sports betting options here.

RETAIL SPORTSBOOKS IN WEST VIRGINIA

Otherwise, Mountain State bettors can head to one of the in-state casinos to place a sports bet. They are:

• Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Charles Town
• FanDuel Sportsbook at the Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort*
• Caesars Sportsbook at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort

*The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort is a private facility and not open to the public. Only members and guests at the hotel may play there.

West Virginia became the fifth state to legalize online casinos in 2019. The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act authorized the state’s five casinos to pursue the development of casino and poker apps.

Live online casinos

DraftKings Casino: DraftKings was able to launch on July 15 thanks to an extension of its sports betting partnership with Hollywood Casino.

BetMGM: But August, BetMGM entered the fold with its online casino.

Potentially, there could be more online casinos and/or poker rooms in West Virginia soon. The casinos are:

• The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort
• Hollywood Casino Charles Town
• Mardi Gras Casino
• The Mountaineer Hotel, Casino, and Resort
• Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

With the exceptions of DraftKings Casino and BetMGM, there is no specific timeframe for any of these properties to launch their sites.

West Virginia legalized online poker in March 2019. As is the case with online casinos, all five casinos in the state can launch online poker apps but none have kicked off yet.

So, the following properties will potentially have their own sites soon:

• The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort
• Hollywood Casino Charles Town
• Mardi Gras Casino
• The Mountaineer Hotel, Casino, and Resort
• Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

Indiana became a full-service sports betting state in the latter part of 2019. Retail sportsbooks opened in September, and online books launched in the following month.

As a result, Indiana has become quite the destination for sports bettors in the region. Bettors from Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville can place sports bets on their phones after a short trip in the car.

Indiana’s ascension into the online space is a bit surprising, given the fact that the Hoosier State is one of the few to criminalize online gambling itself.

Nevertheless, there are several online sportsbooks taking bets in Indiana right now. A few of the online sportsbooks in Indiana include the following:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings continues to expand its reach across the northeastern section of the United States. Along with BetRivers, it was one of the first online sportsbooks to launch in Indiana, doing so in early October 2019.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is the third sportsbook to launch online in Indiana. However, the delay is unlikely to hurt the DFS titan, which distinguishes itself with innovative app features and generous bonuses.
• BetRivers Sportsbook: BetRivers opened its doors for business in Indiana in October 2019. The site has several attractive features for customers, including an extensive loyalty program.

View all Indiana sportsbooks here.

Retail Sportsbooks in Indiana

At this point, the vast majority of Indiana’s land-based casinos are hosting a sports betting operation. The only major exception is the Majestic Star, which is likely foregoing massive expenditures in preparation for a move inland.

The rest of the properties are open and will take a bet. They include:

• Sportsbook at Ameristar East Chicago
• FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
• The Book at Horseshoe Hammond
• Sportsbook at French Lick Casino
• Caesars Sportsbook at Tropicana Evansville

In just a few short months, Indiana has seen its handle skyrocket over $100 million. As was the case in New Jersey, much of the activity has occurred online, underlining mobile sports betting’s importance to the new market.

Although Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky will have sports betting relatively soon, Indiana should continue to enjoy excellent returns in its sports wagering departments.

Due to Indiana’s legal structure, online casinos are not permitted in the state. Furthermore, playing on an online casino is a criminal act. So, unless new legislation comes to Indiana, there can be no legal online casinos for residents and visitors there.

However, Indiana is home to thirteen casinos that offer slots, table games, and all the great casino action players love. Visit one of these facilities for the best gambling options in Indiana.

Indiana law does not permit any kind of online poker play whatsoever. In fact, Indiana is one of the few states to criminalize online poker play. It will take a change in the law before online poker rooms can come to the state.

There are, in fact, ten live poker rooms spread throughout Indiana’s casinos. There are opportunities to play no matter what part of the state you’re in, so don’t miss out.

Iowa became a sports betting state in 2019. Both retail and online sportsbooks began flooding into the Hawkeye State in August 2019, and the number of operators continues to rise.

Truthfully, Iowa’s arrival to sports betting happened in a radically-short period of time, in comparison to the other states. While many locations need six months or longer to launch, the first sportsbook in Iowa opened its doors three months after the passage of Iowa House Bill 617.

Another curious aspect of Iowa’s entry is the fact that it is one of the few states that is not permitting its inhabitants to register for a sportsbook account electronically. Instead, players must visit the land-based partner of their sportsbook of choice to establish their mobile identity there.

Thankfully, this requirement will expire after 2020. However, the extra step hasn’t slowed down online sportsbook operators from getting underway. Here are a few of the online sportsbooks active in the state:

• DraftKings: DraftKings Sportsbook went live in Iowa in February 2020. The DFS giant has become a sports betting powerhouse in the past few years, and has introduced the US to several app features that have revolutionized sports betting. Those features include the Cash Out option and the betting carousel.
• PointsBet: PointsBet launched its operations in Iowa in November 2019. The Australian sportsbook distinguishes itself with its signature product, points betting, which allows players to enhance both their wins and losses based upon the accuracy of a point spread prediction.
• Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook was formerly William Hill – which was the first to launch online operations in Iowa. Caesars has working relationships with a few different casino properties in the Hawkeye State.

View all Iowa sportsbooks here.

Retail Sportsbooks in Iowa

Here is a partial list of Iowa locations with sportsbooks:

• PointsBet Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino
• FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Worth Casino
• Caesars Sportsbook at Horseshoe Council Bluffs
• Q Sportsbook at Q Casino Hotel
• Elite Sportsbook at Rhythm City Casino Resort

Iowa is already seeing millions of dollars in wagers flowing through its sportsbooks. Handle in the state has nearly reached $60 million monthly, and should continue to grow.

Despite the in-person registration requirement, online sports betting is shining as the star in the Iowa sports betting constellation. The traffic is growing by double-digit percentages each month.

Iowa is not home to any legal online casinos at this time. A change in the law will be necessary to bring online casinos to the state.

For now, the best online options for Iowans who want online casino action are the sweepstakes sites. These opportunities can reasonably simulate the experience for most people.

Iowa poker players are out of luck for any legal online poker rooms. The state does not have a law on the books or on the way to bring online poker to the Hawkeye State.

The best solution is to visit a sweepstakes site. There is still some good gameplay to be found for the determined poker player.

New Hampshire is a recent addition to the community of sports betting states. Its first sportsbook launched in January 2020.

Unusually, New Hampshire welcomed an online sportsbook prior to the debut of any retail locations. Retail sportsbooks will begin popping up in the Granite State sometime in mid-2020.

The debut of DraftKings in New Hampshire came as a response to a gauntlet thrown down by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. Sununu pushed regulators and operators to get going so that he could place a wager on the New England Patriots.

Unfortunately for Sununu, the Patriots’ season ended sooner than he would’ve liked. However, kudos to the industry for giving him the opportunity to bet on schedule, anyway.

Here are the online sportsbooks in New Hampshire:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings is the only online sportsbook in operation in New Hampshire right now. Its de facto monopoly won’t last forever, but the company in black and green will likely use the opportunity to build brand loyalty and market share.

Read more about NH sports betting apps here. 

Retail Sportsbooks in New Hampshire

There are no retail sportsbooks available in New Hampshire just yet. The first ones should begin opening sometime in mid-2020. New Hampshire law allows the placement of up to 10.

However, the results from a vote in November 2019 made clear where the new sportsbooks will be popping up. According to New Hampshire law, sports betting can only be hosted in towns that have approved their introduction.

The towns that have approved sports betting in New Hampshire are:

• Berlin
• Claremont
• Laconia
• Manchester
• Somersworth

New Hampshire’s geographic location may limit the Granite State’s ability to generate gobs of new revenue. However, New Hampshire’s commitment to maximizing its citizens’ personal freedoms means that sports betting, in whatever form it comes, makes sense.

New Hampshire does not have any plans to bring online poker to the state soon. For now, players should visit one of the sweepstakes site options that are available to them.

However, in an unusual quirk, charity establishments can offer gambling action through various table games at selected taverns and restaurants in the state. There are roughly a dozen locations where players can find roulette, blackjack, and other table game variants.

New Hampshire is relatively hostile to the notion of online poker at this time. New Hampshire players who wish to experience online poker action should seek out sweepstakes sites that are active in the state.

In the meantime, they can also visit one of the cardrooms located in the state. These options, which usually happen in sports bars, can provide an outlet for those needing a poker fix.

Aside from a few limited exceptions in places like Montana and Oregon, Nevada was the only state that could offer legal sports betting for nearly two decades. The prohibition granted by PASPA was a boon for the Silver State’s sports betting interests.

Although other states are now able to offer competition for Nevada’s sportsbooks, the western state remains the home of sports betting for most Americans. Most lines, estimates, and spreads flow from those published in Las Vegas sportsbooks.

With that said, Nevada’s entry into the online sports betting market is surprisingly antiquated. State law requires that players establish and initially fund their account in-person at the home casino of their chosen sportsbook app.

This requirement is an inconvenience in comparison to the procedures in other states. Most of the new sports betting states are allowing their inhabitants to register and fund from the comfort of their homes. Even those that do require in-person registration – like Iowa – have set a sunset date on that requirement into their law.

Regardless, Nevada is home to a plethora of sports betting apps. Here is a sample of some of the apps available in the Silver State:

• B-Connected: The B-Connected app serves customers that play through Boyd Gaming properties. It launched in September 2014 and is the sportsbook app for nine Las Vegas-area properties.
• Westgate Superbook: The Westgate Superbook app deserves mention not for its features, but for its home casino. The Westgate Las Vegas is the most famous sportsbook in the world and is often the gold standard for setting lines around the world. The app opened its virtual doors in June 2016 and offers the exact same odds that can be found in its physical location.
• Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill: Caesars Entertainment completed its acquisition of William Hill’s online and retail sportsbooks in 2021, and in August 2021 introduced a rebranded Caesars Sportsbook app that integrates with Caesars Rewards. By Nevada law, players will have to register in-person at any William Hill sports book in the state, then they can then bet freely on mobile after initial sign-up is complete.

Retail Sportsbooks in Nevada

Nearly every Nevada casino has a sportsbook of some kind. Here are some of the better known companies or facilities that offer wagering on sporting events:

• Caesars Entertainment – 8 casinos
• MGM Resorts International – 10 casinos
• Station Casinos – 9 casinos
• South Point
• Westgate Superbook

One might think that the land-based casino capital of the US would be the online casino leader. However, there are no online casino sites active in Nevada at this time.

So, players in Nevada who wish to play in an online casino are best served by finding one of the various sweepstakes sites. Other than that, simply walk outside and throw a stone – it’s likely that you’ll hit a casino.

Online poker is the only licensed and regulated form of online gambling in the state of Nevada. Online poker action has been available in the state since April 2013.

Although Ultimate Bet led the initial charge back then, the launch of WSOP.com Nevada quickly brought about a new market leader.

Naturally, WSOP.com heavily cross-promotes its online offering through the World Series of Poker. These efforts include online satellites to WSOP bracelet events and online WSOP bracelet events themselves.

In March 2015, Nevada and Delaware entered into a poker liquidity sharing agreement. This agreement, which combined the two player pools, runs through WSOP.com in Nevada. New Jersey’s player pool joined the agreement in April 2018.

As of right now, here are the online poker sites in Nevada:

• WSOP.com

However, there are rumors that more sites could be on the way. Remember to check back with PlayUSA periodically to see what’s going on.

Delaware, fittingly, was the first state to debut sports betting in the wake of PASPA’s dismissal. The First State launched retail sports betting in June 2018, a couple of weeks before New Jersey’s triumphant opening at Monmouth Park.

Delaware is a small state, and is home to only three casinos. However, all three venues have a sportsbook onsite. Unusually, the three casinos operate through a joint license with the state lottery.

Online sports betting is legal, at least according to regulators in the state. None of the three facilities has seen fit to debut an app yet, though.

So, for now, sports betting is confined to three places in the First State. Given that its area is only 1982 square miles, it’s probably not too much of a problem to find a casino nearby.

Retail Sportsbooks in Delaware

• Delaware Park Casino
• Dover Downs Hotel & Casino
• Harrington Raceway & Casino

View more information about Delaware here.

Delaware became the first state to legalize online gambling in 2012. The market opened up in November 2013 with sites operated through the state’s three racinos. So, gamblers can find online casinos at the sites for:

• Delaware Park
• Dover Downs
• Harrington Raceway

These sites offer a variety of blackjack, roulette, slots and video poker games. Of the three, Delaware Park is the busiest site.

Delaware’s three horse-track based online gambling sites offer peer-to-peer online poker with software provided by 888 Holdings. So, there are online poker sites for the following casinos:

• Delaware Park
• Dover Downs
• Harrington Raceway

Through a joint agreement with WSOP.com, Delaware and Nevada began sharing online poker traffic in March 2015. However, like the state itself, the Delaware online poker market remains small.

Needless to say, an infusion of players from one of the larger states could serve as a much-needed shot in the arm for the market.

Oregon became the first state in the Pacific Northwest to launch sports betting post-PASPA. The Chinook Winds Casino, a tribal facility, played host to the first legal sports wager in the Beaver State in September 2019.

Online sports betting came to Oregon the following month. The Oregon Lottery debuted its Scoreboard app in conjunction with software company SBTech.

Lottery officials moved forward without passage of any new legislation in the state. Because of the state’s prior exemption under PASPA, the lottery claimed that it had the authority to launch sports betting without needing any further authorization.

So far, the legislature has yet to challenge that claim in any meaningful way. A new revenue stream has a way of tamping down on dissent.

Meanwhile, Oregon’s numerous tribal casinos can assert the same freedom to offer sports betting that Chinook Winds did. They just haven’t done so yet.

Finally, there could potentially be hundreds of sports betting locations to launch in Oregon. Since the state lottery has such exercised such unfettered authority, it is entirely likely that sports betting could become part of the menu at any of the lottery’s terminals spread throughout the state.

If that happens, taverns, bars, and even convenience stores throughout Oregon could become sports betting states. In the meantime, Oregonians will have to console themselves with the few sports betting opportunities they have.

It is, indeed, better than nothing. Here is the lone online sportsbook in Oregon:

• Oregon Lottery Scoreboard: The Oregon Lottery’s Scoreboard launched its operations in October 2019. The app offers numerous live betting options and an extensive library of different types of betting.

Retail Sportsbooks in Oregon

• Chinook Winds Casino 

View more about Oregon here.

Generally speaking, Oregon is not terribly friendly to the idea of online casinos. It’s possible that the state’s outdoorsy ethos leads lawmakers to believe that gamblers should be outside a bit more.

Regardless, there are no online casino laws on the horizon in Oregon. Players who wish to take part should use one of the sweepstakes sites available throughout the country.

Although Oregon is home to several poker clubs, Oregon’s government is not comfortable with the idea of allowing this particular game of chance to reign. Certainly, there are no movements to bring online poker to the Beaver State.

So, like their online casino brethren, online poker players in Oregon will need to use sweepstakes sites in order to play from home. For right now, the focus is on sports betting.

Colorado has become a sports betting state as of May 2020. Both BetMGM and BetRivers opened their virtual doors at 10 a.m. on May 1, and other sportsbooks followed soon afterward.

In theory, Colorado could be home to 33 separate online and retail sportsbooks. However, given some of the overlap with casinos owned by the same company and the potential for oversaturating the market, it’s unlikely that there will be so many.

Still, in a state whose largest city receives more than 57 inches of snowfall every year, the ability to access sportsbooks remotely will be a critical component to the industry’s success. Expect to see many options continue to pop up in the Centennial State.

Colorado is not particularly warm to the idea of online casinos at this time. There are no bills or plans to legalize online casinos in the state.

The introduction of online sports betting could potentially turn some hearts on this matter, but it’s speculative to expect anything to happen soon. In the meantime, Colorado players are encouraged to play on sweepstakes casino sites.

Similar to their feelings about online casinos, Coloradans have not shown much affinity for the idea of introducing online poker to the state. There are no active bills in the legislature that would make peer-to-peer gaming a reality in the Centennial State.

It’s possible that online sportsbooks might plant the seed in the minds of Colorado lawmakers to look at online poker play. However, in the meantime, there are sweepstakes poker sites that can help Colorado poker players get over the hump.

We first learned that Rhode Island would be introducing sports betting in a very low-key way. Rather than putting the news at a press conference or through some sort of release, Rhode Island simply chose to include sports betting into its 2018 state budget.

True to predictions, the first sports bet took place in the Ocean State in November 2018. Although the wagering ultimately fell short of the budget’s projections, Rhode Island became the eighth bona fide location to place wagers on sporting events in the US.

After a few months of retail service, Rhode Island lawmakers expanded the existing law to allow for mobile wagering throughout the state, which started with Twin River Casino in Lincoln in Sept. 2019 and was followed shortly after by Twin River Tiverton.

Rhode Island’s approach to sports betting is quite unique. Unlike other states, the majority (51%) of the revenue from in-state sportsbooks goes directly to the state.

In fact, the state’s casinos only receive 17% of the revenue that they generate from sports betting as profit. Another major chunk goes to technology provider IGT, which has an unusually-close relationship with the state government and the two casinos in the state.

Retail Sportsbooks in Rhode Island

• Twin River Casino
• Twin River Tiverton Casino

View more information about Rhode Island sports betting here.

Rhode Island does not appear to be making any moves toward legalizing online casinos soon. The state’s focus is on ensuring a successful launch of its sports betting products.

For now, Rhode Islanders who wish to play online casino games can use one of the sweepstakes sites available to them. These sites can offer online casino action while staying in compliance with the law.

Like the situation with online casinos, there is no indication that Rhode Island is considering a move towards legalizing online poker in the state. With so much riding on the success of sports betting, online poker is decidedly on the back burner.

So, Rhode Island poker players can find action through a sweepstakes site, if they like. These sites use a unique business model to stay legal and offer poker games throughout the US.

Tennessee’s sports betting launch completed a surprising journey for the state that began in May 2019. Aside from daily fantasy sports and the lottery, the launch represented one of the first and only forays into bona fide gambling that the traditionally conservative state has ever undertaken.

DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM launched on Nov. 1, 2020. Action 24/7 has secured a conditional license to operate from the Tennessee Education Lottery.

It’s still a bit of a question mark regarding which of those four will be the first to launch. In truth, it won’t really matter, as there will likely only be a few days’ difference, at most. What is striking is that this is the first entirely-online sports betting state. Other states, notably Virginia, will certainly be taking notes about how the virtual debut goes in Tennessee.

Though Tennessee is expanding its gambling profile far beyond its previous incarnation, the plans begin and end at sports betting. There are no plans or bills in the work to launch online casino gambling in the state at this time.

With that said, money has a way of changing minds. If sports betting ends up being a rousing success for lawmakers’ budgets, then they might be willing to take another step. It’s an exciting time in Tennessee, so keep your eyes peeled.

Like online casinos, there are no plans to make online poker a reality for Tennesseans. Online poker is also the least likely to launch in the near future because of its lesser profit potential compared to online casinos and sports betting.

A tidal wave of revenue from sports betting could potentially begin the discussion about online casinos. Online poker, if it’s ever coming, has a ways to go.

Both online and retail sports betting are underway in Michigan. Michigan launched retail sports betting in March 2020 and followed it with online betting in Jan. 2021.

All 15 of Michigan’s casino operators are eligible to offer sports betting in both formats. The three commercial casinos in Detroit gained the ability specifically through the law, and the 12 tribal operators through their compacts with the state.

The final tally of how many online sportsbooks will launch in Michigan will be no more than 15. However, Michigan is a rather populous state. It suffers through difficult winters each year, which makes the presence of an online sportsbook option all the more important. So, the combination of those two factors means the market is anticipated to be one of the top states.

Michigan online casinos are finally active. They launched alongside online sportsbooks in 2021. At last count, there were a dozen online casinos active in the state.

Online poker finally arrived in Michigan shortly after the launch of casinos and sportsbooks. PokerStars and BetMGM Poker are the only two online poker rooms in the state for now.

It remains to be seen whether Michigan will join New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and (maybe) Pennsylvania in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to share its player pools. More players is always better, but getting states to sign on is not always a slam dunk. Regardless, Michigan poker players can now play online in the Great Lakes State.

Sports betting is underway in Virginia as of January 2021. With the launch of FanDuel Sportsbook, Old Dominion joined the ranks of sports betting states. In addition, Virginia is one of only two states (with Tennessee) with online-only sports betting.

FanDuel should be joined by top competition in a short period of time. State law calls for the introduction of at least four online sportsbooks into the state, and there can be as many as twelve.

In addition, land-based sports betting is on the way to Virginia at its under-construction casino locations. Citizens of Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth can expect to have nearby retail sportsbooks in 2022 or 2023.

At this time, there are no plans to offer online casinos in Virginia. Although the state’s about-face on gambling is quite remarkable, lawmakers in the Commonwealth are likely going to wait and see how the next few years play out with online sports betting and land-based casinos.

However, Virginians retain the ability to play on sweepstakes casinos if they want to experience casino action through their computers and mobile devices. Because these sites are technically not online gambling sites, Virginians can play without any concern.

Similar to the prospect of online casinos in Virginia, there are no plans to bring online poker into the state at this time. As priority goes, online poker is the least of the three major types of online gambling, due to the fact that its revenue potential is so much lower.

So, don’t expect to see online poker show up before online casinos in Virginia. The best hope is that lawmakers lump the pair together when and if they decide to pursue legalization. For now, the best option for Virginia poker players is to use sweepstakes poker sites.