The continued expansion of online casinos throughout the US

by Contributing Author

Gambling existed long before the internet age. For thousands of years, humans have invented games of risk and chance for entertainment; incredibly, the very first set of gambling dice is believed to have been invented around 3000 BC. Over the centuries, humans across the globe have used all kinds of tools for their betting games – from sticks and sheep bones to plastic poker chips and playing cards. We have now entered a new era of gambling in the modern internet age, as an increasingly vast amount of our gaming and gambling takes place online on smartphones, laptops and tablets. Humans across the world are flocking to online casinos in their droves, largely due to the easy accessibility of online casino sites and the wide variety of entertainment choices available, as new online casinos can offer more exciting gaming options than ever before.

However, the online casino market hasn’t fully taken over the world just yet, as many states and countries continue to enact prohibitive laws around gambling. Gambling has always been a pretty controversial topic in human history, and in many places we’ve seen the introduction of regulations, similar to what we’ve seen with menthol cigarettes and the consumption of fast food across the US. With this, we have caught sight of restrictions on the online casino markets, meaning the world of iGaming has yet to fully take off in many countries. The US online casino market is a particularly interesting one at the minute, as despite previous prohibition, many states across the nation are beginning to change their approach to legislation around online casinos. It seems like the United States might be slowly becoming more accepting of the world of online gambling, with an increasing number of its citizens able to potentially start playing their favorite casino games on the web.

Major changes began back in May of 2018, when the Supreme Court decided to overturn a previous federal ban and legalize sports betting across the US. This historic decision has set a precedent for new approaches to the gambling market nationwide, making the US iGaming industry a really interesting one to watch. Changing attitudes towards gambling and online gaming mean there are plenty of opportunities for global brands to introduce themselves to fledgling and highly lucrative markets in the United States. Interestingly, large UK brands are showing a lot of interest in getting their foot in the door and establishing themselves in these newly opened US markets. Alongside the development of new cryptocurrencies and dynamic online gaming technology, there’s never been an easier time for the online casino market to take off across the US.

We’re all familiar with the role of casino hotels in US society – many Americans have clearly always been keen to gamble and play their favorite games both in-person and online. Importantly, it seems like the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major player in the shifting of attitudes across the US. Under various lockdown restrictions, whilst forced to stay at home or self-isolate, people across the world have developed new habits or found innovative ways to bring their favorite activities into their homes. As casinos closed their doors, millions of people worldwide turned to the internet to keep their dice rolling. Though most restrictions have now been lifted and many casinos are back in business, it seems like for many people gambling habits have permanently changed, and gamers now lean towards a more online-based form of betting. For many people in rural areas of the US, it is far easier and faster to play their favorite games on the go on smartphones or tablets than it is to locate an in-person hotel.

There will be many interesting changes as we follow the continued expansion of online casinos throughout the United States. Well established European markets have long enjoyed freedoms to expand and generate masses of revenue in the online gaming world – US iGaming businesses are now able to join in with online casino sites of their own. European brands will also be looking to establish themselves on the US scene, as their sites are already well known, well tested and ready to go as soon as US state legislation allows. This means the US online casino market will be one of the fastest growing iGaming markets in the world over the coming years, as 2022 has been a huge year so far for the industry. However, the industry still faces a number of challenges – gambling remains completely outlawed in some US states like Utah, where all commercial gambling is banned. It may therefore take a long time for the online casino market to completely open up, with attitudes and legislation varying from state to state. It’s certainly going to be a fascinating time as we watch online casinos place their own bets on the US iGaming market!