Which States Will Legalize Online Poker and Sportsbook Next?

Online poker and sportsbook are becoming more popular in the United States, with several mitigating factors coming together to push the gaming industry forward.

Within the online poker sector, a 2003 WSOP win by amateur Chris Moneymaker saw an explosion of players across the States resulting in the first poker boom. Eventually, murky practices saw the bubble burst, but it is re-emerging stronger than ever. Meanwhile, sportsbook has never been fully legislated within the US, meaning backing your favorite sportle team to win matches has been challenging.

That changed in 2018 when the US Supreme Court overruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), which meant the federal ban on sports betting was overturned. That has led to states investigating options around online poker and sportsbook in joint bills, not least as Americans wagered $3bn on sports for the first time in October 2020. There is still a disparity though – Seattle residents can back the Seahawks on mobile devices or in-person across the state, but Dallas Cowboys fans can not. Change is happening though, as both sportsbook and online poker are approved in new states.

One of the reasons online poker is on the rise in the recent pandemic is because it has driven gamers of all types to mobile devices, rather than physical casinos which have been closed and unable to welcome guests. The wider United States gaming market is forecast to increase by 15.41% between 2020 and 2025, according to an online gambling report from Business Wire.

Within that aforementioned growth, the online poker sector is booming with over 1.8m active players, 70% of which are in the United States, that have helped drive revenues up to more than $2.4bn. Many casinos have opened their doors after the pandemic with fewer poker offerings, such as reduced capacity rooms, which has helped keep online poker popular. The figure of $2.4bn is expected to grow further as people become aware of the scope and accessibility of online gaming. The pandemic may have been temporary, but there are signs online poker and gaming habits could have changed permanently. Even events such as the 2021 World Series Of Poker helped drive the popularity; it attracted large viewing figures across the country and whilst we didn’t get a headline-grabbing win as we did in 2003, it did increase awareness of the game on a significant level.

Currently, online poker is legalized in Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. West Virginia has the legal framework in place, but as yet no provider has taken up the opportunity to exploit that. Sportsbook is more widespread, with 22 states currently allowing such ventures. Michigan was the latest to launch an online poker market, but other states are expected to follow suit. Often, providers operating within those states pay big sums of money in taxes and lawmakers are coming around to the idea that allowing such practices, in a new and regulated market, is a wise choice. So, which states are likely to be next to approve online poker?

Missouri has three proposals to consider, focusing on the gaming industry revenue helping schools. Maryland introduced a retail sportsbook in December, meaning Commanders’ fans can now place bets on their side. Wyoming, Louisiana, and South Dakota have all recently approved sportsbook, although they do not currently have provisions for online poker.

As the world wakes up from the pandemic, the gaming habits of Americans look set to continue to evolve, giving sports fans and online poker players more scope for wagering on their mobile devices.