How Massachusetts’ Gambling Laws Compare to Other U.S. Territories

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U.S. gambling laws differ widely because each state and territory sets its own rules. What’s legal in Massachusetts might be banned in Guam. Some regions are expanding fast, while others are staying cautious. 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has set up a strong and organized system for legal gambling. People can bet on sports from 2022, and both physical sportsbooks and mobile apps started in 2023. The government takes 15% of the money made from in-person sports bets and 20% from online bets. 

Massachusetts offers casino games, a long-running lottery, and charity events like bingo and raffles for local fundraising.

However, online casino games like poker and slots are still not allowed. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission oversees everything, and the legal gambling age is 21.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has taken a bold approach to gambling. In 2019, the Law of the Gambling Commission of the Government of Puerto Rico expanded the market by allowing slot machines outside traditional casinos. 

Sports betting launched in 2022, followed by the arrival of online sportsbooks in 2023. Today, players in the island can bet on popular sports like baseball, basketball, and boxing easily through secure, user-friendly apps. With generous bonuses, competitive odds, and fast payouts, these betting apps give players plenty of reasons to jump in and start betting.

Other forms of betting, including fantasy sports contests and esports wagering, are regulated under the island’s expanding gaming framework.

What makes Puerto Rico unique is its lower gambling age of 18 and its push to legalize esports betting and fantasy sports. Full online casino games aren’t yet legal, but the island may be closer to allowing them than most territories.

Guam

In contrast to Massachusetts and Puerto Rico, Guam has some of the strictest gambling laws in the U.S. Gambling in nearly all forms is illegal, including sports betting and online gaming. Only small charity bingo games or cultural events like cockfighting, which are tightly controlled, are allowed.  

Electronic gambling devices are banned altogether. The Guam Gaming Commission defines gambling broadly, and there are strong penalties in place.

U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands takes a more regulated approach. Casino gambling is legal and has been since 1995, thanks to the Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act, which set up a clear system for how casinos can operate and who can be involved. 

Two government bodies, the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement, are responsible for licensing, inspections, and enforcement. Everyone involved in casino operations, from managers to employees, needs a license. The Virgin Islands may not have as large a gambling market as Massachusetts or Puerto Rico, but it has a formal structure to keep everything fair and controlled. 

American Samoa

American Samoa has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the U.S. Gambling is mostly illegal across the territory. The only exception is for occasional bingo games held for charitable, religious, or school fundraising purposes. Even then, the rules are strict, and organizers need approval.

In addition, there are no casinos, no sports betting, and no legal online gambling, reflecting the community’s cultural and religious values.

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

The Northern Mariana Islands, especially the island of Tinian, are actively trying to grow their gambling industry. Casino gaming is already legal, and lawmakers are now working on iGaming laws that would allow online casino games like slots and poker. 

At the same time, each island in the Northern Mariana Islands can set its own gambling rules. For example, Tinian’s casinos are regulated under the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Act of 1989, while Saipan has its own rules, including for things like cockfighting.

To ensure everything runs smoothly, the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) is the main agency that oversees casino gambling in the CNMI, especially on Saipan. The CCC makes sure the licensed casino follows the rules, prevents money laundering, and promotes safe gambling. Additionally, jackpot winnings from gaming machines are subject to a 30% tax.

Federal Oversight Still Applies

Even though each jurisdiction sets its own gambling laws, federal regulations still apply. The Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) limit certain types of online gambling, particularly when financial transactions cross state or territorial lines. As a result, even regions seeking to expand online gaming must operate within federal legal boundaries.