US vs UK Casinos
When it comes to playing your favourite games at online casinos, there are definitely some differences depending on where you live. The United States and the United Kingdom are interesting examples of how laws can impact what types of games people can play and their experience of them.
This article will explore some of the key differences when it comes to online casinos in the US and UK, as well as the affect it has on their popularity.
Changing laws
The biggest factor when it comes to differences in online casinos in the US and the UK are due to both country’s laws. Legal online gambling didn’t actually exist in the United States until 2011.
It was then that the Department of Justice changed the interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act, which meant that states could decide whether or not to legalise online gambling. The first to do so were Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey with several others doing so in the years that followed. In 2021, Michigan legalised sports betting, poker and online casinos.
Online casinos in the UK are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission which is responsible for regulating all gambling and gaming law in Great Britain. The regulatory body also covers slot machines, lotteries, betting, bingo, casinos and arcades. Established all the way back in 2007, the Gambling Commission has had a significant effect on the proliferation and popularity of online casinos like 888 casino in the UK, which are attracting players from across demographics and age groups.
Remote and online gambling rates have soared in the UK and has become the largest combined sector contributing to Gross Gambling Yield. In 2021 it was £.1bn in GGY, and comprised 52.3% of the total market during the time of April 2020 – March 2021. The UK Gambling Commission is also responsible for giving out licences and have quite strict (and consistent) regulations to ensure that players are kept safe while enjoying their favourite casino websites online.
Compared to the UK, the US has a long way to go when it comes to their gambling laws. It is still illegal in many states across the US to play at online casinos.
The game selection & promotions
Another key difference when it comes to American and British online casinos is the games that are on offer. The online casino games in the UK are usually provided by some of the largest game developers including NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Playtech, Microgaming, Wazden and others. In the US, the casinos are mainly created and published by independent studios and not the big players in the gaming industry. There are also differences when it comes to promotions that are on offer. The casinos in the UK are much more restrictive in general than those in the US, possibly because of the influence and regulations set out by the UK Gambling Comission.
The simliariites
Even though there are quite a few differences between online casinos in the US and UK, there are also several similarities. To play at an online casino you need to sign up for an account, and add your bank details in order to make deposits. Banking options can vary depending on the casino website, but many accept deposits from a wide variety of banks and in some places even PayPal and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
In both countries, online casinos must abide by regulations and both offer a wide variety of games. These include everything from video slots to classic table games like poker, blackjack, roulette and many more. Although due to the progress made in the industry and the preferred big name game developers, there tends to be more games available in the UK casino sites when compared to the US ones.
Into the future
Online casinos are on tract to continue to grow in popularity and even go beyond their land-based counterparts when it comes to being accessed by players. It’s likely that the lawsin the US will continue to change as more states embrace online casino websites and make them legal, following in the footsteps of the UK.
While no one can predict exactly how the industry will change, it’s likely that players will be able to enjoy more and better games across both countries. In any case, it looks like online casinos are here to stay.
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