The Internet has opened up new avenues of gambling, including daily fantasy sports and lottery sales from states as well as some traditional casino games that can be enjoyed from home. Unfortunately, regulating online gambling remains unclear in most states and often leaves consumers confused as they determine the legalities and options.
Reason being, although there are federal gambling laws which generally set an overall tone, these tend not to be very specific in nature. PASPA, for instance, prohibited states from legalizing sports betting granting Nevada an effective monopoly until being overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018.
There are also state laws that outline specifics for gambling in individual states; these can vary considerably from state to state depending on various factors – some being religious and economic considerations while others based on concerns that certain forms of gambling lead to addiction and social harms.
As such, gambling laws vary significantly across the United States with Hawaii and Utah being two states that outlaw all forms of online gambling, while others such as Connecticut and New York have passed legislation legalizing casino online gaming.
Legalities surrounding online gambling are quickly evolving as more legislators realize its value in contributing to state coffers while contributing millions in tax revenues. There’s also increasing recognition that technology provides secure platforms that make offering gambling services possible online.
Numerous efforts are also under way to expand gambling services beyond sports betting and online casinos. Michigan plans on launching its legal sportsbook this year while Massachusetts is looking into legalizing sports gambling as early initiatives to encourage further states to legalize it.
At present, residents of Mississippi can only engage in sports betting through mobile apps provided by licensed casinos; it may change in the near future. Mississippi residents can still take advantage of a range of social gaming websites offering free slot play and table games, while they also allow the purchase of lottery tickets online through official state websites. As online gambling becomes more and more popular, lotteries – the most beloved form of online gambling – become an ever more important part of business operations in most states. This trend seems likely to continue as lottery sales increasingly move online. This phenomenon may well contribute to furthering state lotteries’ dominance on lottery sales websites in particular.