Legal Online Casinos in the USA
At OnlineCasinoUSA.com, our goal is to help casino enthusiasts across the USA find the best legal online casinos. We understand how challenging this can be with constantly evolving gambling laws. That’s why we’re here to ensure you’re well-informed no matter where you’re located.
It’s important to remember that the regulations for each type of gambling – online casino, sports betting, or poker – vary by state. You can use our interactive map below to learn what type of gambling is legal in which state. If online casinos aren’t legal in your state, don’t worry – sweepstakes casinos offer a similar, fully legal alternative.
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The Legalisation of Online Casinos in the USA
Online casinos are regulated on both the state and federal levels. However, states are the primary regulators, meaning that the market and regulations differ for each of the 50 states. To further confuse matters, different forms of gambling are viewed differently in each state, meaning that one form might be legal in one while illegal in the other. The other types of gambling are betting on sports and online poker. At the same time, there can also be added caveat to what exactly is legal.
For example, online casinos are legal in Michigan yet illegal in neighboring Wisconsin. On the other hand, sports betting is legal in both, but only to an extent in Wisconsin, where tribal land-based casinos dominate the sports betting market, and there are no online options.
Federal Laws
On the federal level, the USA has two vital pieces of legislation:
- Federal Wire Act of 1961 — This act has made various forms of gambling illegal when businesses use wire communication. In 2002, it was ruled that the act only affects sports, not poker and casinos. The Department of Justice also changed its view in 2011, allowing states to begin legalization efforts, with the first states legalizing online casinos as early as 2013.
- Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 — It updated the old Wire Act and made it illegal for companies to facilitate payments when unlawful Internet gambling is involved. This has led many businesses to leave the market, and it’s one of the main reasons why most offshore gambling sites that offer their services to US players rarely allow bank transfers and credit cards as payment options.
However, we aim to keep things simple and stick to the regulated and licensed market, so you’ll find detailed answers for each state on our site. Below, we’ll focus on the states where online casinos are legal and those viewed as the top contenders for joining the industry soon.
For more details about the whole legalization process of online gambling in the USA, you can visit our Legal Gambling page.
States With Legal Online Casinos
As mentioned, seven states have legalized online casinos so far: Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Let’s examine each situation.
Connecticut
Connecticut entered the legal online gambling sphere in May 2021, and the first online casinos went live in late October of the same year.
The legal gambling age is 21, and the gambling regulator is the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division.
Being a small state, the diversity is limited, and only two casinos are available — DraftKings Casino and FanDuel Casino (Mohegan Sun Online Casino).
Delaware
Delaware legalized online casinos in 2012, making it one of the first states to do so. In collaboration with the Delaware Lottery, local retail casinos were able to create online casinos as early as 2013.
Three casinos were launched: Delaware Park Online, Harrington Raceway Casino Online, and Bally’s Dover Hotel and Casino. All are enabled through the BetRivers app and have the same selection of games and bonuses.
The legal gambling age is 21, and the Delaware State Lottery Office is the regulator.
Michigan
Michigan legalized online casinos in late 2019, and the first were launched in January 2021. Thanks to the state’s large population, the market expanded quickly and currently has 15 legal gambling sites.
This diverse market includes most of the leading players in the US, like DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Palace, BetRivers, and Golden Nugget.
The legal gambling age is 21, while the gambling regulator is the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
New Jersey
As you may likely expect, New Jersey was among the first to legalize online casino gambling, along with Delaware. The market has been properly regulated since November 2013.
The law allows eight retail casinos from the state to operate up to five online casinos each. This has resulted in as many as 30 online casinos, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, Borgata, Betway, BetMGM, Golden Nugget, and Hard Rock Casino.
The legal gambling age is 21, and the state regulates the industry through the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the biggest online casino gambling markets in the US. The market became legal in October 2017, while the first casinos launched in July 2019.
The last time we checked, the state featured as many as 20 licensed online casinos, including the top brands like BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Palace, and Golden Nugget Casino.
The legal gambling age is 21, while the PA Gaming Control Board is the primary regulator of the market.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the latest state to enter the online gambling sphere after it legalized the industry in June 2023.
Unfortunately, the law effectively moved Bally’s land-based monopoly to the online world, allowing the company to open up the only online casino in the state in March 2024.
The legal gambling age in Rhode Island is 21, and the organization dealing with regulations is the Rhode Island Division of the Lottery.
West Virginia
West Virginia legalized online casinos in March 2019, with the first sites coming live only about a year later in July 2020.
The state has five land-based casinos, and the law allows them to operate as many as three online casinos each. However, out of the 15 possible platforms, the state currently has seven online casinos, including BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
The legal gambling age in the state is 21, while the gambling regulator is the West Virginia Lottery Commission.
States Where Online Casinos Are Almost Legal
Even though there are only seven states with legal online casino gambling, you shouldn’t be surprised that many others plan to join the fold. Unfortunately, online casinos are somewhat of a divisive topic, unlike sports betting, which has had many proponents in most US states, which is why it’s now legal in as many as 30.
In most states that haven’t yet legalized online casinos, the biggest problem is disagreements between local tribal casinos and the state governments. In other states, people are not overly interested in an online casino gambling market.
On the other hand, there are significant pushes toward online gambling in specific locations, with a few states getting quite close to finalizing the process.
New York
New York is one of the states closest to regulating the online market, and in early 2024, everyone thought it would get there soon. The Empire State has fully embraced gambling in the last decade, with voters approving seven commercial casinos and the state becoming the biggest sports betting market in the US by revenue after the 2022 launch.
Unfortunately, lawmakers aren’t rushing to open up another market so soon. After Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t include online casino games in the upcoming annual budget, it became clear that we are not looking at a 2024 date. However, despite that, New York is still the most likely to become the next legal online casino market.
Maryland
Maryland is another strong contender, as the senators there have already introduced the SB267 bill to legalize online casinos.
The politics of Maryland mean that there has to be a referendum on the topic, and it will likely happen during the 2024 general elections. If that comes to fruition, we’ll know whether or not a legal online casino market will soon see the light of day in the Old Line State.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire came very close to legalizing online gambling in 2023 with Senate Bill 104. The bill passed the Senate but struggled with the House Ways & Means Committee.
The committee eventually postponed the bill indefinitely, but the hopes are still high. It’s clear that the lawmakers support online casino regulations, and as many as five of the 11 members in the above-mentioned committee spoke in favor of the bill.
Illinois
Illinois lawmakers introduced two pieces of legislation in 2023, including the SB1656 bill allowing local retail casinos and racetracks to open online casino platforms. Unfortunately, both bills eventually failed, so we are unlikely to see a legal market in 2024.
However, there’s still a good chance for things to change in 2025 as the state proponents aren’t interested in stopping the push for a regulated online casino market.
Indiana
Indiana is one of the few states on this list with an active bill in the works that aims to regulate online casino gambling. The legislation in question is House Bill 1536, introduced in 2022. However, in 2023, it met strong opposition in the state Senate.
The good news is that it wasn’t killed, and local fans of online casino games need to be patient and see what happens in 2024.
Other Types of Online Gambling
While we primarily focus on real money online casinos, it’s important to recognize that there are other forms of online gambling, each with different rules per state. For example, sports betting, online poker, and social or sweepstakes casinos are popular options.
Online Sportsbooks
Sports betting has taken over the USA like a storm ever since PASPA was overturned in 2018, allowing states to decide whether or not to legalize this form of gambling. It’s now legal, at least in some form, in as many as 38 states and Washington, D.C. As for online sports betting, it’s currently legal in 30 states, with some nuances in specific states (like wagering being allowed only within retail sportsbooks).
Online Poker Sites
With Online poker players compete directly against each other in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, either in cash games or tournaments. The online poker sites provide platforms for these games, attracting players of all skill levels looking to test their strategies and win real money. Because online poker involves player-versus-player competition, it is regulated differently from other forms of online gambling. A few states have fully legalized and regulated online poker, but most of them still prohibit it.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that some online casinos offer poker games where you play against the dealer, such as Casino Hold’em. These games are governed by the same laws as other casino games. They are different from the traditional player-versus-player online poker experience.
Sweepstake Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos operate under a different legal framework, making them accessible in almost every state, even where traditional online gambling is not allowed. Instead of wagering real money, you can participate using virtual currencies like gold coins or sweep coins. These coins can be redeemed for cash or gift cards, making this a legal and popular option in states with strict gambling laws. However, there are a few nuances in a couple of states where some part of the experience is banned. We’ll mention Idaho, where you can’t get real money prizes, or New York and Florida, where the
maximum prize you can win is capped at $ 5,000.
Social Casinos
Social casinos are legal in all states because they don’t involve real money gambling. Instead of wagering cash, players use virtual coins to play games. These coins can be bought or earned, but they can’t be cashed out. While there’s no real money at stake, social casinos still offer an authentic casino experience.
Our Online Casino Reviews
At OnlineCasinoUSA.com, we focus on providing honest and accurate reviews of legal online casinos in the USA. What sets our reviews apart is that the review scores are based on objective criteria developed by experts with over 20 years of experience in the industry. This ensures that our review scores are not only consistent but also truly reflect the quality of each casino. The criteria cover all the essentials: game selection, customer support, payment options, security, and much more. By sticking to these fixed standards, we eliminate biased opinions.
We believe that transparency and honesty are key to building trust with our readers. When you have a positive experience with a casino we’ve recommended, you’re more likely to return, which is a win-win situation.
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Find the Perfect Online Casino for You
While our reviews give you a clear picture of what each casino offers, we understand that every player has unique preferences. Some may prioritize generous bonuses, while others seek a wide selection of games or specific payment methods. Perhaps you’re looking for a platform with round-the-clock customer support, or maybe you don’t mind if certain features are missing. All of these factors influence our review scores, but ultimately, the best online casino is the one that fits your needs and preferences.
That’s why we’ve created a casino filter to help you find the perfect match. Whether you’re looking for a particular type of bonus, a specific game selection, or a certain payment option, our filter allows you to customize your search and discover the online casino that’s tailored just for you. Follow these simple steps to get started:
1
Go to our Casino Reviews Page
First, go to Onlinecasinousa.com/reviews/. This is where you’ll find our casino filter.
2
Set Your Preferences
Select your preferences using the filters. Remember to set the state filter to ensure you see legal options.
3
View Matching Casinos
See the list of casinos that are legal in your state and match your criteria.
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Read and Choose
Read our detailed reviews to compare your options, and select the casino that best fits your needs.
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Register and Start Playing
Sign up at your chosen online casino, claim the welcome bonus, and enjoy your favorite games!
Casino Games Available at USA Casinos
Licensed online casinos in the USA typically offer diverse and quality game libraries with several hundred titles. The best ones provide around a thousand games. In most cases, you’ll find an eclectic selection of slots, table games, live casino releases, specialty games, and video poker.
Slots
Slots are the simplest yet most popular casino games you can experience at US casinos. They typically occupy most of the library, and you’ll get a wide range of video slots, classic slots, and jackpot slots. The house edge on these games is usually between 2% and 10%, but you’ll often see RTP values instead, which are generally between 90% and 98%.
Roulette
American, European, and French roulette games are common at online casinos in the States. You’ll find both RNG-operated and live versions. Roulette games are completely luck-based, with the house edge usually starting at 2.70%.
Blackjack
Blackjack, or 21, is among the most famous card and table casino games in the US and the rest of the Western world. On most US online gambling platforms, you’ll find classic blackjack and variations like muti-hand and European blackjack. This game involves a bit of skill, not just luck, and the house edge is usually low, from 0.5% and above.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a simple table game where you can bet on three positions: Banker, Player, and Tie. If your position wins, you win. Popular variants like Punto Banco and Baccarat Banque are present at many online casinos in the US. At the same time, the house edge starts at 1.06% but is usually higher, especially in variations with side bets.
Craps
The most famous dice casino game is available at many US casinos, but you’ll generally get just one or a few games, usually live craps. The house edge is very low, sometimes as low as 1.4%, but can go up to 5%.
Poker Games
At online casinos, poker table games let players compete directly against the dealer, offering a unique twist on traditional poker. Games like Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker, and Caribbean Stud Poker focus on beating the dealer’s hand, often with side bets and jackpots. Each game has its own style, from the fast pace of Three Card Poker to the strategic depth of Pai Gow Poker.
In addition to these, online casinos also feature video poker. Unlike table games, video poker is a solo experience where players aim to form the best hand from a five-card draw, blending the simplicity of slots with poker strategy.
Live Casino Games
You’ll find live casino games at most casinos; it’s only a matter of which game types are available. You’ll often find various live roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker games, and live game shows, mainly from Evolution. House edge varies significantly between different games, and it’s usually lowest on table games like blackjack and poker but higher on game shows.
Bingo and Keno
At online casinos, bingo and keno offer exciting, lottery-style gaming experiences. In bingo, players receive cards with numbered squares and aim to match numbers drawn at random. The objective is to complete specific patterns, such as lines or full cards, with various game types offering different challenges and payouts.
Keno is similar but simpler, where players select numbers from a grid, typically choosing up to 20. After numbers are drawn, payouts depend on how many of your picks match. Both games offer fast-paced fun, with keno providing a more straightforward, quick-play option while bingo adds a social, communal element with its interactive nature.
Arcade Games
At online casinos, arcade games like scratch cards, lucky tap, and crash games provide quick, casual fun with instant results. Scratch cards mimic the classic lottery experience, where players reveal hidden symbols to match and win, offering immediate gratification.
Lucky tap games take a similar approach but with a modern twist, allowing players to tap and reveal prizes in a variety of engaging themes. Crash games add an element of strategy and risk, where players cash out before a multiplier “crashes”—the longer they wait, the higher the potential reward, but the risk of losing everything increases.
These arcade games are perfect for players seeking fast-paced action with simple rules and the chance for quick wins.
Playing Casino Games in Demo Mode
Many real money online casinos in the USA offer the option to play their games for free in demo mode. These demo versions are identical to the real money games, with the only difference being that you’re not wagering actual money. This is an excellent way for new players to get familiar with the gameplay, rules, and features of various games without any financial risk. It’s also a great way to try out new releases and sharpen your skills before deciding to play with real money.
Bear in mind that, due to their nature, live casino games cannot be played for free, so don’t expect to find demo versions of these releases on your favorite casino platforms.
Popular Casino Software Providers in the USA
The software providers online casinos partner with determine the whole identity of the brand. That’s because they provide almost all of the casino games you’ll play. The exact providers vary from site to site, but some elite brands appear more often than others. This includes:
- Red Tiger
- Light & Wonder
- Games Global
- NetEnt
- IGT PlayDigital
- Playtech
- Wizard Games
- Blueprint Gaming
- Evolution
- Big Time Gaming
- High 5 Games
- NextGen Gaming
Online Casino Bonuses
Legal online casinos in the USA offer a range of bonuses that can add value to your gaming experience. These bonuses typically include welcome offers for new players, free spins, deposit matches, and ongoing promotions for regular users. Each casino has its own set of terms and conditions, so it’s important to review these details before claiming any offer. For a comprehensive overview of the bonuses available at legal online casinos, please visit our Bonuses page.
Popular Banking Methods
Every legal online casino in the US has its own selection of payment methods used for deposits, withdrawals, or both. However, some options appear in most of them, so here’s an overview of what the most popular ones are:
- Apple Pay — Available at a wide range of legal US casinos, Apple Pay is a convenient option for anyone who uses Apple devices. You get to deposit and withdraw quickly, and most importantly, the whole process is easy.
- Play+ — Many gamblers like to use prepaid cards for their gambling needs as it’s a convenient way to stick to your bankroll. Play+ is the most popular option, largely because it’s safe. It’s used for both deposits and withdrawals and is relatively fast.
- Debit and credit cards — Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are some of the most popular options at legal iGaming platforms. They are typically the most convenient for most players but come with a fee.
- Bank wire — Bank wire is usually offered as a withdrawal method at US casinos. It’s pretty convenient for many as you get the funds straight to your bank account, but the option is still one of the slowest and comes with fees.
- PayNearMe — Available for deposits only, the option lets you deposit cash to your online casino account in a local store. The fees are usually small, depositing is instant, and the option is quite widespread.
- PayPal—Given how popular PayPal is for digital payments in general, it’s always a welcome sight on the US iGaming sites. It’s pretty convenient and fast, but it comes with fees that are common for e-wallets.
- Venmo — Even though it’s primarily used for peer-to-peer payments, Venmo has become quite popular for online casino transactions. It can be used for both deposits and withdrawals, but you can’t use linked credit and debit cards for gambling.
- Cash at Cage — The option is available at most casinos that have a land-based counterpart. You can deposit or withdraw cash at the land-based casino’s cage without fees, and transactions are largely instantaneous.
Mobile Sites & Apps at Legal Online Casinos
All legal online casinos in the US are mobile-friendly, while some also offer dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices. The exact situation depends on the casino and how strong the brand is. The bigger ones, like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars, have highly user-friendly mobile sites and lightweight apps you can install and use easily.
The dedicated apps can usually be found in their respective official app stores. Most casinos run the same apps across the states they operate in.
Paying Taxes on Online Casino Winnings
Casino winnings in the US are taxable on the federal level, with some specifics on the state level that are worth taking a better look at. All winnings above a certain threshold are subject to a 24% tax, while losses can be deducted, but only up to the amount offset by the winnings. Naturally, for both winnings and losses, you need to have records to prove them.
The exact threshold you need to pass to pay taxes is different depending on the games in which you’ve won:
- $1,200 on slots and bingo games
- $1,500 on keno
- $5,000 on lotteries, sweepstakes, and wagering pools
Things are a bit different for table games like blackjack, roulette, and craps. The IRS views these as games of skill, not games of chances. You need to keep records of all your winnings to file your taxes correctly. Casinos are not obligated to do that for you, as they can’t determine how much money you’ve invested at a table game.
Bear in mind that there are always nuances to gambling taxes that are specific to individual cases. If you’re unsure what to do or how much to pay, consult a specialist, as the explanations here are only for general purposes.
FAQ Legal Gambling
Online casino gambling is illegal in the US on the federal level. Still, states are the primary regulators and can decide on their own whether or not to legalize real money online casinos and how the market will function, and some have done so.
As of August 2024, seven states have legalized online casino gambling. These include New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Some people add Nevada to this list, but that state only allows online poker, not standard online casinos.
Every licensed online casino in the US must display its license for the state it operates in. Check the casino’s footer or the Terms & Conditions page to see whether it has a proper license.
So-called offshore casinos have long been on the US market, and a particular portion of US residents play on them. However, these sites are not regulated in any US state, so security and fairness are questionable. We advise you to stay clear of them to stay safe and on the right side of the law.
FAQ General
There’s no single best online casino, especially because not all US casinos work in all states where online gambling is legal. It’s best to check our selection of the top online casinos for your state, as each has something exciting to offer, and then choose the one you like the most.
Each casino has its own selection of deposit and withdrawal options, but thanks to proper regulations, you’ll find many popular options on most platforms. You’ll typically be able to use Visa, Mastercard, Discover, PayPal, Skrill, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayNearMe, Cash at Cage, Play+, online banking, wire transfer, and eChecks.
Responsible Gambling
At OnlinecasinoUSA.com, we prioritize responsible gambling. We believe that gambling should always be a fun and enjoyable activity, not something that becomes problematic. To help our visitor maintain a healthy relationship with gambling, we’ve dedicated a page to responsible gambling: onlinecasinousa.com/responsible-gambling. There, you can find a wealth of information, including how to recognize the signs of a gambling problem, tips for effective bankroll management, and much more.
If you feel like you need professional help with your gambling, we have listed some reputable organizations below:
- Gamblers Anonymous: A support group where individuals share their experiences and help each other recover from gambling addiction. Visit website. National helpline: (909) 931-9056
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): This organization is committed to preventing and treating gambling-related issues nationwide. Visit website. National helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
- Gam-Anon: A support organization for the family members and friends of individuals who have a gambling problem. It provides resources and meetings to help loved ones cope with the effects of gambling addiction. Visit website. Phone: 718-352-1671
- Gamtalk: An online community offering support and resources for those dealing with gambling problems. Visit website.
