Gambling is one of the world’s oldest pastimes and remains popular throughout the world to this day. It’s evolved tremendously since ancient times, with modern methods of gambling now making it possible for enthusiasts to play their favorite card, table, and slot games without ever having to leave the comfort of their homes.
While usually a world leader in most tech-based industries, most US states have kept up stringent regulations that have pretty much made the online gambling industry illegal. However, to date, a few states have recognized the economic potential the iGaming world carries and introduced legislation that has allowed it to flourish.
Among those states, Pennsylvania has set itself apart as a leader in the gambling industry within the US. Between the traditional brick-and-mortar casinos that still have their appeal, gambling in Pennsylvania now encompasses a great mix of options such as online casinos, land-based casinos, and a number of sports betting markets, giving something for all types of players to enjoy. As one of the only states that currently allows some form of legalized online casino gambling, the others being Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Connecticut, Pennsylvania has proven itself to be one of the most progressive states when it comes to the gambling industry. Although it joined the party late, having only legalized iGaming around 2017, it’s since gone on to become a haven for gambling enthusiasts of all backgrounds and tastes.
Capitalizing on the vast popularity of gambling in general, and online gambling in an age when this industry has truly begun to boom, Pennsylvania’s ongoing need to embrace the digital age has seen it take to online gambling in a manner that few other states have. As of March 2024, Pennsylvania currently boasts 21 real-money online casinos. However, it isn’t just the amount of choice that players have which gives it the edge.
Aside from the wide range of online casinos offered to players in Pennsylvania, the state has also been a leader by offering platforms that provide thrilling attractions like generous bonuses. Its platforms also offer exciting promos that feature more engaging games, better online resources for higher rates of player retention, and premier sites that emphasize the quality of games offered.
Whether those games be slots, table, or card games, online Pennsylvanian gambling platforms have earned a reputation for being easily accessible, fair, exciting, and lucrative for players, developers, and the state’s coffers. As a result, the state has also tapped into the fact that having a wide range of quality online gambling games offered locally means more players are likely to play locally.
In contrast, states that only feature a small range of online gambling options or none at all, see massive outpourings of revenue going to offshore sites instead. Since offshore online gambling platforms like those in the UK, parts of Asia, and even Africa are often better protected by laws and regulations that embrace them, they become havens for millions of US players, and the billions of dollars those players spend on them.
Aside from the revenues Pennsylvanian online gambling platforms generate for the state, the fact that they come from legally registered sites means the state can benefit from the additional tax revenue from online sources they provide too. Given how massively popular gambling is around the world, and how much online gambling has shifted the industry’s focus, aside from the sheer entertainment value it provides, it also makes sound economic sense for states like Pennsylvania to offer it.
While most other states have historically been soundly against the notion of legalizing online gambling, many are now starting to see its economic benefit. As a result, states like Illinois and Indiana are expected to soon introduce legislation to legalize iGaming in some form. Many others are also mulling it over, with many committing to firm plans to follow suit eventually.
Although once resistant itself, Pennsylvania has become the poster child for just how economically lucrative the gambling industry can be. Since the 21st century began, Pennsylvania has slowly embraced the legalization of most forms of gambling. While it hasn’t legalized all forms of gambling, since some modern forms of it like gambling on eSports are still banned, the state has carefully constructed its legalization of online gambling and balanced it against the need for stringent regulations that govern its fairness, a need for responsible gambling, and incorporating the gambling industry into its tax revenue base. By doing so, the keystone state continues to show why it’s often been ahead of the curve when it comes to enacting laws that have proven to benefit the nation as a whole.