Is Online Gambling Legal in Your State?
State lawmakers are slowly opening up to online gambling, particularly sports betting, while federal law remains an obstacle. Centuries-old attitudes against gambling remain deeply embedded across much of America; nonetheless, state lawmakers and the public alike are becoming more accepting towards new forms of gaming with several major federal statutes opening the way. Not long ago, the Federal Wire Act of 1961 was a significant impediment to states looking to provide new forms of online gambling. Although originally the law only prohibited transmission of sports betting information across state lines, a 2011 reinterpretation opened the door for interstate lotteries, fantasy sports and skill gaming – although in 2019 the Department of Justice complicated matters further by revoking that interpretation and reinstating an version of it that prohibits most gambling activities. Despite legal uncertainty, the industry has made significant strides. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware each launched online casinos in 2013,…