Illegal Gambling in the USA: What You Should Know

US gamblers should be aware that gambling laws vary across the different states in the country. It is the player’s responsibility to get familiar with the relevant legislation and regulations before engaging in any gambling activities. In this article, we will try to shed light on the topic, starting with the legal status of gambling activities by state.

States Where Gambling is Illegal

There are states in which the gambling laws are relatively light, and most activities are legal. One such example is Nevada with the legendary Las Vegas Strip. The situation is similar in Michigan, Louisiana, and Illinois. On the other hand, we have states where gambling is mostly illegal. Alaska and Texas, for example, have rather strict gambling laws.

You can clearly see the tremendous differences between the gambling laws in the USA. Another thing you should know is that the legal gambling age for US players varies across the 50 states. It can also differ based on the specific gambling activity. In most cases, the legal gambling age for bingo and lottery is 18, while the legal age for playing at commercial casinos is 21.

Is Online Gambling Illegal in the USA?

The legal status of online gambling depends on the laws and regulations of the specific state. In some states, engaging in such activities is completely prohibited, while in others, it has been legalized. There are also cases in which online gambling falls in a so-called “gray area”.

This means that the current legislation does not cover this form of gambling, so its status is unclear. In similar situations, we recommend you have a look at some of the best online casinos in the USA and check if they accept players from your state. Make sure to choose legal sites licensed by official gambling authorities.

Examples of Illegal Gambling in the USA Over the Years

Illegal gambling in the USA was a big issue in the early 1900s. This was among the main activities of the many organized crime groups during this time. One interesting story is that of the infamous American gambling icon Lester Ben Binion, also known as Benny Binion. Before becoming a legend in the gambling world, he led illegal gambling operations in Texas. Binion was also a convicted murderer.

This did not stop him from opening one of the most popular Las Vegas casinos – Binion’s Horseshoe. The gambling hall was founded in 1951 and was run by the Binion family for over 50 years. Furthermore, the mob boss was also the one who founded the World Series of Poker. Around a year after his death, Benny Binion was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame for his contribution to the game.

Illegal Gambling Charges and Penalties in the USA

Remember how we mentioned that it is essential to get familiar with the gambling laws in every US state before engaging in gambling activities? We highly recommend you do that to avoid any unpleasant consequences for yourself. Depending on the scale of the violation, illegal gambling can be classified as a misdemeanour or felony. Here are the three penalties you could potentially be faced with:

If convicted, you might also face a combination of the above penalties for illegal gambling charges in the USA. If you are living in or visiting states where gambling is illegal, we recommend you check what the alternatives are. For example, there might be nearby states where gambling is legal or riverboat casinos like the following popular choices:

These are merely a few of your options. The riverboat casino gambling is very well developed in the USA. Aboard these exclusive and luxurious ships, you can play anything from slots, blackjack and roulette to poker and sports betting. Throw in the added benefit of the cruise itself, and you are in for an overall great experience.

Illegal Gambling in the USA: Conclusion

Illegal gambling in the USA depends on two things – federal laws and state laws. This means that the legal status of gambling activities could widely differ across the states. While there are very liberal states like Nevada and West Virginia, there are also places like Utah and Tennessee, where most forms of gambling are illegal. Examples of illegal gambling penalties include fines, probation, and jail time.

Frequently Asked Questions

This concludes our article about illegal gambling in the USA. We have tried our best to be as thorough as possible. If you still have questions, please look at our short FAQ section below. It contains the most popular questions asked by users online: