Which States Don't Have Casinos?

Giuseppe Faraone
Senior Author
clock badge 3 Min Read

The US is famous for its casinos. It has a variety of different types, including Native Indian tribes that hold casinos on their reservations. There are also some locations where casinos cannot open their doors by law, despite the US gambling industry continuing to boom. Here are a few major states where casinos are illegal.

Georgia

Georgia is one of the states that doesn't have casinos, but it's not necessarily because there's a casino ban. It's not just an issue of legality - it's also a matter of what kind of gambling the state has allowed. Georgia has never had any legal gambling establishments at all. This includes casinos and other forms of betting or gaming that aren't considered "legitimate business."

Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the states that doesn't have any casinos. In fact, it's one of the only states that doesn't have any gambling at all. Hawaii's gambling laws explicitly ban all casinos and gambling events on its coast.

Kentucky

Kentucky has a lot of restrictions when it comes to gambling. For example, the state does not allow slot machines and table games. The state also prohibits horse racing, which is popular for betting.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of the states that doesn't have land-based casinos. It allows cruise ships with gambling machines to enter the state for a maximum of 48 hours at a time. The law was created to attract tourists and other visitors to New Hampshire, which is already home to many businesses and attractions.

The law allows cruise ships to enter New Hampshire with gambling machines as long as passengers use them for entertainment. The law also places restrictions on how many passengers can be on board the ship at any given time.

South Carolina

Owing to the South Carolina government's political opposition against gambling, this is one of the states that don't have casinos. It's a controversial topic, as many people believe that casinos are an important source of revenue for the state. However, many disagree with this policy and believe it would negatively affect the state's economy by reducing its tax revenue.

Utah

In Utah, gambling is illegal. This means you can't gamble even on slots or poker. The law was passed with the intention of keeping people from gambling on horses or at racetracks, but it also explicitly bans all forms of gaming, as well as card games.

The law has been modified several times over the years and now includes specific language about video games, but even then, there are restrictions around when those games can be played (they must be done away from school or work) and what they can contain (no violence).

Conclusion

Overall, the states featured are all excellent in their way. They may not all be great for gaming, but that shouldn't keep you from visiting them if you're inclined, or at least consider them for your next vacation.

However, as gambling continues to spread throughout the US, with more and more states changing their laws, these locations may change their stance in the near future.

For now though, with numerous national parks, excellent ski resorts, and much more to offer, they're perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Giuseppe Faraone

Giuseppe Faraone

Author & Online Gambling Expert

1165 Articles
Being so close to the action in iGaming, Giuseppe is on top of any new developments the minute they come through the door, as his book is testament to. Published in October 2022, his first book; The Untold Story of Online Gambling is available on Amazon.
Expert On:
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