Gambling in the US vs the UK: the americans are estimated to gamble over $80 billion, the british – 4 times less
The Irish writer George Bernard Shaw once famously described the US and the UK as «two nations divided by a common language». While he was talking about the two countries having different words for everything, from sidewalks (pavements) to faucets (taps), he could just as well be describing their different approaches to gambling.
It’s true that in both countries the gambling industry is a huge revenue generator. Annually, Americans are estimated to gamble over $80 billion legally, and it’s estimated that this is equaled, or even exceeded, by illegal gambling.
In the UK, official figures show that between April 2018 and March 2019 £14.2 billion ($19.8 billion) was raised in gambling revenue. While this is only around 25% of the figure for legal US gambling, we should consider the smaller population of the UK.
However, where they both thrive is also where they differ, mainly in the laws and regulations that govern the activity in both countries.
A tale of two legal systems
The gambling laws in the US can vary by state, with some states like Las Vegas more liberal than others, such as Utah.
The principal difference between the two countries is that in the UK the same laws and regulations apply across the entire country. In the US, however, each state is allowed to set its own laws.
This has led to a situation where the only two states that have identical laws are Utah and Hawaii, who have both banned all forms of gambling completely. Even in Nevada, which you might think would allow all forms of gambling, has no state lottery.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most popular forms of gambling in the US.
Online gambling
In the last couple of years, online gambling has taken off in a way that no one could possibly have anticipated. As pioneers in technology, it would make sense for the US to lead the way in this new sector. In fact, the picture is a confused one, with only four states allowing it – Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
While few other states have banned it altogether, many simply don’t have any legislation that takes this very popular activity into account.
Casinos
When you picture a casino in the US, the first image that springs to mind is often the neon oasis in the Mojave Desert that is Las Vegas. This is where millions of people from America and beyond flock each year with the dream of a big win.
With an estimated 136 casinos in the city, most offer all the games you’d expect, from roulette and blackjack to slots and craps.
In other states, there are countless tribal casinos run by Native Americans, which aim to generate income for their communities.
Sports betting
For many years, sports betting was banned outright in the US. But in May 2018, the US Supreme Court took the momentous decision to legalize it, despite opposition from all of the major leagues. Each state has the right to set its own laws concerning the activity and gradually more and more are making it legal.
To date 25 states have permitted sports betting, with legislation going through for many more. This has also opened the floodgates for many sponsorships and other commercial link-ups between sports teams and sportsbook operators.
The picture from the UK
The UK has modernized its gambling laws to allow new forms of betting such as sports bets and online casinos.
When we look at gambling in the UK, we have to go back to the Gambling Act of 2005. Brought in to revolutionize the sector by the Labour government of the time, it certainly achieved its aim.
Now, the industry generates billions in revenue for the government and is set to grow even more over the coming years.
Online Casinos
Nowhere is the success of the UK gambling industry more evident than in the world of online casinos.
The popularity of this sector is underlined by the revenue raised – between April 2019 and March 2020 it raised £5.7 billion ($7.9 billion), more than any other type of gambling.
Several major operators now dominate the market, competing with one another to bring players more game varieties, payouts and bonuses.
A leading name among these is 888 Casino. This top operator has built a reputation for innovation and excellence by introducing new games and technology, as well as new ways to play. One of the most recent of these is its live lobbies, in which games are run in real time with actual dealers that is then streamed to a player’s PC or mobile device.
If you want to better understand why the UK is dominating in the industry, this trusted online casino operator is a great place to start.
The casino scene
The UK has more than its fair share of so-called bricks and mortar casinos, which are generally centered on the country’s major towns and cities.
Anyone over the age of 18 can play in them and inside you’ll find all the kinds of games that dominate casinos all over the world. They may not have the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip, but they are all very popular, nevertheless.
Sports betting
One of the biggest changes that came in following the UK’s 2005 Gambling Act was the explosion of sports betting. As a nation, previously this had taken the form of betting on horseracing or «doing the pools», in which players had to try to predict which soccer matches would be drawn.
But the new laws, along with the emergence of online gambling, means that many sports fans now regard having a bet on the result to be as important as watching the action itself, whether it’s soccer, rugby, cricket or even motor racing.
There are signs that the US may be slowly moving more towards the UK in its attitude to gambling, and the legalization of sports betting has been a catalyst for this. But only time will tell whether there will ever be a unified approach across all states.