Poker is as American as apple pie. Texas Hold ‘Em is currently the most popular variant of the game. Not to mention, poker nights are an American tradition that dates back to the 19th century. Casinos all over the country feature different versions of the game, and national poker tournaments are televised for the whole world to watch. Even some of America’s most notable actors double as poker players. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have both participated in pretty noteworthy poker tournaments, and have even won pretty big pots. Affleck has even been banned from the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas for being “too good.”
Poker’s success speaks volumes by itself. But, the game’s popularity has been bolstered all the more thanks to online casinos. However, there is something that we have to keep in mind despite the success of online poker. The political structure of the United States means that each individual state in the union has the right to determine whether they want online casinos to be legal or not. Many states have opted against legalizing the practice. Those that have legalized online poker have certainly managed to achieve great things. That is why we would like to look at the pros and cons of playing poker in states that have issued some form of regulation.
The States Where Online Poker is Legal
Before we get to the pros and cons it would be a good idea to discuss where is online poker legal in the first place? New Jersey is the first state that will come to mind for most. The Garden State was among the first to legalize online casinos back in 2013. This won’t come as a shock to many, considering the existence of Atlantic City. The second biggest gambling hub in the USA exists within Jersey’s borders and makes up most of the gambling-related tourism of the East Coast.
Delaware followed suit, legalizing online casinos at the tail-end of 2013. The state officials must have seen the positive effects that Jersey’s regulation had on the iGaming market, and thought they would also get a slice of the pie. But, Pennsylvania is undoubtedly the second most successful state in terms of online gambling. The industry in Pennsylvania has already grown to be the second most successful in the United States of America. We now know where online gambling is legal. But, what are the pros and cons of playing online poker in regulated states?
The Pros of Playing in Regulated States
It is always a good idea to start on the right foot. So, before we get to the cons we would like to tackle the benefits of a regulated market.
The most obvious advantage of playing the game in a state where it is legal is that you get a guarantee of security and safety. Legalizing online casinos means creating a regulated market. The state itself has a responsibility to ensure that the players are safe. That is why state-backed licensing organizations exist. It is their job to review the work that online casinos do, and ensure that everything is on the up and up. The licensing company’s job is to shut down the casino if they should find any issues with the operation. We would certainly consider this a pretty big advantage considering the importance of online safety in the 21st century. As Hao Wei Chen said; online attacks are unavoidable, but we can do our best to reduce them.
Another advantage of playing in a regulated state is accessibility. Online poker is still popular in unregulated states. Players can always access offshore casinos. However, it is much easier to find the best website when the state has a legal and thriving industry. Legalizing online casinos can also benefit the state itself. New Jersey’s online casinos made close to $200 million dollars in a single month during 2024. Unregulated states can make loads of cash by simply legalizing and taxing the online casinos that many players spend hours in front of the screen playing at. Not to mention that legalizing iGaming will undoubtedly lead to job opportunities opening up to many Americans all over the country.
The Cons of Playing in Regulated States
Not everything is black and white. It is certainly true that there are some downsides to playing poker in regulated states.
One of the big ones is that there is a smaller player pool. The issue is that only a handful of American states have legalized online casinos. What is more, most of the gamblers who play at these casinos are locals. American casinos tend to operate only within the state where they’ve been founded. That means they draw from a smaller pool of players. In turn, there is a smaller player base that fans of poker can interact with.
There is also the taxation implication. You will be prone to tax-related laws if you decide to play on regulated websites. The state and federal government require gamblers to keep a detailed record of their hobby, which puts many people off of playing on regulated markets. On the other hand, many are perfectly willing to put up with the hassle and the smaller player base. After all, in exchange they get a safe industry and they don’t have to worry about accessing their favorite websites.
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