New legislation on the way for offline gamblers in super-strict US
British online casino players do not know how lucky they've got it. Not only can they legally play great online slots games from the comfort of their own home, but they can quite happily do so with no ban on smoking or drinking.
It's not that easy for players in the US - a country currently stuck in a quagmire when it comes to the legalities of online gambling and now, it would seem, the offline gaming world is set to become a bit more restricted too.
On one hand, the residents of Ohio have four more casinos opening to look forward to, but on the other, state lawmakers are tightening up the rules regarding their play there.
At the top of their agenda is a ban on smoking in casinos. Of course, public places in other states have long advocated a smoking ban, but this would be a new step for Ohio casinos. Also on the cards for players is a ban on alcohol being served after 2.30am.
Perhaps a slightly more Orwellian new tactic is the plan for slot machines to accept only casino chips and not coins, which could mean establishments know exactly how much you are playing with at all times.
The Ohio House and Senate will meet in the coming weeks to discuss these new measures, although in the future a new seven-member gaming commission could decide the fate of the new venues.