Which States Do Not Allow Gambling

1. Poker is considered gambling. While law does not address online gambling specifically, state officials contend such gambling is illegal. Connecticut Poker: Poker specifically mentioned in statutory definition of gambling. No law dealing directly with Internet gambling or online poker. Home poker games legal if no rake is taken.
2. But this does not mean that you cannot gamble in other states. In fact, gambling is popular across the country, with there being a lot more opportunities to enjoy casino games online and on land.
3. As of September 30, 2020 29 states, the District of Columbia and Guam do not allow for casinos to operate, 34 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not allow for racetrack casinos, and 31 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not allow for commercial bingo facilities.
4. According to azBookmakers, several gambling laws affect how states handle individual regulations around the activities of gaming and sports betting. Each state sets its new rules per the guidelines.

1. What States Do Not Allow Online Gambling
2. Which States Don't Allow Gambling

The gambling movement is gaining traction across much of the United States. However, many states are still working on legislation to allow gambling within their borders.

Here are five states without legalized gambling. A few of them may be working feverishly to open the gambling gates. Meanwhile, other states have clearly stated, “No gambling here.”

It’s not a surprise that not every state allows casino gambling. In many states, current laws don’t authorize live gambling. Read more about the big ones here: Utah. The state of Utah has no form of gambling whatsoever. There are no charitable casinos. No commercial casinos. No tribal casinos. And no racetracks.

1 – Utah

Utah is one of the most absolutely beautiful states. From the awe-inspiring drive up to Monument Valley to the majesty of Arches National Park, Utah is a wonderful place to live.

Unless you’re a gambler of any sort, that is. Utah has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country.

Residents of Utah do not have access to a single casino within its borders, making it one of the 10 states without some form of commercial or tribal casino.

Even if the gambling laws began to relax considerably, it would be miles away from opening up to casino play.

Utah has no state lottery and does not participate in any of the multi-state lotteries. You can’t even by a scratch-off in Utah.

So, no casinos and no lottery of any kind.

What about playing bingo for real money?

Bingo has become a way for gamblers in states with no gambling to quell their thirst for some action. Most bingo halls will pay a considerable portion of their earnings to charity. Still, it definitely gives players the chance to cash in on the game.

This may seem like extreme measures, but Utah citizens don’t appear to mind too much one way or the other. Much of Utah’s population is of the Mormon faith, and their religion strictly forbids such activities.

Not all of the people living in Utah are of the Mormon faith, though. Surely residents are free to gamble in their homes.

That’s hard, “no.” If you live in Utah, you’re not even permitted to gamble on poker or the Jazz game in your own home.

Utah is also one of only a handful of states with a specific law prohibiting internet gambling. Utah has gone as far as to opt-out of any federal regulations legalizing gambling.

2 – Hawaii

Hawaii is unequivocally one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The soaring mountains covered in lush vegetation towers above the white sand beaches and perfectly blue waters.

I’ve never been playing a round on one of Maui’s illustrious golf courses or been diving in the waters off of Oahu and wished I were in a casino. This plays into the reasons behind Hawaii not having legalized gambling.

The natural beauty of Hawaii is all of the attraction needed to draw a booming tourism industry. Many believe a gambling industry may only serve to hinder their niche as a family vacation spot.

The Hawaiian culture puts a huge emphasis on family. Hence, Hawaiians largely view gambling as harming their community.

The proponents of legalized gambling in the islands’ chain argue that the casino industry could add over $25 million in new revenue each year. Of course, this pales in comparison to the over $1 billion generated annually via the tourism trade.

It’s easy to imagine the Maui coast dotted with beautiful casino resorts. What many Hawaiians can see is the added potential for things like pollution, crime, and traffic.

I specify commercial casinos for an important reason. You see, there has been legislation being debated over for sometime pushing for native gaming.

The Akaka bill would do much the same for native Hawaiians as the native American tribes have seen in the continental United States, meaning that natives would be permitted to offer gaming as a revenue source.

The Akaka bill seems to be all but dead, but some residents hold out hope.

In an ironic twist, the number one vacation spot for Hawaiians is Las Vegas, Nevada.

3 – Alaska

Alaska may be the home of the latest gold rush, but don’t travel to the last frontier expecting to strike it rich in the casinos.

Alaska has yet to outlaw internet gambling or daily fantasy sports specifically. I’d consider traveling to Canada or Las Vegas before testing the online casinos.

If the Alaskan authorities decide to prosecute a gambler in the state, a second charge is an automatic felony. I can’t imagine a single casino game or sporting wager worth catching a felony charge.

I suppose it isn’t surprising that Alaska has no legal gambling. In many communities and regions throughout the state, a strict prohibition on alcohol still exists.

So, if you think maybe you’ll test your luck at an offshore gambling site, remember that the Alaskan authorities are throwing people in jail for having bottles of liquor.

The lack of casinos likely won’t come as a shock to many of you. Alaska is known for its vast wilderness, and the tourism industry depends on it to survive.

The Alaskan residents don’t seem in any hurry to start littering the beautiful landscape with gaudy casinos. Honestly, it’s probably best to keep it that way.

If you’re heading for an Alaskan vacation, you’d better buy your lottery tickets before you get on the airplane or hit the Canadian border. All forms of the lottery are illegal in Alaska, including scratch-offs and PowerBall.

Alaska has a lot to offer anybody that wants adventure in the wild. On that note, if you’re looking to get rich quick in Alaska, stick to the gold panning.

4 – Texas

Texas has a lot going for it. The Lone Star state has a booming economy, and let’s face it, everything is bigger in Texas.

Sports are among the most popular activities in Texas. From little league to college athletics, passionate fans rarely miss a game.

Texas has eight professional sports teams from the big four sports. Yet, sports betting in Texas is illegal at the moment.

Many sports bettors turn to offshore betting sites to get their fix. While sports betting is prohibited, the use of the sites is not specifically outlawed.

In fact, nobody in the state has ever been brought up on charges resulting from play on one of the sites. Typically, law enforcement will focus on the sites operating illegally.

Texas is one of the largest states in both size and population. Unfortunately, the sprawling land is home to a single casino.

The Lone Star State’s lonesome casino is located on the Kickapoo reservation near the border with Mexico.

Texans still get their fill of casino gaming. Most of the most densely populated areas are within driving distance of casinos in neighboring states.

For years, Dallas/Fort Worth residents would travel to Shreveport, LA, to visit the riverboat casinos. They now have the largest casino in the world a short 90-minute drive north at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, OK.

Texas looks to be on the cusp of legalizing sports betting. However, this doesn’t open the door for casinos to begin breaking ground.

It simply means that in addition to the massive Texas lottery options, bingo halls, and Saturday night poker games, Texans enjoy, they can also bet on those Dallas Cowboys.

5 – Tennessee

Tennessee has a rich and vibrant culture that is distinctly its own. From Memphis’s city sounds to the Appalachian-themed Dollywood, Tennessee is a state that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Tennessee has ignored convention regarding gambling laws as well. The state has left the antiquated laws in place dating back to the 1800s.

That means the Tennessee authorities have not updated laws regarding online gambling. Like many states, online gambling is a gray area.

Gamblers in Tennessee do have nearby options. It simply means driving out of state. The riverboat casinos in Mississippi are a popular destination for Tennessee residents.

You would think the state officials would make changes to existing laws in an effort to keep some of those dollars in state coffers.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a nice vacation with some gambling mixed in, avoid these states. The “No Gambling Here” sign may not last forever, but these five states without legal gambling haven’t made the change yet.

We've compiled this legal online betting reference to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each American state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state-by-state US gambling guide which will give players all the information they need to make smart decisions about how and where to bet online.

This state-specific data will include the state laws governing Internet gambling opportunities in all relevant markets, including online casinos, online poker, and online sports betting.

Each state approaches the legalization of online gambling differently, so it's necessary to detail state-licensed options as well as legal international gambling opportunities. We also address some of the most commonly asked questions about gambling in each state and provide various helpful resources. Such information is covered in greater detail at each specific state page linked below.

Is Online Gambling Legal In My State?

It definitely might be! At this moment, at least 25 US states have legalized and regulated online gambling in some form. However, most states have limited their legalization efforts to sports betting.

Nevertheless, we expect that the majority of these states will also embrace legal online poker games and legal online casino games eventually. Of course, if they don't, you can still wager legally and safely using online overseas operators.

Online Poker & Casino

• Delaware - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Michigan - Online Poker (launch TBA), Online Casinos
• Nevada - Online Poker
• New Jersey - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• West Virginia - Online Poker, Online Casinos

Online Sports Betting

• Arkansas*
• Colorado
• Delaware***
• Louisiana**
• Maryland**
• Michigan
• Mississippi*
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico*
• New York*
• North Carolina**
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota**
• Washington**
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

*Retail only, online TBA

**Legalized but pending launch

***Retail available, online pending launch

To date, TN is the only US state that has domestic sportsbooks available exclusively online, as there are no provisions in Tennessee sports betting laws to allow for retail brick-and-mortar gambling locations.

Online Lottery

• Illinois
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

What States Do Not Allow Online Gambling

Is Licensed Offshore Gambling Legal In My State?

While the above states offer regulated online gambling, residents in most of them still have the option to use licensed offshore betting sites. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, enter online poker tournaments, and bet on sports.

This is because no local gambling laws in any of the other 48 states specifically prohibit betting real money with an international operator.

Additionally, there are no federal laws that bar the activity, as all US betting mandates apply only to domestic sportsbooks (i.e. the Wire Act) and US-based financial institutions (i.e. the UIGEA), not to players themselves.

What Is The Minimum Online Gambling Age in the US?

There is no single minimum gambling age in the US, as these are set and regulated by each individual state. The minimum age within each state is affected by various factors such as betting markets, casino game types, venue amenities, and more.

Most states set all their gambling age minimums to 21 years of age, though a few have sports betting options and other kinds of Class II style gambling opportunities for 18+ players.

Which States Don't Allow Gambling

That said, licensed international online gambling sites offering casino games, poker rooms, and sports betting amusements almost always accept USA players at just 18 and up. These reputable sites also award their members bigger bonuses and perks, more varied electronic casino game options, and better sports betting odds.

U.S. States Where You Can Legally Gamble At 18 And Up

Below, you can learn more about the minimum legal online gambling age by state:

Online Gambling Laws in The United States

Gambling laws can be a complex topic these days, as there a pair of prominent US federal gambling laws to account for, and there are several local gambling laws in every single state.

The reason for this is that the US DOJ has declared that each state has the authority to determine its own destiny concerning both land-based and online gambling. This is especially true now that PASPA (1992-2018) has finally been overturned.

Since 2018's PASPA overturn, a large number of US states have legalized various forms of online gambling (mostly sports betting) within their borders. Many other states are currently in discussions to do the same.

Nevertheless, even if you live in a state without legal local gambling options, you still have them. US players outside of WA and CT are permitted access to multiple licensed, certified, and regulated online gambling sites hosted outside of the United States. This is a nice alternative allowing those players aged 18 and up to enjoy real online gambling while their states get their ducks in a row.

States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation

• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• New York
• Virginia

US States That Offer Active Domestic Sportsbooks

• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

US States With Legal Sports Betting Pending Launch

• Louisiana
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington