Online casinos were but a dream until Delaware opened its doors to online casino operators in 2012, prompting the introduction of the first online casino in the state in 2013. Since then, other states have been changing their stance and embracing online casinos, resulting in the growth of the online casino industry. Thanks to this, US players can rely on sites like https://www.topratedonlinecasino.com/ to point them toward reputable USA casinos where they can enjoy different games from their phones. With more states investing in this lucrative industry, the number of operators is set to increase. So, which states are investing in the future of casinos and why?
States Where Online Casinos Could Soon Be Legal
As of 2025, online casinos are legal in Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Rhode Island. Thanks to their success, the following states have been looking into legalizing online casinos:
New Hampshire.
When Senator Timothy Lang pushed for an iGaming bill in 2023, his goal was to generate revenue that would go a long way in boosting the state’s community college fund. It passed the House in 2023, but when it got to the Senate, it hit a wall. Speculations are rife that the bill could pass. However, with Cordish Companies planning to invest a cool $160 million in a charitable casino, the senator will have quite a challenge pursuing this bill.
Illinois.
Like many states, Illinois grapples with a significant budget deficit that impedes its ability to meet the needs of its residents. As such, Senator Cristina Castro and Rep. Edgar Gonzalez are firm believers that online casinos could turn this around by providing another source of income. In the past, they and other representatives have tried to pass iGaming bills with no success. But despite the rejections, they are eager to give the bills another try in 2025, this time with the support of a governor who is also keen on increasing the state’s revenue through new approaches.
Maryland.
In 2024, the Maryland House passed the online casino regulations, giving residents hope that their aspirations of online gaming would soon be a reality. However, when the legislation got to the Senate, it did not go further, having been met with limited interest. The thinking behind this legislation is to generate revenue that could go into the state’s Future Education Fund. While it is unclear whether another bill is on its way to the House, many representatives are hopeful that 2025 could be the year that they draw closer to legalizing online casinos.
Virginia.
When an iGaming bill made its way to the House, residents of Virginia were over the moon, seeing as they were close to a monumental change. However, while the bill was getting support from lawmakers, other stakeholders soon started voicing their concerns. Many felt that the introduction of online casinos would introduce unprecedented competition that would affect the profitability and sustainability of existing gaming venues. The lawmakers decided to take a step back and assess these concerns to determine how best to approach this bill to account for the competing interests. As such, the discussions will be back on the table in 2026.
Motivations Behind Legalization.
As you may have noticed from the states above, much of the interest in online casinos lies in their ability to serve as a source of revenue for states. After all, the more tax revenue that states can collect, the easier it is for them to develop more infrastructure and offer incentives to businesses to foster social and economic growth. But legalizing online casinos is not just about public funding. It also comes with the following advantages:
- It creates jobs. People can seek employment in providing technology, serving as customer service reps, or even playing games.
- It enables states to oversee operators. By legalizing online casinos, states can protect their citizens from untrustworthy casinos.
- It aligns with changing public attitudes. More people are opening up to online casinos, resulting in pressure from the public to open this market.
Thus, we are likely to see more states changing their attitudes in the coming years.
