The gambling landscape in the US continues to change. Several states, including Georgia, are considering revising their policies towards popular activities like casino games, horse racing, sports betting, and more. This comes after 2018 brought a whopping gross revenue of $41.7 billion from commercial casinos.
Compared to the €24.7 billion Europe is expected to generate by 2020, around $27.5 billion, the US seems a strong competitor, and has much to gain from a smart rearrangement of its gambling regulations. Let’s take a look at where both regions currently stand in this competitive industry.
The United States
The problems with US gambling laws are as diverse as the country’s states. While most of these allow tribal casinos, state-run lotteries, and betting within a charitable setting, the rest are still hesitant to join the market, especially when it comes to actual casinos, whether brick-and-mortar or online.
For example, the state of Mississippi only recently introduced legal lotteries and, within an hour of selling the first ticket, generated $300,000. Texas, on the other hand, still remains the most opposed to any form of gambling. The bottom line is that physical opportunities are on the rise, but will take time to expand to more and more states.
Online casinos are another issue. Some territories, like Maryland, are moving towards legalizing online gambling, while others – Nevada, Indiana, Washington – resist its allure. As a greater understanding of casinos’ pros and cons is developed, further transformation of individual state laws can be expected.
Europe
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The international gambling landscape is not so different. Norway, for example, has strict policies as to what can be played and how. You have to be 18 or older to take part in Keno, lotteries, horse race betting, and other gambling activities, which can only legally be played at select state-run providers. Charitable causes can also hold bingo games, but even these undergo intense scrutiny.
Therefore, Norwegian online gambling gravitates towards internationally-based domains, including sites like Casumo and Storspiller – available on this site, and other providers that are aware of the country’s strict regulations. The bonuses, ranging approximately between $56 and $2,231, alongside the wider range of games players can enjoy, are enough to attract a wealth or Norwegian customers.
And then there European countries like Germany that have made most land-based gambling activities legal, with a particular preference for lotteries and sports betting. Casinos can be found in most major cities but, once again, the online variations of certain gambling entertainment, especially poker and slots, stand on less stable ground. Licenses were distributed to several providers in 2011, but have since expired. However, motions are currently being made to amend this.
The booming market aside, both the US and Europe have mixed feelings about gambling. Brick-and-mortar casinos have a stronger hold in the territories that accept them, while online providers still face obstacle after obstacle, despite their high popularity among bettors. The best advice when exploring the vast gambling landscape is to keep an eye on updates for very specific locales, whether to do with laws, markets, or consumer trends. A calm strategy is the way to face this fascinating chaos.
