Publication date: 3 December 2025
Today, the American iGaming market is perceived as one of the most technologically advanced and dynamic markets, offering excellent opportunities for affiliate promotion. However, the evolution of gambling in the US is a story that begins with ritual practices and strict prohibitions and continues (but does not end!) with a multibillion-dollar online industry. This path has been long: marked by legal shifts, economic crises, mafia intervention, tribal autonomy, and, of course, digital revolutions. On 3S.INFO we have prepared an engaging story about gambling and betting in the USA: from indigenous traditions to one of the most effective digital industries in iGaming.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the indigenous peoples of North America had their own forms of games of chance and competitions:
These games often held spiritual and social significance beyond mere entertainment. They were not a form of commercial amusement but rather an integral part of a broader worldview.
With the onset of colonization and European settlers in the 17th century, the situation changed dramatically. Lotteries and horse racing bets became tools of state economy: they funded public projects, infrastructure (road construction), even universities. Card games and betting quickly took root in ports and taverns. Authorities periodically attempted to impose restrictions, but gambling remained an integral part of daily life.
In the 19th century, religious and moral movements (primarily Protestant) intensified in the United States, leading to stricter attitudes towards gambling. Many states progressively banned lotteries and casinos, driving gambling underground.
The era of gold rushes and Western expansion made gambling almost symbolic of the American Dream. Mining towns and frontier settlements flourished with saloons where poker, dice, and roulette were played.
However, eastern states viewed gambling as a social threat, especially after corruption scandals surrounding lotteries. By the beginning of the 20th century, most forms of gambling were under complete prohibition.
Complete bans did not stop the industry. They merely transformed its format. Between 1919 and 1933, during Prohibition, there was almost total ban on gambling and betting in the United States. Casinos went underground, and organized crime quickly found them to be a source of stable income.
Only the Great Depression (from 1929 to 1939) forced authorities to seek new financial solutions: Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, marking the birthplace of future Las Vegas.
From the 1940s onwards, the mafia actively invested in casinos, but the government gradually regained control through new regulators and financial checks.
In the second half of the 20th century, the market began expanding again. New Jersey legalized casinos in Atlantic City in 1978, creating the country’s second gaming capital. But perhaps more significant was the emergence of tribal operators in 1988.
What are “Tribal Operators”? In 1988, the U.S. passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which allowed tribes to open casinos on their lands. Tribal casinos rapidly grew into a self-sufficient sector comparable in scale to commercial ones. For detailed information on the organization of tribal casinos in the U.S., read our article on 3S.INFO on December 4, 2025.
In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting (PASPA), transferring regulation to individual states. This decision completely transformed the industry.
Gambling and betting in the US entered a period of rapid growth:
Today, the gambling industry in the US is a complex structure where tribal and commercial casinos coexist with bookmaking companies, online platforms, and regulated iGaming operators. The growth of the mobile segment has been the main driver in recent years. States are increasingly implementing responsible gaming tools, while businesses adopt retention and omnichannel technologies.
Key trends in the US iGaming development:
Technological innovations that have accelerated the development of iGaming encompass several key directions that fundamentally changed the industry and landscape of gambling.
Thus, the key technological drivers of iGaming growth are mobility, HTML5, live-streaming, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, multiplayer mechanics, and flexible platform solutions. These innovations have made iGaming accessible, interactive, and efficient business with enormous potential for further development.
Currently, the United States is experiencing a peak stage of digital transformation in gambling, as the market becomes more mature, technologically advanced, and competitive. For more information on the development of gambling in the USA, see the updated overview “USA iGaming Overview: A Complete Guide to the Most Lucrative Traffic GEOs” on December 8, 2025.
From 2015 to 2025, revenues from online gambling and sports betting in the U.S. grew by approximately 250%, driven by changes in legislation, mobile technologies, and partnerships between operators and leagues/clubs. The pandemic of 2020 further accelerated the migration of players from land-based casinos to online formats, making the digital segment not just an addition but one of the primary drivers of the industry.
What Lies Ahead for US Online Gambling and Betting in the Future?
The evolution of gambling in the U.S. reflects a complex interplay of cultural traditions, economic interests, and social policies, where digital transformation continues to reshape the industry’s landscape.
Today, the U.S. is one of the most technologically advanced and rapidly growing iGaming markets. Large casino brands are launching their own online platforms and apps, extensively utilizing big data, live streaming, real-time betting, as well as responsible gaming tools and advanced compliance measures. At the same time, the foundation of the industry still relies on its cultural roots and multilayered history — from Native American games and colonial lotteries to Las Vegas and modern mobile apps.
Gambling originated from the traditions of indigenous peoples, where bone games and ritual competitions had spiritual and social significance. After European settlers arrived, gambling became a tool for funding public projects and infrastructure, spreading lotteries, card games, and horse racing bets.
In the 19th century, religious and moral movements, particularly Protestantism, led to stricter prohibitions on gambling. Despite the flourishing of gambling establishments in the West, Eastern states viewed gambling as a social threat. By the beginning of the 20th century, most forms of gambling came under complete prohibition.
Following the Great Depression and a temporary ban on gambling, organized crime began investing in underground casinos. In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, marking the beginning of Las Vegas’s development as a casino and entertainment hub. In subsequent decades, the state tightened control through regulatory bodies.
In 1988, a law was passed allowing Native American tribes to establish casinos on their lands. This created an independent gambling sector, comparable in scale to the commercial market, providing tribes with a significant source of income and economic autonomy.
Key innovations include mobile technologies, HTML5 for improved graphics and user interfaces, mass live streaming, artificial intelligence and big data for personalization and security, blockchain and cryptocurrencies for transparent and fast payments, as well as gamification and multiplayer features, which simplify business launch and scaling.
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