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WHAT YEAR WILL ONLINE SPORTS BETTING BE LEGAL IN THE USA

By Kendall Jenkins on 2018-10-22 11:09:00

A common question asked by US residents and perhaps many gambling professionals is when online gambling will be legalised in the US. Unfortunately, the law has yet to be passed in a few states and the way things stand right now, it would appear it may take some time, although it may not be as long as some would imagine according to a few industry experts. What we know is that online gambling isn’t banned nationwide, since it is indeed legal in some US states while authorities in other states have yet to decide whether they feel the same. Canadian Casinos are already offering sports betting and casino gaming and generating big revenues in taxes.

Why is Online Gambling Banned from Some States in the US?

New Jersey is a perfect example of a state that allows for online gambling activities, however regions like Pennsylvania have regulated and legalised online casinos, but have yet to make these online casinos operational. Other states such as Florida and North Carolina, where online gambling is banned altogether, are hoping to change the laws and become fully functional and operational by the year 2020. Needless to say, this has gotten tongues wagging and the common question asked is why are online casinos are actually banned in certain states of the US?

Online gambling isn’t the reason why the activity has been banned but rather the Interstate Wire Act, otherwise known as the Federal Wire Act, has been set in place and prohibits certain types of betting businesses such as online casinos from operating. As stated by the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) “prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law."

As such, the federal government is unable to get any profits from businesses operating offshore and so the ban was enforced, prohibiting US online casinos from operating in specific states.

When Will All US States Legalise Online Gambling?

Since Pennsylvania has been the 4th state to lift the ban, there is much hope for the citizens of America, however, a definite date cannot be forecasted although many are in hopes it will happen within the next few years. And certain factors have been taken into consideration making this assumption a valid one. Online gambling is a majorly lucrative industry, one the US could benefit from via tax laws and claiming a percentage. Pennsylvania alone managed to fill a gap in its annual budget since the legalisation of online gambling. Another element to take into consideration is the demand from US citizens themselves. Over 55% of Americans are in favour of sports betting alone and the numbers are bound to increase as more states legalise online gambling.

What to Expect by 2020?

It’s difficult to say exactly what the year 2020 will hold for avid online casino followers, but one thing that we can say that’s predictable is the demand of patrons seeking the comfort of their own online casinos in their states. By the year 2020, at least one additional state should have by passed the ban and if this happens, we can predict a trend to follow. Although it may take a few years, it’s forecasted that in the not so distant years to come, online gambling will become a thing of the present in the US.

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