The wheels of legalization are in motion

The UIGEA came as a crushing blow for the burgeoning gambling market in the United States. Players were no longer “allowed to gamble legally” according to the popular Asian online casino website Lennus.com and this had a deterring effect on many law-abiding citizens with a keen eye for sports betting, casino games and poker. Since the dreadful act, things have changed for the better and progress is being made on a yearly basis. It all began with Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey passing their own gambling laws to allow state residents to play online poker.

Interstate compacts have emerged to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of international gambling operators. They allow players from multiple states to band together and enjoy popular games with like-minded individuals. For small states such as Delaware and Nevada, this is an important achievement and it paves the way for more states tagging along. Until the prohibitive gambling laws are reversed on a federal level, this is the best that players can hope for.

Bigger states are joining the fray

New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada led by example and provided others with a model of how legalized gambling can work. By providing players with a secure and predictable path towards fulfilling their hobbies, they stop the bleeding of cash to offshore operators. A lot of money is being collected by state authorities and goes towards funding local projects. This prompted similar action from other states, such as Pennsylvania, California and others with larger populations.

The US Supreme Court’s recent decision provided the fuel needed by even more states to jump on the bandwagon. Its ruling made it clear that states are the ones that should determine how gambling laws are enforced. The upside is that each state can regulate the gambling market as it sees fit, without interference from federal level. On the other hand, there is no unitary gambling environment across the US, which involves a certain degree of uncertainty.

In conclusion, online gambling isn’t yet legal across the US, but significant progress is being made every year. As more states realize the advantage of legalizing gambling, the number of places where Americans can bet on sports, play casino games and poker increases. International gambling companies are making a return to US shores, trying to tap into the immense potential of the local market. The future once again looks bright for Americans with an appetite for gambling.