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In a relatively short period, legal gambling in the U.S. has gone from being highly concentrated in a tiny number of states to being an almost nationwide activity. Thanks to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, casino gambling is part of the cultural iconography of the country, and their famous casinos feature in myriad movies, books, and songs. However, the recent unlocking of regulation at the federal and state levels has changed attitudes and access towards gambling.
The Supreme Court's overturning of the PASPA ban on sports betting as unconstitutional, technological advances and a handful of states challenging individual laws changed the industry across the country. While real-money casino gambling online casino gambling is still only available in a handful of states, its close relatives, sweepstakes, and social casinos are accessible right across the country. On and offline sports betting is also legal in one form or another in an increasing number of states, as is poker, lottery, land-based casinos, and other types of gambling activity.
The gambling industry is an important element of the U.S. economy, with national gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching USD 66.65 billion in 2023. While real-money online casino gambling is only available in a relatively small number of states, you might be surprised to learn that casino slots and table games accounted for around three-quarters of the total GGR in 2023.
As Casino.org's Hannah Cutajar says,
"In terms of revenue, casinos punch way above their apparent rate. While Nevada's USD 15.5 billion GGR outstripped every other U.S. state, Pennsylvania generated the second highest at USD 5.86 billion, largely down to online casino gambling in the state. Pennsylvania is one of the few states with a regulated, legal online casino gambling market, and it is a significant part of the economy, with new casinos opening up their virtual doors all the time."
We asked Hannah how iGamers can discover what is happening in their state, what is new, and how to know which sites and games to avoid. She told us,
"It is easy for players to think that they have found their favourite online casino and some players might be reluctant to try new ones. However, in a competitive market, new casinos can offer some fantastic opportunities, and players might be surprised by what they have been missing out on. At Casino.org, we try to keep our readers abreast of all the latest developments, games, and promotions so they can make the most of their online playing time."
"We know that trying something new can be quite daunting, particularly when you have to trust the online platform with so much sensitive data. However, sometimes it really does pay off not to stick with what you know. We pride ourselves in doing all the background checks on the available operators so that we can make recommendations. An online casino that was favorable in the past might not be as up-to-date with technological advances in gaming software or payment options. At Casino.org, we keep an eye on what all the operators are up to and keep our ratings and grading up to date. We do not let the big-name operators just rest on their laurels and give them exactly the same treatment as we do to the new contenders."
"We keep informed by our ongoing twenty-five-step review process, which measures all the operators to the same scale. No one gets special treatment, and we are not paid to promote one casino ahead of another. They are all judged on their own merits. This means that as well as having casinos that we recommend to our readers, we also have a list of ones we suggest players actively avoid. Just as we are looking for great service, fast payouts, and state-of-the-art safety and security, we are not impressed by casinos who do not take these elements as seriously as we do."
"Of course, online gambling is a form of entertainment, and players want to have the most fun they can, but they can only do this if they place their bets on safe sites that have the players' best interests at heart. When we hear of new online casinos launching we put them through our review process to check out licensing, site security, and customer service options. When we are happy they have those bases covered, we set up an account and go through the motions as any other player would. We do not just take the sales patter for granted but check it all out for ourselves".
"This includes depositing funds, trying out the bonuses, and seeing how quickly winnings are paid out. We read the small print so our readers can enjoy the fun. We are very keen to check the terms and conditions of bonus offers because it is too easy for these to be misinterpreted. The wagering conditions can make what appear to be attractive bonuses almost unachievable, particularly for casual players. We ensure our readers know what they are letting themselves in for."
"All this information is essential if people are going to have a good time online. We try and do the hard work to weed out the bad operators and give people a good shot of playing at the best ones. People will want different things from an online casino, but the basic requirements must be met before we consider the games on offer."
"While players often come to a site searching for a particular game, we come at it from the opposite end. We only look at what games are available when we are convinced the site is worthy of a player's hard-earned cash. Game selection is vital. It doesn't matter how secure a site is if it isn't fun to play on. Great online casinos have a wide selection of titles across many genres, so there is something to suit every player."
Hannah concludes,
"Obviously, we need to test out the games too, which is the fun part of our job, but it is all in the interest of research! There are so many new games launching that we need to be sure they are as good, if not better, than the classics. RTP, volatility, and chances to win are as important as great graphics, seamless animations, and up-to-the-minute apps and platforms. In a growing market, the whole experience needs to be much more than just the sum of the parts
