With the growing number of people gambling online in the United States, there could be some new additions to the market. While the industry is still much smaller than the sports betting market in the US, online casinos have enjoyed much success. Unfortunately, they are only legal in 7 states. This means that there are limited opportunities for companies to launch new sites. To be able to operate a casino, an operator must obtain a license from the state and also be partnered with one of the existing land casinos.
Despite the slow movement in the industry, there have been some new sites to launch in 2024 and more are expected in 2025. Several states are working to pass laws that would allow for online casino sites to operate and offer real money play to residents. If and when this happens, there will be a number of new launches to anticipate. These new sites will be operated by some of the most reputable names in the industry.
The Growth of Online Casinos
Online betting has become a top pastime for many in the US. While the focus has been on launching sports betting sites in many states, online casinos are also available. These sites are restricted in many states since laws remain in place restricting the operation of casino sites. In 2018, the repeal of PASPA only addressed betting on sports. Online casinos are a different animal and since there is a broad range of games offered, they can be difficult to regulate.
The first legal online gambling states were Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, all launching sites in 2013 when laws changed. It has been a slow expansion and over the years, only five other states have legally launched online casino sites, including Michigan, Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
What States Will Enter the Industry?
Few states have bills waiting to be passed. Within the next few years, more states will be offering access to online casinos. It is expected that the following states will legalize online gambling completely and provide access to exciting casino games that can be played from home. These possible states include New York, Iowa, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, and Maryland.
For those who are waiting for states to legalize access to casino sites, there are other options Offshore websites can be accessed and players can engage in real money play at trusted and licensed websites. There are also a number of trusted social casinos, where players can enjoy the thrills of top-notch games without risking any money. Many social casinos, such as Stake.com, also offer sweepstakes, where players can enter drawings for the chance to win cash prizes.
Newly Launched Casino Sites
Since there are limitations regarding what states online casinos can operate in, there are not many new casinos entering the industry at this time. The growth of the industry has been rather slow. However, there have been five new casinos that opened in 2024, offering some US gamblers a safe and secure platform for placing real money wagers.
Bally Casino Rhode Island launched this year when the state legalized online and mobile gambling. The state only has plans for a single operator, which means that Bally Casino is the only option for residents. Pennsylvania has seen the most growth and continues to launch new sites. There are now more than 20 websites offered to PA residents and the latest additions have been Fanatics Casino launched in January, Bet365 Casino launched in July, and Horseshoe Casino, which launched in October.
Horseshoe Casino also launched in Michigan and West Virginia in 2024. Horseshoe Casino is a digital offering from Caesars Entertainment and integrates the Caesars Rewards program. This new online casino offers over 1500 games, including 11 live dealer options, 1479 slot games, and a variety of table and card titles. Offering games from providers like NetEnt, IGT, High5 Games, and other leading developers, players in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have access to the latest and greatest releases.
Casino Expected to Enter the Market
The online casino industry in the US is slow to grow compared to the sports betting market. This is largely due to the limited number of states that have legalized online gambling. As more states pass laws, additional casino sites will become available to US residents. For now, there have been few new launches in the country. Check out some of the new casino sites that are expected to become available in the coming year.
- Betr Casino – Betr is best known as an online sportsbook but the company also features an online casino that is expected to launch in Pennsylvania in 2025. This will be the first online casino for the company and there are plans to expand into other states after the initial PA launch.
- Mr. Vegas Casino – This new online site is owned and operated by Videoslots. It already has a partnership with Caesars, so the casino will be able to launch in PA by the end of the year or the start of 2025.
- Hollywood Casino – PENN Entertainment has plans to launch a standalone casino app called Hollywood Casino. The launch is expected in West Virginia during the first quarter of 2025. It will then be followed by the app going live in West Virginia, Michigan, and New Jersey.
No new online casinos will enter the Michigan market. The state has allowed for 15 licenses and they are all taken, leaving no room for expansion; The only change to the online casino landscape would be the rebranding of an existing casino or an acquisition. If any licenses do become available, Michigan can expect Bally Casino, Bet365 Casino, and Betway Casino to be at the top of the list to launch.
Even though this is a small list of possible launches, it shows the industry continues to expand. As more states move forward with legalization, the US could see many more websites being introduced, all generating much-needed revenue for individual states while providing safe entertainment for gamblers.
