Talk:Gambling in the United States

Opening comment
wwhat is the gambaling age in the Unied States? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.244.7.247 (talk) 03:34, 8 November 2007 (UTC) I've heard it said that gambling is only legal (or unrestricted?)in the USA: What is the true legal status?--Jack Upland 07:36, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
 * in Nevada
 * on Mississippi riverboats
 * on Indian reservations.

Sort of
Actually, there are many exceptions to that generalization. Many states such as New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island - have casinos. Also, church sanctioned gambling operates in almost all states (Bingo, etc...)

there must be different levels
The casinos I know of in CT and NJ actually are on reservations...

But what of late-night beer drinking with buddies betting? This can't be illegal outside of a reservation.

Actually, I think it is illegal in states where book betting is illegal. These are regulations not enforced at the individual level, unless there's a sting of organized book activity. Magicwombat 08:35, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Can it?


 * Atlantic City is outside any reservation and has plenty of non-Native American owned casinos —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.82.227.246 (talk) 22:55, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Research in Progress
I'm going to be writing here some notes for future content.

Notes for future content
There are apparently 11 states that have legalized gambling. I want to know the list. I figure: 1. Nevada, 2. New Jersey, 3. Mississippi, and 4. Louisiana. But the other 7 escape me. Here's what I base the "11" assertion on: an article in the Wall St. Journal. The second paragraph read: "Rhode Island isn't one of the 11 states that allow casino gambling. Its state lottery commission is one of a growing number to embrace slots -- one of the most popular and addictive forms of betting -- as a way to increase revenue." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114368871314311979.html Playing the Odds By WILLIAM M. BULKELEY March 30, 2006; Page A1 Magicwombat 08:35, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Ah, found another one: Iowa. In the same story referenced above we find: "Julie Muto, a 48-year-old truck-stop cashier from Carlisle, Iowa, says she became addicted to playing slots in Iowa's riverboat casinos, then lost her house, her car, her truck and her teenage daughter, who moved in with relatives. She spent a year in jail for passing a bad check and 18 months in a residential gambling-treatment facility." Magicwombat 08:46, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Next state on the list, Missouri, and confirmation of Mississippi, from the same article ref'd previously: "Until recently, most states rejected slots and casino-style venues due to worries they would lead to problem gambling, crime and social problems. But slots and casinos were spreading anyway. Indian tribes opened 390 casinos since 1989, many in states such as Connecticut and California that otherwise forbid casino gambling. States such as Mississippi and Missouri permitted "riverboat" casinos that never leave the dock. States without casinos watched their citizens cross state lines. Mr. Aubin of Rhode Island's lottery department says the state has tried to make Lincoln Park more appealing for gamblers to prevent them from driving across the border into Connecticut to Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun Resort Casino, two popular Native American venues."

I'm making a list here, and will update this list as found. Remember, I'm assuming 11 states. Alphabetical.


 * 1) Colorado
 * 2) Illinois
 * 3) Indiana
 * 4) Iowa
 * 5) Louisiana
 * 6) Michigan
 * 7) Mississippi
 * 8) Missouri
 * 9) Nevada
 * 10) New Jersey
 * 11) South Dakota

Qualifications: Must allow one or more legal casinos on property not controlled by sovereign subunits (i.e. Indian) Can limit number and type of casino, as well as location. Riverboats count. Cruises beyond the 5-mile nautical limit don't count. Example: California probably wouldn't count, even though the state of California shares in the revenue. Reason: Only Indian reservations are allowed to operate casinos.

Question: Does New York count even though it only allows horse and dog racing, and the betting is pari-mutuel. Same question regarding Texas. I'd argue that they don't count because no "casinos" are authorized. Magicwombat 09:01, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

The page List_of_casinos has this covered, but doesn't differentiate between Indian and private casinos. Magicwombat 09:05, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

There's a good explanation of scratchcard games at

New Article
Found an apparently comprehensive article on the situation: http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/09/09-20.htm It says this about the legal situation: "Ten states now allow gambling at private casinos: Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado and South Dakota. Michigan will join them this fall. At least 22 states allow tribal-operated casinos." The publication date is apparently: Tuesday Jun. 15, 1999. It is in the "Free Speech" section of the site.

I have updated the list above with the new information, but the list now runs to 12 states. Which is the one that apparently dropped private casino gambling? Magicwombat 03:47, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Whoops. Shame on me.. Iowa is doubled.

This .pdf file from the american gaming association is the authoritative source: 2004 Casino State Statistics Magicwombat 05:45, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Source listings
--Magicwombat 04:56, 2 April 2006 (UTC)
 * http://www.gamblinglawsus.com/
 * http://www.michigangamblingforum.com/
 * http://www.americangaming.org/

New Stuff
Magicwombat 08:23, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
 * http://www.sims.berkeley.edu:8000/academics/courses/is190-1/s96/abaurrea/assign5.htm

Magicwombat 08:34, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
 * http://www.mfc.org/resources/backgrounders/gambling4-29-98.htm
 * http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Central/LSB/Guides/indgam.htm
 * http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_14_57/ai_n15655190 -May be non-full-text

Magicwombat 08:38, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
 * LOCIS Thomas Bill Citation --- Testimony.

Magicwombat 08:40, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
 * http://www.nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry082503.asp - A Republican Take on Indian Gambling.
 * http://adams.casinocitytimes.com/articles/8939.html
 * http://www.kstrom.net/isk/games/gaming.html
 * http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/dougbandow/2004/10/25/13437.html
 * http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/issinfo/ssindgamb.htm
 * http://www.casinowatch.org/index.html
 * http://www.midtod.com/highlights/gambling.phtml
 * CNN - Indian Gambling
 * http://sayanythingblog.com/2006/03/29/bill_would_ban_offreservation_indian_casinos/
 * http://diversity.monster.com/amin/articles/casinosandkatrina/


 * http://www.ncpgambling.org/
 * http://www.responsiblegambling.org/
 * http://www.ncalg.org/
 * http://www.camh.net/egambling/
 * http://www.unr.edu/gaming/index.asp
 * http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/gambling/
 * http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/fullrpt.html
 * http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/gambling.html
 * Gross Annual Wager 2000 report
 * http://www.ncaa.org/news/2001/20010409/active/3808n01.html
 * Rhode Island Gambling Presentation
 * http://www.gamblinglicenses.com/index.cfm
 * http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/14/14-170.htm

I swear I'm going to do something with these links. I'm not just taking up space here. Magicwombat 14:18, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Magicwombat 15:03, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Is Your Home Game Legal?
 * http://www.gocee.com/poker/casino/elsewhere.htm
 * http://www.casino.com/poker/Playing-for-the-First-Time-In-a-Legal-Cardroom.html
 * When is Poker Legal?
 * Pokerplayernewspaper.com Legal Articles
 * http://www.pokernex.com/
 * http://www.pokernex.com/Gambling-laws-us.htm
 * Cardrooms in Washington State
 * Rec.Gambling.Poker FAQ
 * Rec.Gambling.Misc FAQ

Some Proposed Article Text
There are currently 11 states allowing commercial casinos:


 * Colorado
 * Illinois
 * Indiana
 * Iowa
 * Louisiana
 * Michigan
 * Mississippi
 * Missouri
 * Nevada
 * New Jersey
 * South Dakota

The total number of commercial casinos is 445, and these casinos have a gross gaming revenue of $28.93 billion as of 2004.

Source: 2004 Casino State Statistics

~No one has mentioned gambling in Montana, so I don't know if it is because people are unaware, or because none of them are privately owned. Anyone know?

Legalized gambling
I was reading the information provided on the discussion page and the submitter stated that there were only 11 states with gambling. I assume, based on the list provided, that he was limiting his consideration only to states with full casino gambling. In actuality, 48 states authorize some form of gambling under their own laws. Then you must consider the states that have various levels of indian gaming under the provisions of the Indiang Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

The only two states that have absolutely no form of legalized gaming are Hawaii and Utah. Actually there is quite a comprehensive list of games allowed by state that can be found at the National Conference of State Legislatures' website (http://www.ncsl.org). In addition, the website for the Alaska State House of Representatives Task Force on Alaska Gaming Policy also has a number of valuable gaming related links. That web address is: http://www.akrepublicans.org/houtfgam/.

--146.63.202.111 17:33, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

opening sentence
What kind of an opening sentence is this? In the first sentence the lemma should be explained but with this opening sentence you are going directly into the topic... --X-Weinzar 02:05, 19 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I have reworded it. --BwB (talk) 16:55, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

private gambling
I was wondering if gambling was legal in private, or if say a police officer comes to your house due to too much noise and spots a game you could get arrested? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.82.227.246 (talk) 22:46, 27 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I was also wondering this. Google finds this. It could maybe be integrated into the table since it seems to offer citations for the majority of states. --holizz (talk) 03:47, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

This is a difficult question to answer, because it depends on state law and the specific game being played. Some states outlaw gambling entirely in any form, so presumably one could be prosecuted for gambling in private. I'm not aware of any such prosecutions other than some high profile cases which were basically underground casinos. Some states outlaw gambling in general but have exceptions for "home" games, which basically means that the only money changing hands is between players and there's no "house" taking a cut. However, card games may be alright, but a dice game might not be. Sometimes it depends on whether the game is considered a game of skill or luck. Billiards or darts are games of skill, while craps and blackjack are games of luck. Poker is kind of in the middle but in many states it is considered a game of skill. Sports wagering is illegal in most states and bookies are sometimes prosecuted. Simishag (talk) 00:47, 11 February 2013 (UTC)

Commercial casinos
I have changed the format of this section. No need to list the states out in table for, or provide links to every sate. --BwB (talk) 16:57, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Lotteries
I have changed the format of this section. No need to list the states out in table for, or provide links to every sate. --BwB (talk) 18:45, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Removal of Copy Editing Tag
I feel the Copyedit Tag can now be removed. Do others agree? --BwB (talk) 18:47, 30 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes, it can be removed. --Kbob (talk) 21:16, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Suggestion on content
Suggestion: There is a lot of interesting stuff that can be talked about in this article with respect to illegal gambling, both now and especially historically. Additionally, obviously the various connections of legal gambling to organized crime is interesting too.

The early and mid 20th century were very interesting time periods where illegal gambling was actually a huge business in several places. Many people think, of course, that Las Vegas invented gambling as a major business but this is not really the case. Many areas of the country were once very accepting of large-scale casino operations that became major players in local economies.

I bring all this up because I recently created the Free State of Galveston which discusses a really interesting historical period that most people know next to nothing about. There are similarly interesting stories that can be recounted about other areas of the country as well.

--Mcorazao (talk) 18:47, 28 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I took a brief stab at this based on an article from the state of California.
 * --Mcorazao (talk) 15:16, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Nevada & "statewide"
This statement was marked as needing a cite: "Nevada is the only state where casino-style gambling is legal statewide." My opinion is that the statement is difficult to dispute, but I suppose it could be clarified. The relevant factors here are that the state does not, generally, impose any restrictions on where gaming activities can be located within the state. There are, of course, issues like proximity to schools and other gambling establishments, but at a high level, Nevada law is permissive and legalized gambling is explicitly acknowledged as state public policy (see NRS 463.0129 in ). This contrasts with other states, which generally make gambling illegal across the state. Even states which have legalized some gambling have passed laws which allow it only in specific areas. Simishag (talk) 21:59, 23 August 2011 (UTC)

Indian Reservations
actually, indian reservation gambling is LEGAL in Texas, look up the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. it's on the Kickapoo reservation near Eagle Pass. if someone could change that on the table in the article, that'd be great.

Fact check
Hello editors, the anon IP has recently made some changes here which may need to be scrutinized. He has been warned for introducing factual errors in other articles by subtly changing the numbers. Here he has removed references and subtly changed some facts, but this topic is outside my expertise, so I cannot verify them. Elizium23 (talk) 19:19, 15 September 2012 (UTC)

History section
Obviously the major locations should be touched on, but also curious about the places off the beaten trail like Middlesboro, Kentucky, which was apparently "Little Las Vegas" during the 1930s. — Llywelyn II   03:49, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

External links modified
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Tennessee
Pari-mutuel wagering is actually legal in Tennessee on a state level in that a statewide enabling statue authorizing it was passed several decades ago and there was even a State Racing Commission in operation for a while. However, the act had a provision requiring it to be allowed only on a "county-option" basis, with an affirmative vote required for a county to opt in. (Prohibition in Tennessee was largely abolished in the same manner over a period of many decades.) However, the only county ever passing the issue when it was put on the ballot was Trousdale County, a small, rural county about fifty miles northeast of Nashville. As the population of the area was too small to support a track on its own, it would have been dependent on the Nashville market for success, and Nashville was closer to the existing Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky, which is also located on Interstate 75 directly north of Nashville, whereas travel from Nashville to Hartsville requires several miles of negotiating narrow two lane roads. No operators ever seriously considered building a track in Trousdale County, no other counties ever passed a wagering referendum, and the Racing Commission was eventually allowed to lapse. But it is legal in Tennessee in a technical sense, even if it not actually going on. 2600:1004:B16A:FD4A:D8DF:CEB3:78A8:7609 (talk) 01:40, 22 July 2018 (UTC)

Mob figures ?
Please explain this term.

Also, how exactly did the Hoover Dam project cause an economic depression ?

2001:44B8:3102:BB00:297D:620E:5670:7493 (talk) 20:49, 21 September 2018 (UTC)
 * Looks like mention of those things has since been removed. -- Beland (talk) 05:55, 2 August 2022 (UTC)

Massachusetts and college sports
The MA legislature just sent a legalization bill to the governor. I heard that it has special provisions for college sports, and other states vary in their treatment, sometimes banning betting on in-state college games but allowing bets on college games in other states. It would be interesting to see that variance charted out. -- Beland (talk) 05:56, 2 August 2022 (UTC)

Sports betting on tribal land
Is betting on sports legal on tribal lands under federal law? Or does that fall under state jurisdiction? Indian Gaming Regulatory Act doesn't mention it and I couldn't find anything in this article that clarifies that. -- Beland (talk) 02:20, 12 August 2022 (UTC)