US Casinos
US Casinos
All the information you need about USA online casinos is here for you, along with tips, tricks,
and interesting facts! Keep on reading and find out how and where you can legally gamble in
the US, how to choose a great US casino, and what promotions you can claim!
Lower Content
In the United States of America, gambling is legal under federal law. However, each state
has the right to prohibit or regulate gambling within its borders.
Therefore, you can see there are many restrictions when it comes to interstate and online
gambling.
While there is no country-wide regulatory body when it comes to gambling, each state has its
own regulatory agency.
At the time of writing, online casinos are legal in only 6 states. Here are the authorities that
regulate gambling in these jurisdictions:
Important
Indiana and Illinois are expected to legalize online casino gambling as well in 2023.
Gambling used to be illegal in the United States, with the exception of Nevada and New Jersey.
Nowadays, at least one form of gambling is allowed in 48 of the 50 states. The forms
allowed differ from one state to another due to state laws.
The 3 main federal laws that regulate gambling in the US are the following:
This was passed in 1961 and is the most important federal law that affects gambling activities
within the United States of America. The law prohibits the use of wire communications (for
example a phone) to place sports bets across state lines.
While it has been unclear several times since the law was passed whether or not it refers
exclusively to sports betting or it applies to any form of gambling.
Today, according to many courts in the US Justice system, the Act only applies to interstate
sports betting.
In May 2018, the law was judicially overturned as the Supreme Court of the United States ruled
that it conflicts with the Tenth Amendment.
The exceptions from this law are for skill games, fantasy sports that meet specific requirements,
and legal interstate and intertribal gaming.
It is unclear whether or not this affects lotteries, interstate wagering, or horse racing.
Important
In 2012, a law was passed allowing each state to issue its own gambling licenses through their
regulatory agencies.
The responsible gambling laws and regulations vary between the jurisdictions, but they include
the following:
In 21 jurisdictions it is mandatory that both online and land-based gaming operators create
and submit for approval a plan which addresses responsible gambling issues.
The plan must include solutions regarding employee training as well as their efforts to create
public awareness of responsible gambling practices.
Employees of land-based casinos must receive training to be able to identify players who
display risky or problematic behaviour on the casino floor.
31 of the jurisdictions have strict requirements regarding property signage and the availability
of information about the risks of gambling.
These may come in the form of a brochure for land-based casinos and they have to also
contain the forms of help a player can seek, along with contact information for counselling and
assistance programs.
Payment methods restrictions
In 17 jurisdictions, American casino operators are forbidden from allowing deposits made via
credit cards, stored-value cards that represent public benefits, as well as government-issued
checks.
Limiting tools
Online sports betting and casino operators in 25 jurisdictions have to provide their players with
a tool to limit their deposits, bet amounts, and the time they spend gambling.
Self-exclusion
All 34 jurisdictions are required to offer self-exclusion options to sports betting and casino
players.
By self-excluding, players choose a period for which they will not be able to sign up or log into
any of the casinos and betting sites in the self-exclusion record.
Also, operators are forbidden from sending any promotional material to self-excluded players
and have to deny them any complementaries.
Funding for treatment and research
Also in 28 of the jurisdictions, house credit in both land-based and US online casinos and
sports betting sites is either limited or completely banned.
This means players cannot receive credit in advance from gaming and betting operators.
Advertising restrictions
While gambling advertising is not illegal, there are strict rules under which this is allowed.
In many jurisdictions, any ads for casinos and sports betting sites are not allowed to target
minors or be deceptive.
Restrictions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages
In 18 jurisdictions, casino operators have to make sure that they limit the service of alcoholic
beverages in their land-based gaming facilities.
Also, they have to limit access to gambling services for all players who are visibly intoxicated.
Important
Besides the rules we have outlined, new laws and regulations are implemented regularly by
each state when it comes to responsible gambling. It is advisable to simply research the ones
for the state you reside in.
Alabama X X X X 🗸 🗸
Alaska X X X X 🗸 X
Arizona X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Arkansas X 🗸 🗸 🗸 X 🗸
California X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Colorado X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Connecticut 🗸 X 🗸 X 🗸 X
Delaware 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Florida X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Georgia X X 🗸 X X X
Hawaii X X X X X X
Idaho X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Illinois X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Indiana X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Iowa X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Kansas X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Kentucky X X 🗸 X X 🗸
Louisiana X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Maine X X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸
Maryland X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Massachusetts X X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Michigan 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Minnesota X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Mississippi X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 X
Missouri X X 🗸 🗸 X X
Montana X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Nebraska X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Nevada X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸 🗸
New X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Hampshire
New Jersey 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
New Mexico X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
New York X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
North Carolina X X 🗸 X X X
North Dakota X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Ohio X 🗸 🗸 🗸 X 🗸
Oklahoma X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Oregon X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Pennsylvania 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Rhode Island X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
South Carolina X X 🗸 X X X
South Dakota X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Tennessee X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 X
Texas X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Utah X X X X X X
Vermont X X 🗸 X X X
Virginia X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Washington X 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Washington X 🗸 🗸 X 🗸 X
DC
West Virginia 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸 🗸
Wisconsin X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Wyoming X X 🗸 X 🗸 🗸
Each state in the US has the freedom to determine what type of gambling it allows, where it can
be located, and who is allowed to gamble. Take a look at the table below and see which
gambling types are allowed in each state:
As you can see from the table above, only two states completely forbid any type of
gambling - Hawaii and Utah. Online casinos are legal in only 6 states and sports betting in 23
along with Washington D.C.
If you are new to gambling altogether, here are some brief explanations of the 6 gambling
types allowed in the USA:
Commercial casinos
These are casinos owned by private businesses. They are often located on boats, as this is
usually the only way the state allows them to function.
Tribal casinos
Casinos in Indian reservations or tribal land within the United States. The Native American
tribes are sovereign nations, meaning that the state does not have general regulatory authority
over these casinos.
State lotteries
These are lotteries organized by the state.
Sports betting
Placing wagers on the outcomes of sports competitions made with the help of a bookmaker,
also known as a sportsbook.
Pari-mutuel betting
A type of betting which has players betting against each other instead of against the bookmaker.
All bets go to the same pool and the amount is split equally between winners.
Online casinos
Websites accessible from desktop and mobile devices which offer a variety of games, from slot
games to table games and even Live Casino games.
You have to type in the gross winnings in your tax return form and later you will be able to
record your losses for the year. You cannot type in your net winnings, which is the gross
winnings minus your losses.
Be aware
Casinos are not obligated to automatically give you a W-2G form. Reporting your
winnings and paying taxes are solely your responsibility.
However, some casinos will send you such a form when you reach a certain amount in
winnings. When they do this, the same form is also automatically sent to the IRS. Therefore,
if you fail to report the winnings, you will be notified by the IRS.
Check out the following table and see the state-by-state comparison of the legal gambling age
in the US:
Alabama 19
Alaska 21
Arizona 21
Arkansas 21
Colorado 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
Connecticut 21
Delaware 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
District of Columbia 18
Florida 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
Georgia 18
Hawaii 21
Idaho 18
Illinois 21
Indiana 21
Iowa 21
Kansas 21
Kentucky 18
Louisiana 21
Maine 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
Maryland 21
Massachusetts 21
Michigan 18
Minnesota 18
Mississippi 21
Missouri 21
Montana 18
Nebraska 21
Nevada 21
New Hampshire 21
New Jersey 21
New Mexico 21
New York 18
North Carolina 21
North Dakota 21 or 18
Ohio 21 or 18
Oklahoma 18
Oregon 21 (casinos)
18 (other)
Pennsylvania 21
Rhode Island 18
South Dakota 21
South Carolina 21
Texas 21
Vermont 21
Virginia 21 (casinos)
18 (other)
Washington 18
West Virginia 21
Wisconsin 21
You can then sort the US Casinos list by the number of reviews, the highest rating, and the date of
launch.
It is imperative that you check out the platform you are planning to join before signing up and investing
money. Check out the complete casino reviews list, read real players’ reviews, and check out their
ratings to find out exactly what the casino has to offer and what it lacks.
The reviews and ratings come from real players and they reflect their personal experiences with the
top USA online gambling sites.
No deposit promotions like free spins, free chips for Live Casino games, or free funds to use on
any game on the casino site
First deposit bonuses are provided for your first payment on the site. It can include free spins,
funds, chips, or a combination of these
Welcome packages contain from 2 to 5 different gambling site offers credited upon your first up
to five consecutive payments.
VIP deals become available to you once you join the top USA real money online casinos loyalty
program. These keep you entertained long after you have signed up and allow you to have
something to look forward to every time you come back to play.
A good thing to check out is the variety they offer, as you will want to try new games and eventually find
more favorites. It is great to have plenty of options and especially newly-launched games.
The United States casinos have plenty of games in store for you and they regularly add new ones to their
collection.
The Terms and Conditions have to be clear and fair in the best USA online casinos, as they
completely shape the experience you are going to have on the platform.
Read them with close attention and make sure every rule and requirement makes sense and is fair.
You can reach out to customer support for any questions you may have and they should be able to
answer clearly.
Take a look at their payment options page or the cashier and see what deposit methods they have
available. It is equally important that you check out their withdrawal options as well, as these may
differ from the deposit ones.
Before you sign up on a new US casino, make sure they are not on our Blacklist. This list contains
platforms that have proven themselves to be unfair or unprofessional.
The list constantly changes, as new platforms are added and some are removed after they have fixed the
issues that got them added to the list in the first place.
Almost all online casino sites now offer full compatibility for mobile devices in-browser play. However,
some come with their own casino apps you can download from their official website, and, in some rare
cases, even from the iOS or Google Play Store.
Depending on how you prefer to play, make sure the US casinos you choose have their own app or
work flawlessly on your mobile devices.
Choose a platform that suits your wants and needs from the top USA online casinos, after reading the
player reviews and checking out the ratings for the ones you are interested in.
Visit the casino site and see if you like what it has in store for you, from promotions to games, and other
benefits.
Step 2 - Sign up
If you have found a platform you would like to play on, it is time to sign up. Make sure you complete the
sign-up form with correct and up-to-date information.
This is a great time to read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, before agreeing with
them.
Remember that you will have to verify your account either via email, SMS, or, in some cases,
casinos ask for verification over the phone or video call to make sure it is you and not someone
underage.
You may also go through the KYC (Know Your Customer) process now to be able to cash out your
money later. For this, you will have to provide the customer support team with proof of address, proof of
identity, and even proof of owning the banking method used.
If you chose a free signup bonus no deposit casino, you may at this step claim your offer and enjoy
some fun for free.
Once your account is verified, head to the cashier and take a look at the available deposit options.
Ideally, you checked for your preferred payment option before signing up, so you already know what to
go for.
If not, you have to pick one of the methods available and type in the required information to make
your first payment.
We advise you to start with small amounts and increase them as you gain experience, especially if
you are new to online gambling.
Step 4 - Claim your first bonus
You want to benefit from any promotion the US casino is offering, especially the First Deposit Bonus or
Welcome Package.
Pay attention as some online casino bonus codes in USA come with special codes you have to
type in when making your first deposit to claim them. If you miss this step, they become
unclaimable after you have already made your first payment.
With your casino balance set and your bonus claimed, you can go ahead and choose any game you
prefer.
From online slots to table games or Live Casino games, you can make the most out of your new
adventure.
97% RTP
243 paylines
Multipliers, Free Spins, Bonus Game
1. Avalon II
96.98% RTP
20 paylines
Bonus Game, Multipliers, Free Spins
3. Thunderstruck II
96.6% RTP
25 paylines
Progressive Jackpot, Multipliers, Free Spins, Bonus Game
4. Mega Fortune
96% RTP
5 paylines
Bonus Game, Special Symbols
5. Wheel of
Fortune
US casino players mainly prefer online slots and these are some of their favorites. However, this
is not the only game type American players go for. They also play:
Blackjack
Roulette
Poker
Craps
Baccarat
RTG
RTG, Realtime Gaming, is a top-rated casino software provider founded in Atlanta, Georgia,
in 1998. It still has some offices in the United States of America, but its headquarters moved
to Costa Rica in the 2007-2008 timeframe.
Microgaming
Microgaming has been creating high-quality games for players all around the world since
1994. American players can also enjoy their top products on a variety of online platforms. The
company is based in the Isle of Man.
Betsoft
Betsoft created over 200 games since it was founded in 2006. The software developer works
with over 500 clients from many countries, giving many players the chance to enjoy their fun
and rewarding products.
IGT
IGT is one of the biggest names in the casino software providing industry and has over 30
years of experience. Its headquarters are located in London, England but has operating
offices in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, Providence, Rhode Island, and Rome, Italy.
Bally Technologies
Bally Technologies is an American casino software provider founded in 1968. Its headquarters
are located in Enterprise, Nevada. They have created a huge portfolio of games for players in
a variety of countries and you can find their products in many of the top online casinos in the
US.
Novomatic
Another big name in the casino software providing industry is Novomatic, a company founded
in 1980 which is still incredibly successful. It has office locations in 50 countries and its
products entertain players from around 100 countries.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is a software developer that has won many awards for its products. They
create games for mobile and desktop devices in 33 languages and all currencies. Their
games are certified and licensed in over 20 jurisdictions.
If you are ready to begin your gambling adventure at a US casino, you have to know what
banking options and currencies are available for you to use. Here are the go-to US casino
payment options:
Play+
Play+ is one of the most popular payment methods at regulated US casinos. This is a prepaid
card that you can load with cash and use to make deposits and gamble online.
You can also cash out your winnings via your Play+ card and, even more, you can withdraw
the money using ATMs that accept NYCE, Discover, and PULSE.
Visa
There are online casinos in the United States which offer you the opportunity to make
deposits using your Visa debit card. These are very safe payment options and casinos often
charge you no fees for such payments.
The payment may take a while as the casino staff has to verify your personal details and a
drawback would be that not all online gambling sites allow you to cash out using Visa.
Mastercard
Mastercard payments are also accepted at many online casinos for US players. This very
popular payment method offers high security levels, a mobile banking app, and fast
transactions.
Most online casinos will not charge you any fees for deposits, but you may have to pay a 2%
fee on withdrawals.
Cashouts via this method may take up to 5 days to be completed and they are not always
available at every online casino in the US.
PayPal
While PayPal is very popular in the United States of America, it is rather difficult for players to
find US casinos that offer this option. However, there are some that allow fast payments via
this secure and trustworthy method.
It is very easy to connect your PayPal account to the casino account and it acts as a
protection layer for your personal information. It may, sometimes, incur fees.
Neteller
Neteller is a very fast and safe method to deposit money in a variety of online casinos.
However, gambling platforms dedicated exclusively to US players may not offer this option.
You may also have to pay fees on withdrawals.
Skrill
Skrill is a fast-processing payment method available in over 200 countries and accepting 40
currencies.
The service offers very high security thanks to Two Factor Authentication and you will also be
able to benefit from their VIP section. In there, you will find perks such as the option to lower
transaction fees.
When it comes to currency, all online casinos that cater to US players should offer USD as one
of their options.
Most of them do, so you will not have to worry about exchanging money and losing some of
your funds in the process due to exchange rates.
Best Bonuses from USA Casinos
The best bonuses for US casino players can greatly improve your gaming experience. Here
are the most popular promotion types among American players:
No deposit bonuses
These are offered by casinos to attract players but they are also hunted by gamers as they are
the safest way to gamble. They come with a low amount of funds or a few free spins or free
chips for Live Casino games.
Even if considerably smaller than deposit bonuses, these are completely free of costs and you
get them by simply signing up at a US casino that offers them.
Their wagering requirements are often very high and they have a low cashout limit, so you will
not always be able to keep much of your winnings. However, you get to have fun for real money
without using any of your own.
Welcome packages
Welcome packages are deals you only get if you are a new customer at a US casino and it
contains more than two bonuses credited upon your first consecutive payments.
The number of deals in the package can be as high as five and they come with higher amounts
of credit, more bonus spins or Live Casino chips.
Their requirements are often lower than the ones no deposit bonus have and you get to enjoy a
full package of deals right at the beginning of your experience with the online gaming site you
choose.
Deposit bonuses
You can get deposit bonuses created for newcomers or for existing players, as part of recurring
promotions at US casinos. They are credited upon a single payment and can come with credit,
spins, chips or a combination of these.
Some work exclusively on a game, series of games, or game type, while others allow you to use
them on any game in the collection the casino offers.
Many famous online casinos have their own apps, and even some of the land-based casinos we
all know created their own mobile platforms. You will find apps from Vegas-based casinos such
as MGM, Caesar, and others.
They offer a variety of games compared with the ones they have on their desktop websites,
which means you have no chance of getting bored or have to play the same few games over
and over again.
Choosing mobile casinos is great if you want more accessibility, and more freedom to take the
fun with you wherever you may be. You will also be able to benefit from exclusive deals for
mobile players, which is definitely an advantage.
History of Gambling in US
The United States of America has a long history with gambling. Let’s break it down and see
where it all started and how the gambling environment in the country became the one we know
today.
By the late 1600s, horse racing gained massive popularity in Virginia and beyond.
The series of Great Awakenings from 1730 to 1859 caused many to view gambling as a sinful
activity.
In 1774, the Continental Congress urged colonists to stop horse race and cock fight betting.
Most cities and states in America banned betting during this time. However, gambling remained
very popular across the colonies.
In the 1800s, gambling was thriving on Mississippi riverboats and in settlements in the Wild
West. The most popular games at the time were Poker and Faro.
Faro was a game also played with cards where all 13 cards were placed face-side up and the
players could place bets on any of the cards available. Then, the dealer, also called a Banker,
draws two cards. The first one is the losing card and the second one is the winning card.
If the losing card is, for example, a 9, then the players who placed bets on the 9 will lose. At the
same time, all players who placed bets on the winning card will collect their winnings.
The game disappeared from the history of gambling in the United States because of how much
dealers would cheat.
New York, New Mexico and Nevada banned horse race betting and casinos at the beginning of
the 1900s.
However, as the United States was recovering from the Great Depression and needed to have
more forms of revenue, these forms of gambling were once more legalized.
Nevada made casino gaming legal again in 1931 and Atlantic City, New Jersey, followed in its
footsteps to legalize casinos in 1977.
This was just the beginning, as many other states passed their own laws allowing casino
gaming in the following decades.
The 2000s - Online Sports Betting Becomes Legal in the United States
The US Supreme Court removed the federal ban on sports gambling in May 2018.
This allowed a variety of online sports betting sites to become available to American players in
many states.
Find the perfect one for you using our checklist, sign up, grab top US casino bonuses and start
playing!
US Casinos FAQs
How much money can I win at US online casinos?
The amount of money you can win at any online casino, including those from the US, only
depends on your luck. How much you can cash out from what you have won depends on
whether or not you won the money using a bonus offer and what type of bonus offer that was.
What US states allow online casino gambling?
You can legally play online casino games in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Each state where gambling is allowed has its own regulatory authority. On top of that, there are
the three main federal gambling laws:
The Wire Act
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)
Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Yes, you can win real money when using a no deposit casino bonus. However, the amount you
are allowed to cash out from these offers is usually rather low.