Gambling laws are an easily changeable category and there are no two US states that share the same law when it comes to gambling and casinos. Luckily, they are all similar, but at the same time, very different and one needs to be extremely careful not to get in breach with any law and any state. Naturally, this is not such an easy task, but it is mandatory for anyone running a business related to gambling. Users should also be mindful when doing any gambling activities, but the consequences for them are less strict than they are for business owners.
The public was shocked when lawmakers in Illinois set a much higher sports betting tax than any other state. The tax rate went from 15% up to 40% which is a huge spike. This is now the second highest tax rate after New York which is 51%. There is now a mass concern that other states will begin to follow the trend since this is not the first time an increase in tax rate has happened. In 2023 Ohio raised their tax from 10% to 20%. Special concern is with states that have not yet legalized online gambling, such as Florida. In Florida, only sports betting is officially legal. However, although online casinos are quite a legal grey area, real money casino sites in Florida that are based offshore are flourishing and there are plenty of them. It is only a matter of time before they are legally regulated and included in the taxing system.
The current situation with gambling laws in the US varies from state to state. Many states have legalized traditional casinos or at least some form of gambling, except for Utah and Hawaii. So far, these countries remain determined to ban all forms of gambling. On the other hand, there is a whole list of states that allow sports betting and it is generally more widely legal than online casinos. California, Texas, and Alabama among a few others still do not allow sports betting, while most others have caved to the trend. It is expected that similar developments will happen when it comes to online casinos.
The state of Illinois is at a crossroads regarding the legality of online casinos. It is now a matter of whether or not it will be legalized soon and how it should be regulated. The state recognized a substantial profit since sports betting became legal in 2019 and that is where the potential for legalizing real money online casino places comes from. However, it is not exactly smooth sailing. While some lawmakers are optimistic, there are opposing parties that try their hardest not to let the proposition pass. The main source of opposition is the video gaming terminals industry, they believe that the legalization of online gaming will crush their business as soon as it catches on. Nevertheless, the negotiations for legalizing online casinos are ongoing and it is only a matter of time until they are finalized and the issue is resolved in favor of online casinos, as it already happened in many other states.
