People of America have always adored various forms of gambling. The situation has been changing throughout history because people have experienced a passion for certain activities. There’re various games, which are played by modern US punters. Some of them prefer visiting land-based facilities, while others like playing from home.
Many surveys have been carried out to understand the real number of people fond of gambling games. In our article, we are going to observe the situation with gambling and iGaming in the USA and define the most popular types of casino products among US punters.
Gambling in the USA
The social attitude toward gambling is controversial in many countries. And the US isn’t an exception. Many aspects influence people’s opinions:
- Morals
- Religion
- Traditions
- Education and upbringing, etc.
The authorities tried to take the industry under control many times. However, they were not completely sure about the types of activities, which should be legal and which – forbidden. At the same time, people continued practicing gambling in the US even underground.
Games of chance first appeared on the American territory with the first settlers. Strong restrictions were used during that time. The first attempts to somehow legalize betting were made by Virginian landowners. They started betting on horseracing, thus, building a kind of ‘elite image’. Later, Baptists and Methodists proclaimed gambling to be a sin.
During the colonial era, people in the US played lotteries, which is supported by a great number of tickets found by historians. Lotteries were both a way to entertain oneself and a source of revenue for colonies.
During the pre-revolutionary times, lotteries preserved their popularity. New Orleans became a national gambling center. The revival of religion led to the issue of laws, which restricted many forms of gambling. And the activity was once again called sinful. Nevertheless, the moralists didn’t manage to stop the spreading of gaming facilities across the country. Finally, the activity was recognized as illegal, while gambling felt safe only in certain locations.
Another wave of popularity came with the Gold Rush. Men couldn’t deny themselves the pleasure of gambling. And with time, California had to make the laws and policies toward gambling stricter. And the activity became underground.
By the end of the 19th century, horseracing got a new life. It became a hobby for both wealthy people and working-class punters. The impressive development of the industry could be observed in Chicago, which became a center of gambling with a great number of private clubs and tracks. Due to the changes in laws, the industry became underground. In the 20th century, many numbers of games appeared. As a result, many criminal syndicates were formed in large cities.
Later, the government took serious measures and legalized horseracing as a source of state revenue, thus, returning the popularity of betting. Besides, some sorts of gambling were legalized during the Great Depression (such as Bingo). Since that time, many states decided to legalize gambling as a method to struggle against Great Depression. And many large cities became gambling centers.
As for Internet gambling, it’s regulated by both local and federal laws. The majority of states allow horseracing and esports. Speaking about sports betting, gambling games, and poker, not every state allows such activities. Let’s look at where punters can legally gamble and make bets online:
| Internet casino games (pokies, roulettes, etc.) | Sports betting | Poker |
| Delaware | Arizona | Delaware |
| Michigan | Colorado | Michigan |
| New Jersey | Delaware | Nevada |
| Pennsylvania | Illinois | New Jersey |
| West Virginia | Iowa | Pennsylvania |
| Louisiana | West Virginia | |
| Maryland | ||
| Michigan | ||
| Nevada | ||
| New Hampshire | ||
| New Jersey | ||
| Oregon | ||
| Pennsylvania | ||
| Rhode Island | ||
| Tennessee | ||
| Virginia | ||
| Washington D.C. | ||
| West Virginia |
At the same time, US punters still can enjoy their favorite casino game at certified gaming venues based outside the US. An example is Fair Go casino for USA gamblers.
The Most Popular Games
To define the most attractive gamble games for US punters, it’s required to consider the statistical data. Thus, the statistics on the most common games by the end of 2018 were as follows:
- Over 60% of responders play lotteries
- Over 32% of people like pokies
- Over 20% of respondents play poker and other card games
- 20% of people play Bingo
- 20% of respondents bet on sports.
The least popular were roulette (about 10%), craps/dice (about 10%), and horse/dog racing (almost 15%). The situation in 2022 didn’t change dramatically. Thus, the most attractive games for Americans are:
- Classic slot machines (punters adore 3- and 5-reel pokies with exciting extra options. Modern games offer advanced graphics and generous rewards)
- Blackjack (Americans like 2 versions of the game – Suit ‘Em Up and European)
- Progressive jackpot pokies (these are the same slots but supplemented with a progressive jackpot option to give a chance to accidentally win a great reward)
- Video poker (this game resembles poker but is easier and faster. Gamblers play against a computer and enjoy gameplay they see in slots)
- Baccarat (a wonderful French card game allows playing against a dealer/computer and winning great prizes. It’s a perfect choice for high-rollers)
- American Roulette (it’s an interesting and understandable game with 38 cells. Just choose the right odds to win).
All those games are usually presented at the best gaming clubs, which welcome US punters.
Top Internet Casinos for US Punters
Choose from our list of the most reputable gaming establishments for US punters:
- Manhattan Slots
- Miami Club
- Las Atlantis
- Desert Night
- All Star Slots
- Uptown Aces
- Las Vegas USA
- Cherry Jackpot
- Grand Fortune
- Andromeda.
Those gaming clubs are certified. The majority of them accept punters from Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, New York, and US Virgin Islands.
Conclusion
The best games for punters from the USA are available at reputable Internet gaming facilities. Play for free or try your luck with a real-money challenge to increase your income & feel the adrenalin. The latest pokies and other games are represented in the collections of the top online venues.