Casino.org: Guiding You Through Vegas's New Online World

For many people, it might come as a surprise to discover that despite being the self-proclaimed gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas is not as permissive as some other places when it comes to online gambling. In fact, real-money online casinos are not regulated or authorized to play here.

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We spoke to Hannah Cutajar, online gambling expert at review and comparison site Casino.org,

"Nevada's casino industry has opposed online casinos and any changes to the rules because of fears it would cut into the land-based casino revenue streams. Nevada launched online poker in 2012 and there were three official operators by 2014. However, despite being a gambling powerhouse, the state has a small resident population, and two of the three operators did not last. Caesars-operated WSOP.com was the only one that survived. Ironically, despite not wanting online casino sites to compete with its land-based casinos, Vegas is happy for its games to be available to players outside of state borders."

According to Hannah Cutajar:

"The Caesars online casino site is licensed for play in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. In addition, players in the Canadian province of Ontario can play its casino games, too. Most Vegas online casino games like the top slots, baccarat, twenty-one, and roulette can only be played for real money elsewhere. However, plenty of online options are still available for players in Las Vegas. They are just a bit more limited and difficult to access."

"Online poker is definitely legal in Las Vegas; Nevada and Delaware were the first places in The States to sign an 'interstate poker compact'. This agreement allows online poker players in Delaware to play real money games with players in Nevada. As both of these states are small, it means that there was a large enough group of players to be able to get a competitive scene going. Delaware opened up for online casino gambling, but Nevada stuck to poker".

"However, things are nothing like as restrictive as they were. While Vegas did not want to undermine its casino industry, it was a leader when it came to the sports betting bandwagon. Residents of Sin City can take a punt on any sports fixture they choose, and plenty of online sports wagering sites are available to them. This change came about before the Supreme Court ruled PASPA's restrictions on sports betting were unconstitutional in 2018."

"In fact, sports betting has been legal at Las Vegas casinos since 1949, and for decades, Nevada was the only state where it was legal to bet on sports. It was the first US state to legalize online sports betting in 2010, eight years ahead of the Supreme Court's judgment. Nevada has always been a stand-out state when it comes to gambling. However, despite online sports betting being legal, in-person betting is still the state's preferred option. This means many mobile sportsbooks, whether on a browser or native app, are very paired back versions of what you would find in other states. In addition, before any bets can be placed, users must visit a retail location to register their account. Even initial deposits have to be made in person before betting can take place online."

Hannah concludes,

"Las Vegas does let players gamble online, but they do not make things easy or particularly attractive. With all the bright lights and glamour of physical casinos, they seem to want to lure people away from their screens and in through the casino doors. Obviously, once people get to a retail environment, there are plenty of other distractions. Online wagering here is definitely meant to be a ‘second-fiddle attraction’."

"However, residents do have an alternative option that is legal because it is covered by different legislation. Social casinos are a safe and legal alternative for Las Vegas residents and visitors. Social casinos allow you to play popular casino games for the pure fun of it. While states that allow sweepstake casinos let players redeem real money prizes without spending a dollar, the mechanics for doing so are slightly convoluted, but it is all legitimate and above board. However, even sweepstake casinos are out of bounds for Nevada residents".

"Sweepstakes casinos use virtual currencies called Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins rather than real money. You can find this type of online casino in almost all the states. Nevada residents have to be happy just to play for glory; their only option other than physical casinos are social ones where the prizes won cannot be cashed in for real money prizes. Sweepstakes and social casinos are 'sweeping the nation'. They are enormous fun and powered by the same big names you will find developing games for the real money casinos."

Hannah says these social and sweep casinos are popular because people can find very similar games as they would in real money online casinos and in brick-and-mortar casinos. She says that the two types of casinos are very similar but do have some noticeable differences.

"Sweepstake casinos let players play with Gold Coins and Sweeps Coin, while social casinos are Gold coin-only platforms. The difference is that Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for gift cards and cash prizes, while social casinos are purely for fun. Social casinos are legal everywhere, while sweep casinos are unavailable in WA, MI, NV, and ID. While sweepstake casinos offer around an average of two hundred games, social casinos have a much wider variety of games. Unfortunately, however, finding a live dealer game at a social casino site is very rare."

"Players can expect to find plenty of familiar games at social casinos. The operators are keen to get players through their virtual doors, so they offer daily Gold Coins on most social media sites. Some daily draws and bonuses pay out vast amounts of the virtual currency, which players can use to play online".

While Las Vegas was once the most progressive place for gambling in the US, it could be argued that it has got itself slightly stuck in the past. While much of the world has shifted online, Vegas has kept its feet and economy firmly rooted in reality.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!