What do I need to gamble online?
Published: | Updated:So here you are, ready to start having fun while gambling. But what are the basic things you should know when you are new to gambling?
- Are you old enough to gamble?
Is it legal to gamble in your state?- Devices
- Geolocation verification
- Payment methods
- KYC
- Social security
Is it legal to gamble in your state?Let’s look at the topics above to cover the basic needs of gambling online in the U.S.
1. Are you old enough to gamble?
First, you must be old enough to gamble legally in U.S. online casinos. The legal age to gamble online in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia is 21. However, in Colorado and New Hampshire, you can bet on sports with online and mobile sportsbooks if you are 18 or older.
Underage gambling
As we just read, the minimum age requirement for gambling differs, so make sure it is legal for you to gamble online. Consequently, a minor gambler can be fined up to $1,000 and may have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months. In some states, prison time and a permanent criminal record can also be applied. These are only some examples of states fighting against underage gambling. Not to forget, if it is discovered that a licensed casino knowingly allowed someone underage to gamble, the casino will be fined and may lose its license.
2. Is it legal to gamble in your state?
| State | Online Casino | Online Sports Betting | Online Poker |
| Arizona | No | Yes | No |
| Colorado | No | Yes | No |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes | No |
| Delaware | Yes | No | Yes |
| Illinois | No | Yes | No |
| Indiana | No | Yes | No |
| Iowa | No | Yes | No |
| Kansas | No | Yes | No |
| Louisiana | No | Yes | No |
| Maine | No | Pending | No |
| Maryland | No | Yes | No |
| Massachusetts | No | Pending | No |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | No | Yes | No |
| Montana | No | Yes | No |
| Nevada | No | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | No | Yes | No |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York | No | Yes | No |
| Ohio | No | Yes | No |
| Oregon | No | Yes | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | No | Yes | No |
| Tennessee | No | Yes | No |
| Virginia | No | Yes | No |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | Pending |
| Wyoming | No | Yes | No |
Afterward, it would be best if you recognized which casinos and sports betting operators are legal and regulated in your state. Why is this important? Once you register with a legal site, you are eligible for player-protection rights in case something goes wrong.
3. Devices
Online gambling is a great way to have fun! There are several technical devices you can gamble on. Your preferences will depend on your lifestyle.
PC
PCs are still one of the most popular devices to gamble on. The big screen and powerful processors ensure the fastest loading and best graphics. The main downside is that a PC is not portable and you can only play a casino game from the PC station.
Laptops
With Laptop you get most of your gameplay and visual special effects as the screens are big enough. Also, loading is quick, and you get all benefits that sites have prepared for you. Sometimes in the Mobile App, some games or features are missing, for example. The battery is also long-lasting, so you won’t have to worry about charging the device while gambling.
Tablets
Tablets have very similar benefits to a laptop. However, they are lighter and, therefore easier to take with you. Slots are more engaging as you use the touchscreen straight on the game.
Smartphones
Smartphones are also very user-friendly when playing in online casinos. Most sites are mobile-friendly and gambling on the go is one of the convenient parts of using a smartphone. In addition, smartphones offer a variety of input methods, including touchscreen controls and virtual buttons. There are also gaming phones, more sophisticated and better-suited smartphones for gamers in the casino world.
Consoles
Consoles offer excellent graphics and sound quality, making them ideal for gambling games. They are also easy to use and have various games to choose from. You can also use them to watch movies, listen to music, or play other video games. This makes them a great all-around entertainment option.
4. Geolocation verification
Geolocation is an important technical aspect of online gambling. Each country, state, and jurisdictions have the right to have different laws ranging from complete prohibition to no laws regarding gambling. Geolocation tools determine whether a potential online gambler should be allowed to deposit, play or even view an online casino. It is done by checking the individual’s physical location. There are several methods to achieve this: capturing the player’s IP address or triangulating their location via the WiFi signal.
How does geolocation work?
Geolocation is a part of our daily mobile lives, but companies also make high use of it, mainly by making sure that the online user experience is nice and smooth when you use their platforms. It can be accurate within 2 to 3 feet. When on a mobile device, it can be tracked via GPS or through a combination of cell tower data, WiFi signals, and Bluetooth signals.
In order to set this up, you need to download and install a plugin on your computer for the site to be able to track your IP address. Some computers may have a firewall attached that will prevent you from installing the plugin, and you may not be able to play at the online casino. To add, if you choose to play from your phone using an app, you don’t need to install the plugin as it’s automatically installed at the same time the casino app is being installed.
Read more about Geolocation Technology here!
5. Payment methods
Another important aspect is the Payment methods available on the site you wish to gamble. Overall these are the payment methods accepted at regulated online casinos:
- Credit/ debit/ prepaid cards
- Online bank transfer
- Wire transfer
- Play+ prepaid casino cards
- ACH E-check
- VIP Preferred e-check
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Cash At Casino Cage
- PayNearMe Cash
- Check By Mail
- Cryptocurrency
6. KYC
KYC procedures are crucial for online gambling platforms to avoid multiple issues like terrorist funding and money laundering.
By identifying the customers via Personal Identifiable Information or PII and ID proofs, KYC helps avoid the stream of unknown funds being laundered through a casino play. It also helps reduce gambling among the underage group, users having multiple accounts, and self-excluded gambling addicts.
KYC checks have become a mandatory procedure for all legitimate casino platforms and help build player trust. With the advancement in technology, all KYC checks will be hassle-free and quick.
7. Social security
All licensed gambling sites have implemented a verification check on all players to prevent underage gambling. This verification procedure requires the visitor’s name, address, Social Security number (SSN), and other important information. For every new account, casinos must adhere to anti-money laundering protocols and record the person’s name, address, and SSN, among additional important information.
If you notice a casino without SSN requirements, those are offshore sites, and most probably, they will ask for your SSN when you try to withdraw your winnings. As long as you are losing, they don’t care. When you win and want to withdraw your prize, it’s a whole new and different story.
