FILE - Elaine Vallaster reacts to a winning spin while playing an internet slots game on her tablet in Hazlet, N.J. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Internet gambling is currently offered in seven states but has been slow to catch on more widely in the U.S. –
In contrast, 38 states plus Washington D.C. offer legal sports betting, the overwhelming majority of which is done online, mostly through cell phones. Panelists agreed the industry needs to do a better job of educating state lawmakers about internet casino games, drawing explicit comparisons with the illegal, unregulated offshore web sites that attract customers from across the country. Legal sites are strictly regulated and offer customer protections, including responsible gambling options like self-imposed time-outs and deposit and activity limits, they said.
The industry cites several challenges to wider approval of internet casino gambling, including fears of increasing gambling addiction by “putting a slot machine in people's pocket,” Iden said, adding casino companies need to do a better job of publicizing player protections the online companies offer.