Online casino gaming in the US has faced several highs and lows over the years. The most notable of these was the ban on real money online gambling activities for North American gamblers. Although the ban did not restrict bettors from indulging, local online operators found it difficult to continue offering their services.

Since 2018 and also due to the global pandemic, things have started to change for the better. That’s because more states are choosing to adopt online gambling practices.

Part of this change of regulations is that the US government noted it was making revenue losses every year because bettors use their money on overseas platforms outside North America. For instance, an estimated $150 billion goes to overseas operators yearly for online sports bets.

Free Play Online Slots Remained Accessible

During the gambling ban, US casino gamers still got to enjoy free slot releases. These were allowed even on local operators’ sites since no money exchanges occurred. The free options are still available on various sites, even with real money games now legal.

It’s something that even overseas operators have for their most popular slot releases. Thanks to the availability of these free slot games, players still got to indulge in some casino gaming activities.

With online casino gaming legalized in most states now, players can use the skills they learned from free gaming. That’s because they know which games offer the kind of gaming experience they seek.

Whether it’s big or frequent payouts, the free games give a glimpse into how a real gaming session could turn out. Free games also show you how the bonus features in various releases get triggered and the increased payouts to expect.

Free Slots on Sweepstake Sites

More sites that US gamers have enjoyed free slots are on sweepstakes casinos. These are platforms similar to online casinos. The difference is that they’re able to offer games to players across North America.

That’s because they run under US sweepstake laws where transactions aren’t necessary to play games. Instead, you use a type of in-game currency to bet on games.

Another notable difference on sweepstake casinos is that the games aren’t the assortment you’d find from known developers. These are different titles that offer the same thrills regardless. So, while at sweepstake casinos, don’t look for mainstream branded games. There aren’t any.

The Success of Free Slot Casinos

Regardless of the online gaming ban in the US, software developers and operators continued to enjoy profits. By offering free slots games, they were able to stay relevant in most gamers’ minds. So, whenever players found a real-money platform, these were the same releases they turned to. That’s because they had an idea of what to expect with those slot titles.

Adoption Of Online Live Casino Games

Another online gaming option that US residents have started enjoying is live casino games. Also called live dealer games, these are live-streamed versions of casino table and card games.

You get to interact with a dealer and any other players at the same gaming table. This offers an experience similar to being at a casino floor table, which due to the pandemic, most people can no longer enjoy.

Thanks to software developers like Ezugi and Evolution Gaming, players get the social element that virtual table games don’t offer. To play these games, the developers stream a live dealer at a table from their gaming studios.

The players then interact with the dealer through an in-game chat feature or a device microphone if they have one. Some game versions available with this option include Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, Sic Bo, Baccarat, and Craps.

States Where Online Gambling Activities Are Allowed

Online gaming activities are accepted based on the state players access the sites from. Below are some of the platforms where US gamblers can enjoy online gambling. We’ve also listed which activity each state accepts as legal.

• Delaware – Online casino gaming, Online Poker
• Michigan – Online sports betting, Online casino gaming, Online Poker
• New Jersey – Online sports betting, Online casino gaming, Online Poker
• Pennsylvania – Online sports betting, Online casino gaming, Online Poker
• Iowa – Online sports betting
• West Virginia – Online casino gaming, Online Poker
• Nevada – Online Poker
• Indiana – Online sports betting
• Tennessee – Online sports betting
• Illinois – Online sports betting
• Colorado – Online sports betting
• Virginia – Online sports betting, Online casino gaming, Online Poker

Mobile Betting Sites for US Players

Beyond allowing players to enjoy real money games online, some states have started accepting mobile betting options as well. As such, US-based players in select states can access online gambling sites through their smartphones and tablets.

That’s either through the operator’s native apps or through the mobile-optimized version of the chosen casino site. The same goes for online sports betting activities.