The possibility of betting with mobile phones has created a wave in the south of the United States. More and more people are engaging in online casinos from states in the south of the U.S., such as Mississippi. The legalization of gambling in these states has been welcomed with both hands.
Image Source: Freepik.com
Traditionally, the South has been conservative on gambling, as it is with other issues. The overruling of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act opened the door for bookmakers to operate in the Southern states like Louisiana. Enthusiasts of esports and other games can now play at the GGBet eSports portal.
Alabama is one of the states that has remained opposed to gambling. Although legislators have shown a significant appetite to pass online sports betting in the state, the bills have progressively failed.
Hopes of legalizing betting in Alabama
Although Alabama is opposed to sports betting, online horse betting is legal. Sen. Greg Albritton and Gov. Kay Ivey support legal betting. A proposal to legalize at least seven casinos to open awaits a statewide vote and constitutional amendment in November.
House Bill 151 and 152 failed, and more legislation is required to pass betting laws. According to Sen. Albritton, the house is still divided on the issue.
If the law to open casinos in Alabama passes, it will take at least 3 months to one year to implement the laws. Therefore, the chances of legalizing sports betting in Alabama remain sparse.
Southern states allowing sports betting
- Louisiana
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- North Carolina
Although not all of these states allow online sports betting, at least physical sports betting is legal. It is a move towards easing up on the hardline regarding betting. With these changes, the future of online casino betting in the South is promising.
Betting laws
Betting laws are crucial in regulating gambling habits in a state and country. Some states, like South Carolina, prohibit any form of sports betting.
Along with accepting sports betting, states are working to enact bills to safeguard betters. For example, the New York Senate requires bookmakers to promote responsible gambling by advertising the effects of gambling.
A Pennsylvania senate bill also prohibits gamblers from funding their online casino accounts with credit cards. The bill affects online sports betting, casinos, and lotteries. These initiatives by different states set the ground for other states in the South to allow sports betting with limitations.
The ground is shifting gradually to accept the sports betting and online casino culture happening worldwide. With the new legislation, fanatics of online sports betting will no longer struggle with using offshore betting sites.
Future trends in betting
Governments are beginning to consider sports betting as a source of revenue. In 2023, the U.S. sports betting industry banked a record 11 billion dollars in revenue. States with strict gambling laws may loosen up to get a slice of the cake, contributing to economic growth.
Today, New Mexico only allows sports betting via tribal casinos. However, the massive revenue from online casinos in the form of taxes may prompt New Mexico to legalize online betting. The same has been seen with Vermont, where online sports betting was legalized in January 2024. Other states legitimizing online sports betting include Maryland in 2022, Ohio in 2023, and North Carolina in 2024.
These changes in laws will see more bookmakers enter the U.S. market. In the future, more online casinos will sponsor local teams in the South as an advertisement strategy. Also, more states will allow online sports betting.
