The United States, a country that has grown into one of the world powers today, used to be a former colony of the United Kingdom. However, these two countries have had an estranged relationship from the start of history. Ever since the great revolution and followed-independence of the United States, these two powerful world nations have grown far apart in their various ways and qualities of life. Despite both countries being English-speaking, the lifestyle and cultural values of these two communities of people have incurred so many differences over the years. However, this is an extension of the gambling characteristics these two countries portray. There is a wild and vast sway in the population of gamblers and flair given to gambling in both countries. We can keep this assertion for both physical and online gambling. We shall explore the various ways by which these two countries differ in gambling styles. They include:
- Gambling laws in both regions.
- The flair and attitude of the country-people to gambling.
- The variations in the gambling activities.
Differences in language and gambling laws in the respective countries.
The Laws Hovering Over Gambling in the UK and the US
There is undoubtedly a wide variation in the laws guiding the act of gambling in these two nations. For instance, in the United States, the age limit for gambling begins at 21 years of age, but in the United Kingdom, it is felt that an 18-year-old is mature enough to make responsible gambling decisions. So, before walking into a land-based casino or gambling online, be sure that you meet the age requirement for gambling or break the laid down laws.
Also, there are variations in national, regional, and state laws guiding gambling activities in the United States. Therefore, familiarise yourself with the state’s specific rules in which you are present. In contrast, in the United Kingdom, the same law under the Gambling Act of 2005 guides all gambling activities in every state. However, you should know that the United Kingdom comprises four countries held together under monarchy rule. Although, the Gambling Act (2005) would still guide all gambling activities under the Gambling Act of 2005.
It is worthy of note that there is a ban on all overseas gaming and casino providers in the United States. However, in the United Kingdom, all online gaming and gambling activities are legal as long as they own the proper licenses for operation.
The Flair and Attitude to Gambling in the UK and the US
Indeed, there is no other city in the world that can be referred to as the capital of gambling rather than the famous sin city – Las Vegas, which is located in the United States. As with the actual housing and estate management in the UK, it is noticed that most houses are usually tiny and with limited land masses compared to the housing in the United States, which are prominent with the enormous landscapes. However, this ideology is the same for casino properties. In the US, for example, you can shop, go to the spa, or even see a movie, all within the casino building. You should visit one of those Las Vegas casinos; you would be surprised and lucky to find your favourite band right in action. The UK scenery on the other end is quite the opposite. Most land-based casinos are mainly for gambling only, and the atmosphere is not as pleasant as you would expect.
In the United States, you can go to the land-based casino looking anyhow you want, but in the UK, you’d be surprised to find people in suits at the casino slot wheels. However, this is no surprise, and there is nothing wrong with both situations. This issue further reinforces the notion that these two countries are far apart in cultural values and way of life.
Considering the attitude of the United Kingdom people to gambling, they certainly would be more drifted in terms of numbers towards the online gambling and casino activities than the people in the United States because of the fewer restrictions and more flexible laws surrounding online gaming and gambling activities over there. Gamblers can enjoy the UK free spin no deposit bonuses and many other promotional offers from several online casinos from all over the world as long as they are appropriately licensed under the Gambling Act (2005) in the UK. However, to enjoy UKdeposit bonuses, you may be required to be in the UK since foreign online casino activities are illegal in the United States. The main difference between bonus use is that UK players always figure out the main bonus conditions before applying for any promotion, meanwhile Americans usually skip this information.
Variations in Gambling Activities
Due to the architecture of buildings in the UK only so much can be fitted into one casino. For instance, land-based casinos in Las Vegas may contain up to thousands of slot machines for the picking, while the first super-casino in the UK – The Aspers Casino, only contained about 150 slot machines. However, the Gambling Act of 2005 has improved the situation in the United Kingdom as gamblers now have access to unlimited numbers of slot games on online casino platforms in all regions. Moreover, the UK has a long way to go to match up with the levels of gaming and gambling activities the United States possesses.
Also, in terms of the varieties of games, it is usually the United States versions of games against the European versions of these games. The table and card games found in the US or Europe include:
- Blackjack;
- Baccarat;
- Roulette;
- Craps;
- Video Poker games.
These games are found in variations depending on the country – be it the US or the UK. With the introduction of online casino platforms, gamblers and no deposit bonus have access to both the US and the European versions of some of these table and card games. The best of bonuses can be found here https://slotsfans.com/no-deposit-bonus/ to know more.
Differences in Sports Betting in the UK and the US
The sporting activities in these two nations have different priorities. Europe is hung up on football, the most popular sporting activity. At the same time, in the US, the people prioritize American football, baseball, and basketball over any other sporting activity. However, this nature spills into the gambling sector too. The UK was the first to have online sports booking sites legal, while even until now, in the US, there are still some sceptics concerning placing bets on sporting activities online.
Another aspect of difference is how the odds of these sports games are made. In the UK, game odds are given in a decimal odds system, like 4/1, meaning if the bet is won, players will get back their stake amount plus the win amount. However, it is a little bit complicated in the US. The sports booking platforms offer odds on the favourite and the underdog teams, represented by a plus or negative sign, for example, +200 or -300.
Language Use and Rules Surrounding Gambling Activities
As the odds are specific in each of these countries, the use of language is also specific despite both countries being English-speaking. Therefore, casino languages and slang may differ based on the country you find yourself in. Consequently, it is always good to revise your casino slang before visiting a casino. Some of the examples of casino slang used are given below:
| Slang | Meaning |
| Burn Card | This is any card that was removed from a deck after shuffling. |
| Coat Tail | This is the process of following another player’s betting pattern. |
| Dead Man’s Hand | This refers to a player who has Black 8s and Aces at hand. |
| Donkey | This is used to qualify a player who makes woeful moves constantly. |
| Fish | This term is used to represent new players. |
| House Rules | This term is used to represent rules that are specific to a gambling theatre. |
| Nuts | This is the name given to the best possible hand in poker |
| Pony | A British slang for 25 Euros. |
| Monkey | A British slang for 500 Euros. |
Also, there are many differences in the rules for particular casino games, as well as the rules guiding the bonus options available in these casino games. However, a wire act from the 1960s still makes online gambling legality a bit confusing to comprehend to date.
Tax Laws
As with everything else, tax laws vary in the UK and the US. In the UK, gamblers’ winnings are tax-free, meaning you can cash out or withdraw your winnings directly without any deductions or tax fees. However, gamblers must pay taxes on their winnings, fair and square in the US. Moreover, there is a tax refund policy for UK citizens gambling in the States.
Conclusion
The UK and the US gambling styles differ in many ways; regardless, there are a lot of positives to pick out on both sides. In the UK, gamblers have access to foreign online sports booking and casino platforms with complete access to bonus and promotional offers as long as these platforms are licensed under the UK Gambling Act. Win-withdrawals are also tax-free for all UK gamblers. You get access to many casino games in a vast and fun-filled arena in the US, especially slot machine games. In addition, you can get to have experiences other than gambling while being in the land-based casinos. However, we implore gamblers to take note of these differences and keep them in mind, so surprises would not catch them unawares in whichever one of these countries you find yourselves in.
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