Could Gambling Laws Be Set To Change In 2025?

The US gambling market is mostly comprised of two major types of establishments – land-based casinos and online gambling websites. 

The online gambling market has been experiencing a steady rise for many years now, and it’s projected to grow by 9.77% between 2024 and 2029. That would result in a market volume of US$39.81bn by 2029, with the current number being at US$13.03bn. 

There’s a long list of reasons why online gambling is becoming such a cherished pastime activity, with game diversity and versatile payment methods being at the core of most online casinos. Another perk is that, unlike land-based establishments, online gambling can be done anonymously. By using payment methods, such as cryptocurrency, and by opting for unique options like Telegram casinos, you get to enjoy an unprecedented level of anonymity and safety. 

The only problem with online casinos is that there are so many of them that choosing the right one might be like looking for a needle in a haystack. If you go for Telegram casino, you can make the process of choosing easier by looking at how 99Bitcoins compares Telegram bots, which play the games as per your instructions and manage transactions; they have reviewed hundreds of Telegram casinos and selected the best ones. 

On the other hand, if you prefer to experience an authentic casino atmosphere, you’ll probably go for land-based establishments. You can count your blessings, as the US is home to some of the most impressive casinos around the world, with many of them being located in two epic cities – Las Vegas and Atlantic City. 

In-person gambling still reigns supreme, with gross gaming revenue from commercial gambling being three times bigger in comparison to online gambling. The digital side of the industry might be impressive, but it’s nowhere near as monumental as in some other parts of the world. 

Gambling in the United States of America

Did you know that only seven US states have fully legalized online casino games and poker? The situation is a bit better with online sports betting since this form of gambling has been legalized in 30 states so far. 

All states determine what form of gambling is permitted within their borders, and they can have different rules regarding who can play games – and at what age. Some states, like West Virginia, Nevada, and New Jersey have lenient gambling laws that allow almost all forms of gambling, including online casino games and sports betting. Others, like Texas and Alaska, are so strict that all they allow is state lottery, wagering on horse racing, and charitable bingo. 

How Politics Affects Gambling

Luckily for the residents of some of the aforementioned states, their luck might be about to change. Now that the US voters have elected a new president, they can expect to see a change in the gambling landscape, along with the political one. 

Had Kamala Harris won the election, California and Minnesota would have been the two states that could have expected to go through some subtle changes. With Harris in charge of the country, she would likely have considered Rob Bonta for the attorney general’s position, whose office is contemplating the legality of fantasy sports in California which is currently unregulated. 

At the moment, this form of gambling is neither legal nor illegal, but that would have likely been changed in either direction with Bonta in command. 

Minnesota’s residents who love online sports betting would have been pleased with Harris’ win, as Peggy Flanagan would replace Walz and become the first female governor in the state. She would also have been the first Indigenous person to become a governor anywhere in the US, and she would likely have supported sports betting legislation. 

Now that Trump’s win has shaken up many political figures, all eyes are on Arkansas and Texas. Saracen Casino executives in Arkansas have been campaigning to legalize iGaming in the state, with voters approving a gambling expansion back in 2018. This led to currently favorable conditions for the gambling landscape in Arkansas, with four additionally approved locations for land-based casinos and live retail and digital sports betting being legalized. 

With the Trump administration and the sitting lieutenant governor Leslie Carol Rutledge on the scene, the gambling laws in Arkansas might not be changed in favor of the players. Rutledge has previously rejected ballot language for five casino initiatives. 

As far as Texas is concerned, there’s a chance it could have a solid shot at becoming more lenient when it comes to gambling and legalizing more forms of it in 2025. With Trump’s administration, either Greg Abbott or Dan Patrick will be appointed to a cabinet position. Abbott, in particular, isn’t a vocal opponent of gambling, and he even commented he might be in favor of signing a legal wagering bill. 

It’s important to mention that all of these commentaries are just speculations; there’s every chance these changes will be made, but nothing will be certain until it happens. 

How does the US market compare to the rest of the world?

Even though the most revenue from online gambling will be generated in the United States of America, the US still hasn’t adopted and adjusted to the market as much as some other countries in the world. However, it’s important to consider that the US online gambling market is growing fast, and it’s likely that the country is going to keep advancing to legalizing and legislating online gambling in 2025 and beyond. 

When comparing the US gambling market to other countries, there’s no need to look further than neighboring Canada, which is one of the biggest hubs for online gambling operators – many of its provinces have legalized both online gambling and sports betting, with licenses mostly obtained by the Kahnawake Commission. 

Another country bordering the USA—Mexico—had legalized online gambling way back in 2004. Even though there are special conditions for players in place, casino operators can freely do business, as long as they respect the local laws. 

Europe is also doing exceptionally well in terms of legalizing the online gambling market, as the majority of the 26 countries in the European Union have licensed online gambling operators. Don’t get the wrong idea about the European countries, as they have strict rules in place, as well as some restrictions that allow only safe and local brands to operate on their premises. Some countries also ban some games, with a stellar example being Cyprus – the country officials prohibit betting on horse racing events. 

Even though it might seem like it, the entire world isn’t making a positive shift in terms of legalizing online gambling. Even though they are in the minority, some countries, like India, are taking a tougher stance on casino games. Until 2023, India’s residents were able to access casino games from foreign operators. Offshore casinos are now banned from the country, and trying to play their games is illegal.  

The same goes for the majority of the Asian continent. Except for Macao and China, the rest of Asia has very strict anti-gambling laws in place and, due to the political climate and the general stance, the situation isn’t likely to dramatically change in 2025. 

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