What Vegas Moving Online has Meant New Regulations are Needed for the Online Casino Market

While the entertainment in Vegas might be considered timeless, changes are occurring in Sin City that could reshape the place and pave the way for an alternative future. The latest figures show that Vegas tourism has hit a low, and some people are claiming that the Vegas experience is a thing of the past. Visitor numbers were down in June by 11.3% compared to last year. However, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGB) declared that statewide gaming revenues were up by 3.5% in June 2024, so it is clearly not all doom and gloom.

Las Vegas has always been incredibly protective of its physical gambling environment, which is hardly surprising when you consider its importance to the economy. However, as so many of us have learned, adapting is key to surviving and thriving, and Las Vegas is changing too as a result of a downturn in numbers. However, rather than allowing people in Vegas to play online, the casino operators are taking the excitement off the casino floor onto virtual gaming sites, which can be played in states where online casino gambling is legal.

We spoke to Alex Korsager at the online review company Casino.org about changes in Vegas, new online casinos and poker rooms, and how they might affect the online gambling scene-not just in Vegas but around the country and beyond.

"Online sports betting is live and legal in Nevada; it was the first state to legalize and regulate sports betting way back in 1949, and it was the first state to launch online sports betting when the STN Sports app went live in 2010. Nevada was ahead of its time, as the PASPA restrictions were still in place, but, with statewide betting legal before anyone else, Nevada had always been the exception to the rule."

"However, online casino gambling is a very different story. Vegas might be the country's gambling capital, but it is about the live, interactive experience that happens within the brick-and-mortar casinos. However, online poker has always been available here, and new licenses are granted all the time. For example, Real Gaming (South Point Poker LLC) and WSOP - World Series of Poker (Caesars Interactive Entertainment Inc) have recently been announced as license operators of interactive gaming. It is what is happening with Vegas companies across the country, which has led to regulators reaching for their red tape."

"At Casino.org, we treat every online licensed platform in the same way. We are entirely independent, and with decades of industry experience, our aim is to guide iGamers to the best online gambling sites in their jurisdiction. Gambling legislation changes frequently because the industry is so innovative, and regulators often scramble to keep up with these changes. We intend to keep everyone interacting with our site on safe and well-maintained sites that offer the best game choices and the most lucrative bonuses".

"While legal changes can take months or even years to introduce and then enforce, our team of independent experts can react very quickly to the slightest variance and make recommendations to ensure players only access the reputable sites. We often find that sites which have the correct licenses from the authorities do not come up to our standards and we do not recommend them at all".

We asked Alex how Casino.org goes about making sure that the sites they recommend are of the highest possible standards.

"With gambling legislation varying so much across the US, it can be a confusing landscape for anyone to navigate. People may come home from a trip to Vegas and want to keep on playing, only to be confused by what is being offered by online gambling platforms."

Online casino games and slots for real money are only legal in a handful of states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Connecticut, Michigan, and Delaware. However, anyone wanting to play online casino games can access social or sweepstakes casinos, which are legal almost everywhere. We have all the details on our websites to help customers navigate a really confusing landscape."

"To make things even more complicated, many Las Vegas casino brands like MGM and Caesars have online platforms that can be played in the real-money legal states and in jurisdictions throughout the world, but not in Nevada!"

"New regulations are introduced all the time to make sure that each state has the controls in place that it feels it needs to regulate its gambling market effectively. At Casino.org, we are committed to ensuring people are aware of any limits and that the sites we recommend allow easy access to responsible gambling tools. After all, gambling is only fun if people stay in control and treat the sites as entertainment."

We asked Alex what their experts look for when they are rating and ranking the sites. He explained

"We actually employ a 25-step process and treat every site the same. Just because a legacy brand launches a new site does not mean we give them any special treatment; we simply follow the process. The first step is to make sure they are correctly licensed, and if they are not, you will not find them in our rankings."

"We conduct thorough background checks on licensing, compliance with local regulations, security features, and registration requirements. Once we are happy that the sites are legal and secure, we test them out in much the same way a customer would. We look to see what payment options are available and how quickly funds will be paid out in the event of a win. We don't just take the casino's word for it; we register as players, create accounts, and go through the motions. We make a point of contacting customer services so we can provide feedback to our customers on what they can expect if they run into difficulties."

"We also try out bonuses and check the terms and conditions. We want to know if they are achievable and legal. A massive welcome bonus might grab the headlines, but if it is always out of reach, it might fall foul of promotional codes of practice."

As you can see, gambling is a highly regulated industry and is in a constant state of change. As regulations are put in place, innovations stretch the rules or create loopholes, keeping everyone on their toes - it seems that no one ever holds all the aces. However, playing at great online and offline casinos should always be a win-win scenario.