When it comes to the legality of gambling in the US, sportsbooks and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are often treated separately from online casino games, like slots and table games. From a legal perspective, online casino games (such as slots) are predominantly based on luck. Setting lineups for daily fantasy sports sites is considered a contest of skill. Not all courts have adhered to that argument, and DFS contests are considered forms of gambling in several states, including Nevada. This complex array of state laws can help explain why certain games are allowed in some states but banned in others. Without passing a law explicitly permitting gambling – which is often a difficult political process – it becomes difficult to permit gambling and explains the state-by-state patchwork of regulatory environments we see today.