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Online gambling in the USA: where allowed (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan)
In the United States, gambling regulation is the prerogative of the states. Full-fledged iGaming (online slots and board games, in some cases - poker) today legally operates in a limited number of jurisdictions. The three most mature and representative markets are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. They demonstrate different tax and technical approaches, but agree on the main thing: only licensed brands associated with local ground partners get access, under strict supervision and with the priority of responsible play.
1) The general architecture of iGaming in legal states
Link to the ground: the online operator is obliged to cooperate with a local licensed ground casino/track (host/skin model).
Supervision and reporting: daily/monthly GGR upload, immutable logs, RNG/content certification by independent laboratories.
KYC/AML: age/identity identification and verification, transaction monitoring, state self-exclusion lists.
Geolocation: admission only within the state through certified geofencing solutions; cross-state play is prohibited (except for individual poker pools where interstate agreements are provided).
Payments: cards, bank transfers/ASN, e-wallets; Returns and limits policy is mandatory.
Advertising and bonuses: ban on misleading offers, disclosure of conditions, age disclaimers, control of affiliates.
2) New Jersey - iGaming Technology Reference
Regulator: Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), with the participation of the Casino Control Commission (adjudication on a number of issues).
Model: developed skin ecosystem - online brands are tied to licensed Atlantic City casinos.
Verticals: online slots, board games, poker; in addition to iGaming, the state operates retail and mobile sports betting.
Technical focus: NJ is one of the leaders in terms of the depth of integration requirements (wallet, reporting, antifraud), geolocation quality and payment discipline.
Market features: high competition, wide selection of content, active omnichannel strategy (online application ↔ resort/casino), advanced work with responsibility: self-exclusion, deposit/time/loss limits.
What matters to applicants:- Full transparency of the ownership structure (suitability), licensing of key personnel and suppliers.
- Preliminary tech tests of content and financial feeds; daily DGE reporting.
- Strict policy towards advertising and partner traffic.
3) Pennsylvania - a large and fiscally significant market
Regulator: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Model: licenses for ground operators (including racino/categories) who run their own brands and/or skins; local binding is required.
Verticals: online slots and board games, online poker; sports bets - separately (retail and mobile).
Tax profile: the rate on GGR is traditionally higher than in a number of neighboring jurisdictions (details depend on the vertical). This affects the unit economy, but the market remains large due to population and purchasing power.
Market features: a strong share of the mobile segment, a good representation of large content studios and platform providers, demanding reporting and auditing.
What matters to applicants:- Correct setup of financial funds/bet and win data for PGCB.
- Confirmation of compliance with responsible play and AML standards.
- Operational risk management with high tax burden.
4) Michigan - "new classic" with offline and online balance
Regulator: Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).
Model: Hybrid - involving both commercial casinos (Detroit) and tribal operators; online brands are also tied to local licensed partners.
Verticals: iGaming (slots, desktop), poker, sports betting (retail and mobile).
Market features: rapid launch of a mature ecosystem, a clear emphasis on powerful omnichannel and co-marketing, advanced responsible gaming and cybersecurity measures.
Technologies: strict requirements for storing/duplicating logs, version control, incident management; detailed reporting on sessions, rates, bonus mechanics.
What matters to applicants:- Accounting for the dual nature of the market (commercial and tribal partners) and differences in contracts.
- Quick adaptation of content and payment flows to MGCB standards.
- Transparent work with affiliates and advertising.
5) Licensing practices and suppliers
In all three states, licensing is required not only for the operator, but also for suppliers of platforms, content, payment solutions, CCM/geolocation, and anti-fraud. Key employees undergo suitability checks. Game content (slots, tables, live formats, RNG) passes independent test laboratories before being included in whitelists.
6) Responsible play and customer protection
Self-exclusion: unified state registers; synchronization between offline and online.
Limits: deposits/rates/session time, "cooling," reminders and hard risk communication.
Transparency of bonuses: full disclosure of conditions, turnovers, terms, bets, weighing games.
Support: hotlines, links to specialized organizations, training personnel to recognize problematic patterns.
7) Payments and risk management
A wide range of payment and withdrawal methods, but operations are monitored by AML and the sources of funds are checked.
Chargeback procedures, multi-level antifraud, behavioral transaction analytics.
Data storage and transmission - with encryption and segmentation of accesses; regular pentests and audits.
8) Growth points and challenges
Increased competition between brands within limited "skins" and caps on licenses.
Regulatory adjustments for advertising, bonuses and taxes - the need for a flexible product and marketing strategy.
Integration with offline: a single wallet/loyalty (level program), cross-channel offers, events and tournament grids.
Content innovations: exclusive slots, local jackpots, live casino formats with adaptation to the expectations of the state audience.
9) Who cares
Investors and operators: understandable input requirements and predictable law enforcement practice.
Technology suppliers: a market with a high quality threshold and a steady demand for CCM/geolocation, payments, PAM/wallets, content.
Guests: security of deposits and data, honesty of games, self-control tools.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan form the "core" of legal iGaming in the United States. Each state has its own balance of taxes, reporting and technical requirements, but the principles are the same: only licensed brands, a bundle with a local partner, strict KYC/AML and geolocation, certified content and transparent reporting. This model ensures sustainable market growth, protects the consumer and creates the basis for the responsible development of online gambling in the country.