Online casinos are a popular companion to the more traditional brick-and-mortar cousins, finding considerable success in America and across the world. They also operate in some fundamentally different ways than their offline contemporaries, thanks to the challenges presented by the online space. Here in America, every state features a different set of rules and regulations, and the Carolinas are no different.
Forms of Gambling and Legal Status
First off, it’s important to understand the different types of casinos and the regulations applied to them. Traditional forms of gambling, that is placing direct wagers on games and the outcome of these games, are not legal online in the Carolinas. As listed at Find Law, the only types of legal direct gambling within North Carolina come from Tribal-State casinos. While these might one day offer an online component, that is not true as of today.
There are alternative online casinos available, however, in the form of sweepstakes casinos. These operate with virtual currencies, avoiding the use of fiat payments or cryptocurrencies. These virtual currencies otherwise function as fiat systems do, with the players wagering and winning in many of the same games. When enough is won through sweepstakes casinos, it's then often possible to withdraw winnings in the form of cash prizes, gift cards, or other physical items.
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Sweepstakes casinos can also feature a greater emphasis on the social aspect of casino gambling. This means more chat systems, leaderboards, and ways to communicate and compete with like-minded players. This helps maintain the spirit of traditional casinos and the community aspects they embrace.
Out-of-State Operations
According to this handy chart from World Population Review, there are currently seven states that allow open online casino betting. These are CT, DE, MI, NJ, NJ, PA, and WV. Five more states are predicted to soon legalize online betting, including CA, IL, IN, MA, and NY. It needs to be noted again that there will be specifics on how betting works in these states. These concerns are usually left to the casinos, so players don’t need to worry about getting confused or lost.
The types of casinos and games on offer are covered on Crossing Broad. This comparison website looks at major and internationally famous options available within legal US states, with services like BetMGM, Caesars Online Casino, and DraftKings. American players can expect the same promotions available elsewhere like deposit matches and free spins, the same broad software selection, and the same accessibility over devices like tablets, smartphones, desktops, and laptops.
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In less than three decades of operation, online casinos have come from nowhere to a total global value measuring over $65 billion. America represents an important part of this equation, but it's still an area with room left to expand. As more states move towards full legalization and existing offline businesses explore the online frontier, it's possible that the Carolinas could one day enter the online casino market. Until then, sweepstakes casinos continue to offer options for players within the Carolinas to explore.