The legalization of online sports betting in Illinois took a different route than other states. Initially, only one sportsbook was allowed to operate in the state – BetRivers. However, after the June 11 election, Rush Street Interactive (the owner of the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines) gained a license to operate an online sportsbook.
Once an online betting website is set up, punters can easily sign up and place their wagers. All that’s required is an internet connection. The convenience of online betting enables punters to place their bets at any time, regardless of where they are. It also means that punters don’t have to schedule trips to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
Another popular state to legalize sports betting is New Jersey, which approved online sports betting in June 2018. DraftKings, BetRivers, and FanDuel launched in August, making the state’s sports betting market nearly two dozen. In April 2021, New York’s Governor Cuomo included online sports betting as a piece of his state budget, and it may be able to open for business as early as 2021.
While there are some states where online gambling is prohibited, most states have legalized online gambling. In the US, the Wire Act of 1961 regulated online gambling, but it was not originally intended for online wagering. It was drafted before the internet was created. Moreover, the 1961 Wire Act does not apply to digital wagering. In 2011, the Department of Justice gave states the freedom to pass laws that legalize online gambling. In December 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled that online sports betting is legal in the United States.