Legal US Online Casino Sites
The online casino industry is flooded with shady operators that are waiting to take a grab at your hard-earned money. That’s why our mission is to provide you with a list of the most trustworthy legal online casinos in the US.
My team has meticulously researched these sites and can vouch for their legitimacy, security, bonuses, and other significant aspects. By all means, feel free to check out the list below!
Rank | Rooms | Expert Score | Signup Bonus | Play Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
1
5/5 Read Review
|
50 user ratings |
100% up to $5,000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
2
4.0/5 Read Review
|
112 user ratings |
First 3 Deposits, Get Up To $6000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
3
4.6/5 Read Review
|
40 user ratings |
200% Match up to $500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
4
5/5 Read Review
|
108 user ratings |
200% Match Bonus $1000+100 Free Spins (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
5
4.3/5 Read Review
|
90 user ratings |
First 3 Deposits, Get Up To $6000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
6
3.5/5 Read Review
|
30 user ratings |
300% Casino Match / 50% Sports Match (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
7
4.8/5 Read Review
|
161 user ratings |
100% up to $1000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
8
4/5 Read Review
|
100 user ratings |
200% upto $1000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
9
4.2/5 Read Review
|
120 user ratings |
100% up to $1000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
10
4/5 Read Review
|
30 user ratings |
500% up to $5000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
11
4.5/5 Read Review
|
112 user ratings |
350% Match up to $3500+125 Free Spins (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
12
4.5/5 Read Review
|
12 user ratings |
350% Match up to $3500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
13
4.5/5 Read Review
|
45 user ratings |
150% up to $3000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
14
4.0/5 Read Review
|
40 user ratings |
100% up to $300 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
15
4.4/5 Read Review
|
20 user ratings |
200% up to $1000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
16
4/5 Read Review
|
39 user ratings |
200% up to $1000 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
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Are Online Casinos Legal in the US?
Gambling in the U.S has always been a complicated affair since different restrictions and laws govern different locales. There are specific laws relating to privately-operated casinos and state lotteries and then there are other laws covering activities taking place under the sponsorships of Native American communities.
The U.S Congress limited online gambling through the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act and the Federal Wire Act. In 2006, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act stated that any transactions from banks were not allowed on any online gambling site while the Federal Wire Act, passed in 1961, stated that Americans were not allowed to pass information across telecommunications lines for sports betting.
Casinos are extremely lucrative money-makers for each of the states and now, numerous state governments are taking the law into their own hands through bills that will ultimately legalize online gambling within their state boundaries. In multiple states, the legislative action is pending including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York.
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey took the lead in the U.S and managed to legalize most forms of gambling.
This made New Jersey gambling laws the most unrestrictive in the nation.
Almost every form of gaming activity is allowed in the state including off-track betting, charity games, amusement games, casino gaming, horse racing, and many other forms of gaming pursuits.
The legislature of New Jersey legalized in-state online gambling in 2013 on specific authorized sites such as the Tropicana Casino and Resort site, the Golden Nugget site in Atlantic City, and the Caesars Interactive Entertainment site.
The gaming successes in New Jersey inspired several other states to follow suit. Land-based casinos have been operating in Atlantic City for several decades and currently, computer servers situated in Atlantic City are eligible to provide online gambling sites, operating out of land-based casinos in Atlantic City.
To successfully evade federal prohibitions aimed towards online gambling, New Jersey managed to create a casino control commission. The casino commission in Caesars Atlantic City ensured that all bets were placed from within New Jersey. Within the first year of operation, online activities managed to generate close to $100 million in the state of New Jersey, and this lead to other states researching their options to follow suit.
New York
Gambling in the state of New York has conventionally been regulated to Native American tribes operating tribal casinos located in upstate New York.
Thanks to four brand-new land-based casinos the exclusive control of commodity has been broken and advocates of gaming believe they can push legislators in making gambling more easily available through the World Wide Web.
The legislature is watching Pennsylvania very closely as they are extremely close to finalizing online gambling. The state of Pennsylvania is just across the border from New York and its quite evident that the state officials of New York aren’t prepared to lose out on potential tax revenues by banning online gambling activities in their state while residents can simply collect their winnings a few miles away.
The legislators are also hoping to increase gaming opportunities by bringing in new jobs and to increase tourism. The legislature in New York can’t legalize full online gambling. The constitution in New York prohibits gambling, except for land-based casino activities, lottery gambling, and horse racing. While the state constitution would be near impossible to re-write, the lawmaker’s success to classify online poker as a game of skill will allow online casinos to enter the online market.
The expanding of state gambling was never a consideration until 2013 when the voters of New York approved the construction of 4 non-tribal land-based casinos.
Once the land-based casinos were approved in Adelaar, Waterloo, Schenectady, and Tioga Downs, the doors opened and gaming advocates started exploring options for other forms of gambling endeavors in New York. The gaming advocates are quite confident that, as brick-and- mortar casino gaming successfully expands, lawmaker’s will be more motivated to continue the expansion into the online gambling world. They also point out that the Federal Court of Appeals have already managed to rule that online gambling is not covered by the Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is open to a court challenge.
Pennsylvania
In the state of Pennsylvania, casino protesters are relying on Senator Jay Costa to successfully push the cause of expanding gambling in the state. Senator Jay Costa is the leading advocate of gaming activity in the state of Pennsylvania.
The state is currently home to twelve land-based casinos including one in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh, with others in both populated and rural centers.
Advocates view gambling as a money-maker and would like to expand the options within Pennsylvania. However, they do not foresee healthy opportunities for newly built land-based casino centers and therefore are looking at online gambling possibilities.
The plan would ultimately allow land-based casinos to collaborate with online gambling companies. Through this, the state of Pennsylvania can offer casino gaming and online poker, while keeping the revenues generated by the business. Senator Jay Costa’s bill license casinos in Pennsylvania to offer online gambling. The casinos will then be able to pair up with other companies that have obtained their own licenses, allowing the state to earn 25% of all gambling proceeds through state tax.
Michigan
The state of Michigan has witnessed a great deal of success with its Detroit riverfront casinos, drawing players from Canada and surrounding states. With this success in mind, the legislators in Michigan have been considering ways to introduce online poker to visitors and residents.
An online gambling bill, backed up by MGM Resorts, made its way to the Michigan House of Representatives but was unfortunately blocked in the Michigan Senate. However, there are new plans to introduce a brand-new bill in 2017.
Backers stated that they will go ahead, although strong opposition is coming from Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
The Michigan Attorney General is adamantly opposed to the proposal where he even signed a letter, circling state attorneys, asking President Donald Trump to take the necessary steps to completely ban online gambling in the U.S
You are never usually very far away from a land based casino no matter where you are in the US, and it has always surprised people when they learn that online gambling has been available to US based players since the early 1990’s, however it was only in 2006 that the US Government made any attempt to make a legal judgement as to the legality of playing casino games online for real money.
At the same time in 2006 that the Safe Ports Act was signed into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was also passed into law, and this was going to be the death knoll for a lot of online casinos based outside America that had been offering their services to US players for over a decade. CasinoUSA.com has the latest list of US online casinos if you want to view to up to date list.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made it illegal for any banking institutions based in the US to allow funds to be sent to a casino site, which has one of two effects on the casinos that had been accepting US player up until that moment in time, many simply stopped accepting US players and some continued to do so but made available lots of other banking options for their US based customers.
As many US States have a large amount of their tax income generated from land based gambling venues since 2006 many of them have now decided to legalise online casinos that are located in their respective State boundaries, and as such residents in New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada can sign up to the online casino sites operated by land based casinos in those States and legally play any of the games offered for real money.
Currently, US law books don’t prohibit players from playing in an online casino. So, as long as you’re not placing wagers in a gambling site that’s located in the US, you’re in the clear.
This means that you can legally play in offshore casinos that are located in areas like the Caribbean, Australia, UK, Malta, or Latin America.
The Laws for Online Casinos in the US
It’s difficult to speak of the US laws on casino gambling and online gambling in general, because while there is a US Senate that oversees many of the overall laws, each state can create their own rules and laws around gambling – be that online or offline. While some states have legalised both land-based and online casino gambling, the majority of states have not.
The land-based gambling sector is much more liberal than the online sector, as is often the case with gambling. As it actually stands, the US laws are exceptionally hazy when it comes to the subject of online gambling. You see, there isn’t anything within them that specifically states that online gambling is illegal. However, it was the introduction of 2006’s UIGEA which essentially made all online gambling an illegal activity, despite how ambiguously it was written.
Prior to the introduction of that law, online casinos were very much present in the United States, although they were sort of stuck in some sort of grey area, neither being legal or illegal. This was because offshore sites could simply provide their services to Americans with the law not really addressing them. So, they were sort of legal. Local operators were not allowed to set up online gambling sites, though, thanks to the Wire Act of 1961.
With the introduction of the UIGEA, financial transactions to illegal online gambling sites were outlawed. So, while online casinos could continue operating from foreign locations, Americans were no longer able to transact with them via cards, bank transfers and the like. This led to a decline in US citizens accessing online casinos, and many platforms pulled out of the American market.
Fortunately, new methods of depositing and withdrawing have been brought into effect today, such as cryptocurrencies, which allow US citizens to engage in online gambling at casinos once again. With such being the case, some casinos have taken to offering their services to the US market again, albeit in a smaller number than before. And that’s where our reviews come in handy – because we have reviewed the greatest US online casinos for you.
The two US States who can now legally issue online gambling licenses to online casinos based in their jurisdictions are listed below.
- New Jersey Casino Control Commission – If you are based in either the New Jersey or Delaware State boundaries you can play all manner of different casino games at any casino site that has been issued with a New Jersey Casino Control Commission online gaming permit.
- Nevada Gaming Commission – Any player who is currently within the Nevada Sate boundaries can now play at a large and growing number of online casinos holding one of their gaming licenses.
Two countries still issue their own licenses which companies holding those licenses see as a way of them being able to offer their casino games to US based players, however those gambling licenses are not legally recognized in any US State, and these two countries respective gaming commissions or license issuers are listed below for your information.
- Government of Curacao – Curacao does not and never really has had any highly efficient type of gambling regulation in fact any casino licensed here will have applied for and have been granted a business license allowing them to trade from within Curacao.
- Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gambling – Whilst Antigua has been issuing gambling licenses for many years and have had a high level of success in regards to regulating online gambling sites, the popularity of those license has been declining in recent years as many countries no longer recognize them and will not let players based in their respective countries legally play at those sites with an Antigua issued gambling license.
How We Rate Legal US Online Casinos
Our team is on the constant lookout for the best legal casino sites in the US. These operators are thoroughly reviewed and then evaluated based on a number of factors. Each online casino must pass our rigorous testing procedures for security, bonuses, licensing, games, and customer support efficiency.
I’ll walk you through our selection process.
Our Experience
With a two-decade-long experience in the industry, we know what constitutes a genuinely top online casino. We look beyond the cheap promotional tricks and use our vast knowledge to separate the best from the rest.
Our mission is to find you an ideal match for your online gambling preferences, one that will not scam or mistreat you in any way. We try to keep the list clean and provide only endorse casino sites that are well versed at keeping players happy and delivering game quality and variety.
Checking Online Casinos Are Legal and Safe
When reviewing legal US online casinos, the first thing we check is whether the site possesses a gaming license from a proper regulatory body. If it does, this tells us that the casino is well regulated and that it runs a legitimate business.
I also do a thorough background check of the site’s reputation among the casino community. At the first sign of players’ mistreatment, I instantly disregard the operator from further consideration.
There are several reasons why it’s a lot better to register for an account and play at a licensed online casino. Of course, the main one of these is so that you’re gambling in a fair gaming environment and that your safety and security is paramount in the site’s daily operation.
For your information, we never recommend platforms that are without a set of regulations in place, because we want you to be safe at your chosen casino. A lack of regulations being in place means that a US casino can simply take its own route and not really have any rules to utilise.
Some of the other reasons why it’s important to become a player at a licensed online casino include:
- Licenses always give a sense of security to players, because a casino has had to apply for such and has taken the time to get its site and processes in order to meet the criteria for receiving a certificate.
- A scam casino is not likely to go through the process of applying for and paying for a gambling licence. It’s detrimental to what they’re attempting to do.
- Regulations keep everything in order. Your money, personal data and the fairness of the games on offer are all at risk without casino regulations.
- A licence will usually ensure that a casino puts the customer first. This means that your safety is paramount to their operation and KYC procedures will be in place, protecting vulnerable gamblers and minors.
As far as safety is concerned, I look at the security protocols the casino is using to protect players’ data. SSL encryption is a must, and if a site is verified by a reputable independent agency for fairness, it will climb higher on my list.
How We Choose A US Online Casino Room
It’s not enough for us to simply locate online casinos that cater to the US market. We prefer instead to look somewhat deeper than this, and when reviewing online US casinos, we make sure that they’re the best of the best. This is because it’s so very easy to be scammed by online sites today, which is something that we think all gamers should be able to avoid. That’s why it’s so important to know what you’re signing up to and what you can expect from the platform.
In our review process, we make sure that everything comes under scrutiny. Safety and trustworthiness are just some of the many aspects we take into consideration when evaluating online casinos. So, it’s not just a case of finding a site that offers its products and services to the American market, but also of ensuring everything is regulated and legal there. For this reason, we always ensure that the casinos we recommend hold at least one official gambling licence. This way, at least there is something maintaining some sort of order and laying out various rules for the casino to adhere to. Without a licence, a casino site can very much take advantage of you and your money, so it’s relevant to find a platform that is fully licensed and regulated.
Another important factor that we take into consideration with regard to US online casino sites, is that they should have a decent amount of promotions to cater to players. As you’ll be able to tell from our list of recommendations, the welcome bonuses and rewards on offer at them are exceptionally appealing. That’s because we’ve sought out the very best platforms when it comes to rewards. So, if you’re a gamer who loves receiving something extra for playing at a site, we’ve got all of the information on casinos that will work for you here
You’ll also find that when we review online casinos, we go very much in-depth with what we write about. So, there’s no skipping over this or that. Instead, we go through each section, part by part. For this reason, we’re always looking for those US casinos that have a good range of games within their lobbies. So, from the recommended casinos here, you’ll always be able to guarantee that there is plenty to experience within the lobby. And we’re not just talking about the different categories of games either, but the number of developers offering their titles up to the sites.
If an online casino has a fully equipped game library, we proceed to the final two areas — payment methods and customer support. To earn a spot on our list, an online casino must provide a full suite of widely-accepted payment options. These include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and prepaid cards.
Last but not least, we test the responsiveness and efficiency of customer support. The top US online casino must provide round-the-clock support through live chat and phone. Email support is optional.
Once we establish that the site is safe to play, we move on to the bonus section, checking the quality and size of every promotion offered by the selected candidates.
Blacklisted US Online Casinos
There are certain online casinos with bad records of security and payouts. These sites were blacklisted because customers complained about how they were being stolen from or mistreated and provided proof of that misdemeanor. You should stay away from these operators at all costs if you don’t want to get ripped off!
Club World Casinos
- Owned by an affiliate with terrible track record
- Stalled payments
- Allegations of players mistreatment
VegasCasino.io
- Offering pirate games to their customers
- No gaming license
- Dreadful quality of service
Casino Girl
- Rigged games
- Confiscated winnings accusations
- Unprofessional customer support
The Online Casino Industry in the US
Online gambling in the US is huge, despite all the restrictions that were put forth by the lawmakers. Ever since PASPA was struck down, the market has been exponentially rising. New Jersey is currently the leading state for regulated online gambling in the US, boasting a number of online casinos and sportsbooks.
The three states where iGaming had been launched (Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey) recorded the record revenue of $71.7 million in February 2020. It is estimated that a few other states will legalize online gambling soon. These include Michigan (poker, sports betting, and casino games), Montana (sports betting, and casino games), North Carolina, Illinois, and Tennessee (sports betting).
Legal Live Dealer Casinos in the US
If you want to experience the thrilling atmosphere of a land-based casino without having to drive miles to get to the nearest gambling venue, then live dealer casinos are just what the doctor has ordered.
Numerous US-friendly gambling sites offer live dealer games, with blackjack, roulette, and poker being some of the most popular choices among players. These games are recorded in real-time with HD cameras and streamed to your mobile and desktop devices. They’re hosted by professional croupiers from world-class casino studios.
Legal Mobile Casinos in the US
Mobile casinos are the next big thing in the US online casino industry. All the top-tier casinos have platforms that are optimized for mobile devices, allowing players to play their favorite games on the go, even when they’re miles away from home.
Some casinos even launched dedicated mobile apps, compatible with all the popular iOS and Android devices. These apps are downloadable via the casino’s homepage, and if you’re an Android user, you’ll probably find it in the Google Store as well.
Popular Payment Methods for US Clients
American players can use a variety of payment methods for casino deposits and withdrawals. Credit and debit cards are the most widespread options in the US, and the most used services of this kind include MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express.
E-wallets are also gaining in popularity among US online casino players, with thousands of customers using PayPal, Neteller or Skrill for facilitating payments in US-friendly casinos.
Bank wire and checks have higher deposit limits, but usually involve high fees and slow processing times.
Cryptocurrencies are supported by a few legal US online casinos. Pretty much every crypto casino offers Bitcoin, whereas a handful of gambling sites also accept Litecoin, Ethereum and Ripple.
The Future of Online Casinos in the US
The future of the US online gambling industry looks bright.
The politicians are realizing that the activity contributes positively towards a healthy economy, and it’s only a matter of time before everyone jumps on the bandwagon with Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and finally launches state-regulated gambling sites.
Until then, US players will have to play in regulated offshore casinos that welcome Americans with open arms and provide amazing bonus offers and a plethora of games to choose from.
Responsible Gambling
For most people, gambling is fun, but for some, it can turn into an addiction.
Once you feel that you’re gambling out of control, constantly chasing down losses, it may be a great time to contact organizations that can help you manage your compulsion.
Here are a few resources to check out:
- Gamble Aware — The organization that can provide you with tips and services that can help you take control of gambling for good.
- National Council for Problem Gambling — NCPG is a national service that offers services and programs to assist people who are experiencing problem gambling.
- AMA Responsibility in Gambling — The US Gaming Association’s group created to promote responsible gambling.
Final Thoughts
US players have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to online gambling. There are plenty of US-friendly offshore-based online casinos that provide a safe haven for those seeking high-quality casino action. If you don’t know how to find them, check out the list I presented on this page.
If there’s anything else I can help you with, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comment section below. In the meantime, feel free to check other segments of my website to learn more about the online gambling industry in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are based the US and wish to start playing any type of casino games online for real money then you are best advised to have a look through this frequently asked section below, for you will find plenty of answers to a wide and varied range of online gambling related questions that should allow you to discover If you can legally play casino game online.
Hello, Great article….info…post….thing. I was wondering, cuz its still kind of confusing…..which online casino can i use….being in California? Again good words.
Hi Xavier, thanks for visitng our site, the casinos featured on this page should all accept Californian players.. you can also find more details about your state in our dedicated page to California Gambling. Hope that helps