There is no denying that the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has strained state economies across America. Low public income from both operational fees and taxes from local enterprises means severe cuts on local budgets. With the current economic slump, many businesses are turning towards e-commerce to avoid implementing unpopular austerity measures. Online casinos have long been unpopular in many American states, but recent developments in the local industry have favored online gambling, specifically sports betting. Today,legal USA online casinos offer some of the best betting markets on sporting events. After the supreme court abolished federal laws on sports betting, states that have legalized, such as New Jersey, have mitigated the current economic slowdown with tax revenues from authorized operators within their territory.
Two years have passed since the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling to legalize sports gambling in 2018. Before the ruling, the federal government had prohibited sports betting in most states. However, after the Supreme Court's reverse decision, the legality of online sports gambling is now determined by the state-level government. The East Coast States, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, receive much fanfare for their decision to legalize multiple tiers of online casino gambling. Other states are also on the same path, and with more states starting to reopen, here is a look at where they stand on online gambling.
Sports Betting is Legal In New Jersey – Will Others Follow?
New Jersey offers gamblers an ideal environment to make money, especially now that Covid-19 has forced many Americans to seek online opportunities. Residents are marveled by the numerous opportunities offered by betting sites where they can choose between dozens of available New Jersey’s sportsbooks, poker, and online casino. Nevada has traditionally enjoyed a monopoly on online sports betting for nearly two decades. Although New Jersey was the second state to legalize sports gambling, its reputation is synonymous with that of Nevada, and it's no surprise that NJ forwarded the lawsuit that brought down the federal law that banned sports gambling. Most states are explicitly allowing online gambling, but only a few states like Pennsylvania, Nevada, and New Jersey have been proactive in implementing legislation. As a result, Americans can enjoy specific online casino games in these states the same way they would in a brick and mortar casino. Consequently, losses caused by the pandemic have, to some extent, been mitigated by these online platforms where both domestic players and those logging in from other areas participate in real money online casino events. Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky are some of the states keen on following New Jersey's example to diversify their tax revenues.
The Road to a Bright Future in Online Sports Betting in America
With more states in the US legalizing sports gambling, it is clear that most of the country is starting to embrace online casinos, as evidenced by the recent fascination in online sports betting. After the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, it only took a few months for several states to begin legalizing sports gambling. In the case of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the transition has recorded tremendous success. Today, major casinos in Pennsylvania have developed online platforms with a user-friendly interface for live games. Such platforms include FanDuel, Unibet, DraftKings, etc. Besides offering players a broader range of betting options, sports gambling legislation generates flexibility in online gaming. Players can now bet in person or via websites and mobile applications. Pennsylvania is among the list of states that have seamlessly passed the legalization bill. It passed the sport-gambling bill in 2017 in anticipation of a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court. The relatively high tax on sports gambling is recorded at approximately 35% on the operator's fee plus a one-time payment of $10 million. A 2% tax for local grants to counties indicates that online gambling is a highly lucrative venture for the state.
Given the enterprise's success in states like New Jersey, a high number of gambling executives believe that the trend will continue as other states embrace online sports betting. A good example is New York, where residents cross the state into New Jersey to place bets on their favorite teams. Essentially, over 70% of the bets in NJ’s market are made via online platforms. Without the steadfast contribution of New Jersey's lawmakers, the reality of online gambling would not be possible in most states. That said, it is fitting to say that New Jersey is, quite frankly, among the top destination for online sports gambling in the United States.
