The State of iGaming in the South

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Since the legalization of sports betting in Louisiana at the end of 2021 and the introduction of online betting in selected parishes at the beginning of 2022, Louisiana has become one of the most dynamic iGaming regions in the South. This move has attracted top sports betting platforms like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel.

With each offering competitive markets and bonuses tailored for Louisiana players, the move has proved a lucrative and popular one. An influx of all these major platforms has not only elevated the experience for local players but also set the bar high for most neighboring southern states.

Commercial, Tribal, and Online Casinos

Louisiana's licensed commercial and tribal casinos also have plenty of options for those residents who wish to engage in gaming with more options. Still, Louisiana gambling laws prohibit online casinos, and it’s important to understand that online betting is only legal in the parishes that voted for it in the 2020 referendum.

However, international online casinos are available; among the wealth of games that can be played at online casinos, fans can still prefer classic games like poker, roulette, and blackjack on several platforms. Card games, especially poker and blackjack, have a long history in the state. As a result, the lack of online casinos causes many players from the state to turn to sites like Instant Casinos, which is widely considered the best site for blackjack.

What sites like these bring to the table is an exciting mix of generous and wide-ranging bonus options, an array of games, easy registrations, faster payouts, and even the option to play with cryptocurrencies. Like Louisiana, players from many southern states turn to options like these as there are no legal online casino options for them.

This is because, while sports wagering is killing it online, allowing digital casino game platforms and operators such as online blackjack often violate state mores or compacts with local tribes, compelling enthusiasts to go to physical casinos instead​. Here’s how the regulatory regime plays out across the south.

Regulatory Challenges and Economic Potential

The iGaming regulatory landscape in the South is complex and varied. Each state has shaped its approach to gambling as a result of its unique history, cultural attitudes, and economic considerations. The potential economic benefits from legalization are huge. States that have moved so far toward legalizing iGaming have seen substantial increases in tax revenues, which have had a significant impact on public services and infrastructural projects.

With these benefits come considerable challenges. Ensuring fair play and consumer protection by establishing a regulatory framework is no small task. States have to develop robust mechanisms to monitor online gambling activities, deter fraud, and protect minors and vulnerable groups from exposure to gambling.

The status of iGaming in the South is always fluid. From Louisiana's partial progressiveness to Mississippi's conservatism, and the outright opposition in Texas, each state has mirrored the broader regional diversity in attitude and regulation. To better understand this diversity of choice, let’s look at three pivotal states in the South and how they have chosen to handle iGaming regulation.

Louisiana

Louisiana is an outlier in the South for having approved commercial and tribal casinos and allowed online sports betting—a quite liberal attitude compared to the conservative approaches and more restrictive gaming laws prevalent in the South. This notwithstanding, online casinos remain forbidden.

Popularly referred to as iGaming, the interest in legalizing online casinos in Louisiana is primarily driven by its potential economic benefits. Legalizing iGaming could open up new revenue streams for the state, helping boost the economy without tax hikes.

The state government sees regulated online gambling as a multi-billion-dollar investment that could provide significant tax revenues. These funds could be used to support various state programs and services, ultimately benefiting the residents of Louisiana. As a result, lawmakers in the state are considering this very option, weighing it against both benefits and potential complications that might come from it.

Mississippi

By comparison, Mississippi does have some history of gambling, legalizing casino gaming back in the early 1990s. The state has also certainly embraced sports betting, which became legal in 2018 after the Supreme Court moved to strike down a federal ban. However, Mississippi has yet to take the next step into legalizing online casino gambling and remains one of the most conservative states against it.

Texas

On the other hand, Texas exercises an extremely conservative stance when it comes to gambling laws. The state outlaws all forms of online gambling, whether online sports betting or online casinos. The only type of legal gambling in Texas includes tribal casinos, horse racing, the state lottery, and limited charitable bingo and raffles.

A Snapshot of the South

As for the rest of the South, things vary from state to state. For example, Alabama and Georgia have outright bans on iGaming. South Carolina restricts nearly all online gambling except sweepstakes while Tennessee permits sports betting but not casino games. The states that are best known for liberal gambling laws are Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia, which have more progressive stances, allowing sports betting and some forms of online gambling within regulated frameworks.

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.