Is Online Gambling Legal in the US?

Online Gambling Laws by State

Here is an overview of US gambling laws by state:

• Alabama

Knowingly earning money from illegal gambling activity is a Class C misdemeanor. Possessing a gambling device is illegal if you have it with the intention of partaking in illegal gambling activity – that’s a Class A misdemeanor. 

Verdict:  These laws are ambiguous because they don’t address online gambling or declare it illegal. The only law regarding online gambling in Alabama is that online casinos can’t operate from within the state. 

• Alaska

Alaska defines illegal gambling as any gambling that’s not permitted by law. The state hasn’t explicitly legalized online gambling but has legalized social gambling. Online gambling may be illegal or it may not. Violating the law will earn you an unspecified violation. Continuous violations of the law is a Class B misdemeanor. 

Verdict: Ambiguous, but likely illegal. Play on online gambling websites at your own risk. If you get caught, it’s probably better to stop. 

• Arizona

Arizona has legalized social gambling and has explicitly made online gambling illegal. Earning money gambling is a Class I misdemeanor. Since the law states that online gambling is illegal only if you obtain any benefit from it, it’s not entirely clear if playing just for fun is illegal.

Verdict: The law is somewhat ambiguous, but as a practical matter it is illegal to gamble online if you live in Arizona.

• Arkansas

Arkansas makes it explicitly illegal to gamble on anything that results in winning money or property. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• California

In 2015, California legislators introduced four bills to legalize and regulate online poker, but inaction led to their death. In 2018, a petition to legalize and regulate sports betting was submitted to be on the November 2020 election ballot. No California law explicitly makes online gambling illegal. However, individual counties, cities, and towns might have laws in place, and players are encouraged to research them beforehand.

Verdict: Online gambling is legal at the state level, but can be illegal on the local level. 

• Colorado

Colorado’s anti-gambling laws state that any form of gambling apart from social gambling is illegal – a Class 1 petty offense. 

Verdict:  Illegal. Gambling online in Colorado can earn you a minor penalty. 

• Connecticut

Connecticut has made it clear that gambling in any form is a crime. If caught, you could be charged and convicted of a Class B misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal. 

• Delaware

Delaware has legalized regulated online gambling, and state law doesn’t state that it’s illegal to gamble on unregulated websites. Although it’s Class A misdemeanor to own a device used for gambling, it’s not illegal if you’re using it to gamble on a regulated website. 

Verdict:  Legal.

• Florida

Florida regulates some forms of gambling but outlaws unregulated gambling. Online gambling is a second-degree misdemeanor in the Sunshine State. It’s also illegal to gamble on websites outside of the state.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Georgia

Georgia has outlawed gambling, declaring it a misdemeanor. Although the law doesn’t specifically mention online gambling, it does say that any device used for a casino or card game is illegal. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Hawaii

Hawaii has expressly made it illegal for anyone to partake in any form of gambling. Only home games and social gambling are allowed. Games of chance are not.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Idaho

Idaho has legalized only state-sanctioned gambling, while all other forms of gambling are misdemeanor offenses. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Illinois

Illinois has outlawed any game of chance or game that requires money or another valuable item. Gambling is a misdemeanor in Illinois. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Indiana

Indiana prohibits operating an online casino in the state. Gambling is a Class B misdemeanor for players. Any device used for gambling will automatically be deemed illegal.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Iowa

Iowa has the strictest laws on online gambling. The state has some forms of legal, regulated gambling, but every other kind of betting is illegal. Bet enough and you can be convicted of a felony.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Kansas

Kansas has declared betting a Class B misdemeanor. This doesn’t apply to state-sanctioned gambling.  

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Kentucky

Kentucky’s legislators have made it illegal to promote gambling activity – a ban that applies to online gambling websites, not players. No law makes it illegal for players to gamble.

Verdict:  Legal.

• Louisiana

Louisiana has explicitly banned gambling via computer. Violate this law and you can be fined as much as $500 and spend as long as six months in jail.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Maine

Gambling is a crime in Maine, but the state has no laws or penalties associated with gambling online. 

Verdict:  Legal.

• Maryland

Maryland considers the use and possession of a gambling device a crime that can result in fines and jail time. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Massachusetts

Massachusetts has laws that prevent people from operating gambling websites within the state. The law restricts people from gambling in a public space, and if anyone wins more than $4, the state will fine them double the amount they win. However, state-sanctioned gambling is permitted.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Michigan

In Michigan, it’s illegal to win money at a gambling website. Winning less than $50 is a misdemeanor. Winning more than $50 can result in jail time and a $1,000 fine. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Minnesota

Minnesota doesn’t define any penalties for players gambling online. State law defines betting as a gross misdemeanor, but the law doesn’t appear to apply to players gambling online.

Verdict:  Legal.

• Mississippi

Mississippi has banned all forms of gambling not explicitly permitted. Violators can be fined $500 or serve 90 days in jail.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Missouri

In Missouri, only explicitly identified gambling is legal. All other forms of gambling are misdemeanors.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Montana

Montana defines online gambling as a misdemeanor and classifies devices used to gamble online as illegal. A first offense can result in a $500 fine. The second offense gets you six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. For a second offense within five years, you’re looking at a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Penalties go up from there.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Nebraska

Nebraska has outlawed any game with an element of chance, including all forms of gambling. Wagering less than $500 per day is a Class IV misdemeanor, and betting more will get you a second-degree charge for promoting gambling. Players can be charged if they gamble outside the state, and Nebraska will seize all winnings. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Nevada

Nevada has legalized state-licensed online poker websites. All other forms of online gambling are illegal. Using the telephone or other electronic communications media to share information related to making a wager from within or outside of the US is a misdemeanor in Nevada.

Verdict:  Illegal except for licensed poker sites. 

• New Hampshire

New Hampshire declares all forms of gambling illegal unless authorized by the state legislature. Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• New Jersey

Online casinos are legal in New Jersey. All gambling activity must be licensed, regulated, and taxed by the state of NJ – otherwise it’s illegal. State law outlines punishments for online gambling websites, not players. State law explicitly exonerates players.

Verdict:  Legal 

• New Mexico

New Mexico has outlawed all forms of gambling not specifically authorized by the state. It’s a misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• New York

New York’s online gambling laws are applicable to gambling websites, not players.

Verdict:  Legal. 

• North Carolina

North Carolina has declared any game of chance illegal except for state-sanctioned games. Violators are guilty of Class II misdemeanors with all online-gambling winnings seized by the state.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• North Dakota

North Dakota has declared all forms of gambling not explicitly sanctioned by the state illegal. For wagers below $25 per event, there is no charge. If the wager exceeds $25, it’s an infraction. If the wager exceeds $500, it’s a Class A misdemeanor. 

Verdict:  Illegal under certain circumstances. 

• Ohio

Ohio outlaws all games of chance, but there are no penalties for online gambling. The state has declared it illegal for people to use gambling as a source of income as well as betting with bookmakers.

Verdict:  Illegal under certain circumstances. 

• Oklahoma

Oklahoma sanctions some gambling as legal and the rest as illegal. Gambling not authorized by the state can result in jail time of up to 30 days and/or a fine of up to $100.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Oregon

Oregon has authorized some forms of gambling. Gambling that’s not state-sanctioned is a Class A misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania bans all forms of unauthorized gambling. The state has authorized gambling sites and online gambling since 2017.

Verdict: Legal.

• Rhode Island

Rhode Island has serious penalties for owners of gambling websites, who can spend up to a year in jail for operating a gambling website,  with people associated with the site paying fines of $500. Participants may also serve up to 30 days in jail. However, there are no specific penalties for participating in online gambling. 

Verdict:  Legal.

• South Carolina

South Carolina has laws against operators, but fails to mention online gambling. However, the punishment for players playing other games is up to 30 days in jail or a $100 fine.

Verdict:  Vague. 

• South Dakota

In South Dakota, any form of gambling is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Tennessee

Tennessee has legalized some forms of gambling and deems everything else as illegal. Possessing a device used for gambling is illegal. Illegal gambling is a Class C misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal except for those the state has specifically legalized. 

• Texas

Gambling is illegal in Texas except state-sanctioned gambling. Illegal gambling is a Class C misdemeanor.

Verdict:  Illegal unless explicitly sanctioned by the state.

• Utah

Utah has made all forms of gambling illegal and has explicitly mentioned online gambling. Gambling illegally is a Class B misdemeanor. 

Verdict:  Expressly and explicitly illegal.

• Vermont

Vermont has outlawed gambling except for gambling operations that are authorized by the state. Gambling at other institutions can earn you a $200 fine but no jail time.

Verdict:  Illegal.

• Virginia

Virginia legalized some forms of gambling and has declared all others illegal. Using a device for gambling is illegal. Gambling is a Class III misdemeanor in Virginia. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal. 

• Washington

Gambling is illegal in Washington. Transmitting or receiving gambling information electronically is a Class C felony. 

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal. 

• West Virginia

West Virginia has legalized casinos, including slot parlors. However, all other forms of gambling are illegal. The fine for placing an illegal bet is up to $300, and anyone who fails to pay the fine will have to serve up to 30 days in jail.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.

• Wisconsin

Wisconsin has authorized some forms of gambling but all other forms are illegal. Making an illegal wager is a Class B misdemeanor. 

• Wyoming

Wyoming has authorized several forms of gambling, but the statute doesn’t contain anything that legalizes online gambling. Gambling illegally can result in six months in jail and a $750 fine.

Verdict:  Explicitly illegal.