For those living in countries like the UK, it’s pretty bewildering to imagine that laws can vary so dramatically within a nation’s own borders. This is indeed the case with gambling, where there are vast differences between the states of the US, as well as between the provinces of Canada. The diverse rules and regulations determine how and where you can spend your money on your gambling pastime, including factors such as bonus opportunities, deposits and wagering requirements.
In this article, we’ll delve into the realm of these different variations. Continue reading to unearth the complexity and diversity of the laws around gambling in these countries, which dictate how players can wager money, claim bonuses or meet wagering requirements.
Online casinos
While Canada does allow its citizens to use online casinos, it’s illegal for these companies to be run from within the country. This implies that they all operate from territories beyond Canada’s borders.
There are no rules prohibiting Canadians from playing games at online casinos based in other countries. When it comes to online casinos Canada has a clear rule – you can play at, but not operate, an online casino here. Here, players can deposit their money, enjoy game bonuses and navigate the world of wagering requirements smoothly.
Meanwhile, in the United States, only six states allow online casinos to operate or accept players. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Online gambling is barred in all of the other 44 states.
Brick-and-mortar establishments
The existence of physical gambling venues is determined by individual states in the US. Under half of the states permit this kind of establishment to exist. Of the 22 that do, some of the prominent ones include Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
Even in the 22 states where brick-and-mortar gambling places are permitted, there is variation in how many have actually popped up. Some, although given the liberty, have opened far fewer establishments than others. Nevertheless, the facilities that do operate allow players to deposit money and gamble, and if luck permits, enjoy the bonus of satisfying wagering requirements and walking away with their bounty.
Sports betting
Placing a wager on sports games is a regular affair in countries like the UK, but only 29 of the 50 US states allow it. Many of these states have only legally recognized this form of gambling in recent years, with Delaware making it legal in 2018, Colorado in 2020 and Arizona in 2021. This type of betting welcomes players to deposit some money and potentially earn a substantial bonus, if striking it lucky.
Sports betting remains largely in its infancy in the US, suggesting that other states may follow the trend in the future and permit this form of gambling activity. Especially given the sheer size of the industry and the subsequent taxes that states can collect, it may not be too surprising to see more states allowing their citizens to wager money on sports games, make deposits and claim bonuses.
Sports betting is legal in every Canadian region, but in some, it is only permitted at brick-and-mortar establishments. These regions include Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The other regions allow sports betting both in-person and online. Whether online or offline, players are entrusted with the responsibility of depositing their money and abiding by all wagering requirements, as well as claiming their bonus when due.
Penalties for playing
Note that in states where gambling isn’t allowed, there can be severe consequences for failing to comply with the law. In Wyoming, online gambling may land you six months in jail, while in Mississippi, players can be fined for participating in an online casino game. In Missouri, you could face 15 days in jail. These penalties are often invoked not just for the illegal act of gambling, but also associated actions like depositing money or failing to meet prescribed wagering requirements.
No Canadian citizen has ever been fined or jailed for gambling online. Here, the law usually targets those running these establishments, rather than those who are actually playing.
Remember to always abide by the gambling rules of your region. If your state doesn’t permit gambling, you might want to plan a vacation to one that does. Here, you can satisfy your thrill of wagering money, making deposits and claiming your bonus legally.
Legal gambling age
It’s fascinating to note that states and provinces have varying legal gambling ages. Despite being neighboring states, New York and Pennsylvania have a three-year difference in their legal gambling ages – 18 and 21. Across the 48 US states in which some form of gambling is legal, all legal ages range between 18 and 21. However, there are rare instances, such as in Michigan, where you must be 32 years old to use poker rooms. Whether you’re 18, 21 or 32, in all these places, it’s important to manage your money responsibly, adhere to the wagering requirements and not miss out on any earned bonuses.
Surprisingly, some states like California have variations within their own boundaries, with a legal gambling age of between 18 and 21 depending on the specific district.
Similarly, in Canada, you’ll spot variations in the legal gambling age across provinces. Some allow gambling at 18, others at 19. Those that fall in the 18-year-old category include Alberta, Calgary, Manitoba, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec, and the rest, at 19, include British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, NW Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Toronto, Vancouver and Yukon. Despite the slight difference in age, all these provinces offer the same thrill of wagering money and the hope of claiming a worthy bonus.
An outright ban
There are two US states that don’t allow any form of gambling at all – these are Hawaii and Utah, and the complete ban imposed by the latter stems from their religious preferences. Meanwhile, Hawaii has such strict rules that even cruise ships are banned from offering passengers gambling experiences when in their waters. Fortunately, there are plenty of activities to distract from the lack of gambling opportunities in Hawaii.
