US Casinos

11 US States to Watch for Online Gaming Expansion in 2021

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Is online gambling legal in the USA? It’s a question that often pops up when you search about online gambling in the USA. Even the country’s residents find it challenging to answer because gambling online in the USA is a confusing subject. Unlike in the UK, where gambling is well regulated, American gambling laws differ from state to state.

The simple answer is yes, but only in some places such as New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. However, in other US states, it is less clear. Nevertheless, some of the best offshore online casinos accept players from the USA. This means that online gambling with real money is not impossible, even if you’re in US states where it is prohibited. These offshore online gambling sites hold licenses not from the USA but from other jurisdictions. So, the legality of them offering services to the USA falls in the grey area.

Fortunately, more states are looking into offering legal online gambling in the USA. Considering the recent gambling events in the country, it’s likely most USA states will legalize online gambling by 2021. If you’re wondering which US states will follow the footsteps of New Jersey and company this year, read on. We’ve looked into the USA gambling landscape and listed 11 states most likely to legalize online gambling this year.

Alabama

In 2019, Alabama passed a gambling bill allowing betting on few professional and college sporting events. The Alabama Sports Wagering Commission takes care of regulating sports betting in the state. There are talks about expanding the scope of the said bill, which might include online gambling.

Alaska

In 2020, Alaska passed two bills legalizing sports betting in the state. The bills allow Alaska residents to participate in sports betting in lottery form. Online betting is still prohibited, but there are discussions about changing the state’s gambling landscape.

California

Whether there is gambling involved or not, California regulates the majority of gaming activities in the state. As such, there’s an attempt to legalize betting on sports back in 2017. Then Assemblymember Adam Gray reasoned that gaming and sports betting both require skills. The Court ruled against his proposition. However, a referendum might change this ruling, and 2021 might be the year Californians can gamble legally online.

Indiana

In 2019, Indiana legalized sports betting that included mobile wagering. In 2020, there’s a proposition for legalizing online casino games like slots and table games. Discussion is said to be underway in the first quarter of 2021. If all goes well, 2021 might be the year online casino gambling gets legalized in Indiana.

Maryland

With House Bill No. 989 in 2018, Maryland began to take the possibility of legalizing gambling in the state seriously. The bill proposed to give operators a wagering license to provide services to gamblers 21 years old and above. Progress is slow-moving, but the senate voted 47-0 in favor of Maryland’s sports betting referendum. Moreover, leaders are looking into legalizing the online gambling sector. If discussions remain in favor of gambling, land-based and online gambling might be legal in Maryland by 2021.

Massachusetts

Senate Bill 2273 requested a comprehensive look into sports betting and its positive economic impact on the state of Massachusetts. This resulted in the discussion of the legalization of fantasy sports. In 2018, there’s a white paper that detailed a roadmap for online gambling introduction to the state. More documents were added to the mix in 2019. Massachusetts’s incessant attempt to legalize online gambling might pave the way for such a possibility in 2021.

Missouri

Missouri already has some riverboat casinos that have betting licenses. The state also allowed some companies to provide betting services on fantasy sports. There have been bills requesting for gambling industry expansion in Missouri since 2018 covering both online sports betting and casino games. Three state leaders filed separate proposals regarding this matter even before the first legislative session of the new year opened.

Nebraska

There have been efforts to legalize gambling in Nebraska for a long time. The state finally gave a thumbs-up on land-based casinos in 2020. The year also saw state senator Justine Wayne introducing a bill to classify sports betting as games of skills. Gambling receives undeniable support from some state leaders. As such, Nebraska is one of the states that might expand gambling to include the online sector in 2021.

New York

State-level sports gambling has been legal in New York since 2013, but the first sportsbook opened only in 2019. Legal gambling in the Big Apple does not include the online marketplace yet, but there have been ongoing efforts. Two state senators already proposed online gambling expansion. Moreover, New York governor Andrew Cuomo recently made proposals regarding mobile sports betting in the state. This can result in a more in-depth assessment of not only online sports betting but also casino games. With more state leaders backing up the gambling industry, anything is possible. Online gambling might end up getting a full nod in New York City in 2021.

Rhode Island

Currently, there are legal sportsbooks in Rhode Island with only two in-state casinos that can offer legal sports gambling. However, online and mobile betting is also being planned. If approved, online casinos will be the most obvious next move. That’s something online casino enthusiasts in Rhode Island can watch out for.

Virginia

There has been an abrupt change in Virginia’s gambling landscape recently. Lawmakers allowed iLottery, sports betting, and five casinos all at once. The lottery offers not only the typical draw tickets but also some games resembling slots. If the online lottery and mobile sportsbooks proved advantageous, online gambling would expand more in Virginia.

Conclusion

Recent events might have caused the perspective shift of most USA states concerning online gambling. The positive impact of the iGaming industry in the economy has been undeniable in New Jersey. As such, more state leaders are pushing for legalization and expansion of the gambling landscape in their state. This will pave the way for more legal online gambling sites available for USA players. It won’t be long before American punters see new online casinos legally operating in the USA.

Keywords Used: is online gambling legal in USA, online gambling USA, gambling online USA, best online casinos USA, online gambling real money USA, online gambling sites USA, legal online gambling USA, USA online gambling, new online casinos USA

Links:

https://elitesportsny.com/2021/01/14/ny-governor-cuomo-opens-the-door-for-more-with-online-sports-betting/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/online-gambling-legalization-creates-new-opportunities-for-players-to-bet-on-new-platforms-301202519.html
https://www.sigma.com.mt/news/which-states-could-legalise-online-gambling-in-2021

BetMGM Sports Promotions 2021

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Online sports betting here in the US has been approved in many new states in 2021, and new special bonus offers and promotions have come to the forefront. Users are now able to obtain some of the best promotions available in states including NJ, CO, IN, TN, IN, MI, IA, PA, VA, and WV. Here we’ll go through the 2 promotions currently available to players at BetMGM. So let’s start off with the welcome bonus.

BetMGM Sports Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus available at BetMGM sports is as follows:

Risk-free up to $600 on the first bet

The offer will be available from your February 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. This promotion is currently available for new players, so ensure to sign up to BetMGM if you want to take advantage of the bonus. The current promotion is set so if you lose money on your first bet it will be awarded cashback in the form of a bet.

CLAIM THIS NOW AT BETMGM SPORTS!

How to get the BetMGM Sports Bonus

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on what you can do to get the current bonus.

Download the BetMGM sports app on either iOS, Android or visit the BetMGM website.
Sign up to BetMGM and make your first deposit.
Place your first bet on any sports to opt-in and receive up to $600 in free bets.
If the bet you placed loses then you’ll receive up to $600 when the bet is settled.

To opt-in for this promotion, you’ll need to make a minimum bet of $10. Only the first $600 you bet will be eligible for the promotions. This means if you place a bet of 700, and you lose, only 600 will be given as a cashback in the form of a bet. The remaining 100 will not be given back. Once awarded the free cashback, it must be used within a 7-day period before the money is removed from the account.

CLAIM THIS NOW AT BETMGM SPORTS!

Here at CompareCasino, we recommend checking out our top listed online casinos, and top listed bonus list to find the best online casinos and bonuses available in your state. BetMGM also has online casino promotions, which can be found here on the bonus and promotions page on our website.

New Online Casino Games for US Players

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

There have been new online casino games being presented across several companies across many states this year. Today we present newly available games currently available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The new games have been developed by software developers including IGT, NYX, AGS, and NetEnt. So let’s give you a quick run-through on the new games available per state.

Casino Software Provider Banner CC theme

New ‘New Jersey’ Games

There are 6 new games available in New Jersey. All games were developed by Ainsworth, NetEnt, IGX and NYX. These games are all slot games and include:

Congo King Quad Shot – Ainsworth
Golden Goddess Mega Jackpot – IGT
Griffin’s Throne – IGT
Gold Cash Free Spins – Inspired (NYX)
Vegas NightLife – Netent
King of Babylon – SGDigital (NYX)

New ‘Pennsylvania’ Games

There are 4 new games available in Pennsylvania all developed by AGS. These games are also all slot games and can be found at online casinos that provide AGS games. The new games include:

Fire Wolf II
Fu Nan Fu Nu
Pharaoh Sun
Rakin’ Bacon

New ‘West Virginia’ Games

There are currently only 2 new games developed for players in the state of West Virginia. These games are both developed by NetEnt where one game is a new blackjack game and the other is a new slot game. Both games included are:

Blackjack Touch Single Deck– Netent
Bloodsuckers 2 – Netent

We recommend having a lot at the top list for online casinos here at CompareCasino. The top online casinos here on our website will provide the new games and provide new players with the best online bonuses.

BetMGM Poker Set To Go Live in Michigan!

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

BetMGM is proud to announce that Poker will be going live in the state of Michigan (MI) this month. Poker enthusiasts will be able to sign up for a BetMGM poker account and start playing poker within their state.

This is a great step forward for players who’ve been waiting for poker to go live in MI. It’s likely that BetMGM poker will go live at the end of February 2021. It’s likely that BetMGM will partner with PartyPoker to MI to increase liquidity on the games and sure there are enough players and money coming into the site.

Players from the state of MI will have exclusive access to the BetMGM MI poker website, and players from outside will be unable to gain access. The site is required to follow strict regulations with online poker when using real money.

The rule states that only physical players can play at these sites. This means no bots are allowed. All players are tracked with state-of-the-art locating geo-technology. So you won’t have to worry about playing against people who are cheating.

BetMGM will begin with allowing MI players to play against each other, with plans to initiate sharing of the player pool once the regulations and legal requirements are made available. BetMGM has already passed the law allowing them to have shared player pools and will likely begin providing it when applicable.

So ensure to sign up to BetMGM Poker today. Use the links provided here at CompareCasino to get the best bonuses and promotion available to you. Good luck playing poker at BetMGM and always making sure to keep your poker face on.

Two New Poker Promotions at BetMGM and Party Poker

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

February 2021 is the month for poker promotions. Here we’ve got 3 poker promotions eligible for players who have accounts with BetMGM and PartyPoker. Therefore, if you’ve not made an account with these 2 online casinos, we recommend signing up, so you can get the fantastic bonuses we’re about to tell you about.

Claim now at Party Poker!

Promotion 1: Cash Game Cash Back

This promotion is available for all users part of Borgata Poker, BetMGM, and PartyPoker and is running from Feb 1 – Feb 28 ending at 11.59 pm on the final day. To begin getting the cashback bonus, head over to the promotions page, and select the bonus.

From here the games are activated on qualifying poker cash games where you’ll earn iRPs on a weekly basis which equates to cashback money. The poker game limits that are a part of the promotion include:

$0.01 — $0.02
$0.02 — $0.04
$0.05 — $0.10
$0.10 — $0.25
$0.25 — $0.50
$0.50 — $1
$1 — $2

Claim now at Borgata Poker!

Promotion 2: Weekly Spin the Wheel

This promotion is available on BetMGM and is available for users on a weekly basis and is currently running between Feb 15 – Feb 27. During this promotion, players will receive 1 free spin on the wheel on a weekly basis. Players also have the opportunity to get more free spins by obtaining iRPs when playing poker cash games and alternatively on tournaments. One free spin is worth 125 iRPs, so if you want more free spins to ensure you play lots of pokers to start racking up the iRush points.

There’s a single restriction on this promotion on a weekly period. That is players can get a maximum of 7 spins per week.

To get these promotions, we encourage players to sign up to the online casinos within the promotion dates. Ensure to use the links provided by us here are CompareCasino, so you get the right pages for each promotion.

Claim Now at BetMGM

Man Wins Lottery for the Sixth Time, with $250,000 Jackpot Prize in Idaho

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Bryan Moss, an Idaho resident from Meridian, won a lottery for the sixth time on Thursday, January 28, 2021. It was his first jackpot win and was worth a whopping $250,000. Bryan’s lucky streak began with a $1,000 win, followed by an impressive $10,000. Since then, all his winnings never exceeded that amount until Thursday, when he hit the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

According to the press release announcing the news by the Idaho Lottery, “Bryan Moss is someone who has a positive outlook toward life and today, he has an additional 250,000 reasons to be happy”. The businessman who owns the Newko Sport and Nutrition health store located in Meridian, Idaho, plays the Idaho Lottery often, and the real reason, according to him, is for humanitarian purposes.

“I’m proud to help support Idaho public schools; that is why I play,” he said. The Idaho Lottery was played first over three decades ago, on July 19, 2021. It offers various entertaining games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, Wild Card, and Hot Lotto. There is also a daily game called the Idaho Pick 3, with nightly drawings.

PullTabs and Scratch GamesTM are part of their games library as well, the latter being what earned Bryan a quarter of a million dollars. The Gem State has done well on the lottery scene in America. It was the first to introduce VIP club promotions to its lottery players in North America. It allowed players to earn reward points from playing, which they could use to purchase lottery merch such as bicycles, watches, and even iPods.

Idaho and Gambling

Idaho, however, has not always been gambling-friendly. In 1953, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that all forms of casino games in the state, especially slot machines, were illegal. Decades after the ban, in 1983, a proposal for the creation of state lotteries was created, but it died a quick death as the legislature did not approve it. Nevertheless, six years later, in 1989, the Idaho Lottery began. This was a record-breaking moment for the lottery industry at the time, given the preceding controversies on the subject in the region.

Today, pari-mutuel wagering, tribal casinos, bingo, and lotteries have been legalized in the state. More modern gambling forms like online casinos, online sports betting, and poker are still not regulated within the state’s borders. There are no clear laws prohibiting residents from wagering at offshore gambling sites, but most people seem content playing within safe boundaries.

Idaho Lottery players are required to be 18 years old or older. The same applies to residents who want to participate in pari-mutuel and bingo. However, tribal casinos in the state require that you be at least 21 years before you are permitted to play in them.

It is known in the state of Idaho that the lottery is run by the state government. Half of the net funds gotten from the lottery goes back into the state’s public school system. The other half goes to the Permanent Building Fund, from which colleges and universities in the state obtain financial privileges. Having this knowledge, Bryan decided to play the lottery regularly as a means of giving back to the community.

According to the lottery website, between 1989 when the lottery began and now, the Idaho Lottery has sold more than $4.2 billion worth of products. This revenue has been split such that over $2.6 billion was awarded to the lottery’s players and $249 million returned in retail commissions. Idaho public schools and buildings have gotten $961.5 million from this too.

According to the lottery officials, Bryan Moss purchased his winning lottery ticket at ExtraMile, a store on Eagle Road and E. Goldstone Drive in Meridian, located in the same city as his health store. He claimed his winnings at the Idaho Lottery headquarters in Boise and posed for pictures with the huge check that bore the record of his cash prize.

Big Plans for the Big Win

When asked what he planned to do with the money, Bryan said he planned to set it aside for his daughter’s education in the future. ExtraMile, the store that sold the winning ticket, was also rewarded with $20,000 as a bonus from the state lottery.

Seeing as it appears that Bryan Moss seems to have a lucky lottery charm, it is expected that other players would want him to play for them. However, it doesn’t seem like Bryan will be accepting any of such invitations. We know this based on a Facebook post where he announced his big win.

“I’ve tried playing for others, but it does not work”, he said. Although they may not get the lucky man’s help, it is expected that more Idaho residents will try to secure a spot with Bryan as one of the lottery’s star winners. New players are expected to roll in in the weeks that follow, and experienced players should have the inspiration to keep trying.

This is good news for the Idaho Lottery, but more importantly for the public schools in the Gem State and beneficiaries of the Permanent Building Fund. Brian re-emphasized his primary reason for playing the lottery when he put up a picture on Facebook to celebrate his win with the caption:

“I’m proud to help support Idaho schools! #6 decent lotto win. #lucky.”