Online Casinos in the US
Contents
The majority of this confusion stems from the fact that online gambling is partly regulated by federal laws and partly by individual states. Moreover, since each state approaches the subject in a different manner, the average US player is left baffled when trying to decide whether using online casinos is legal in their state.
Bovada
- Mobile Friendly
- Accepts Bitcoin
- Live dealers available
- The deposit plus bonus amount is subject to a 25x playthrough requirement before the deposit, bonus amount and any winnings can be withdrawn.
- Forfeiting this bonus will result in this bonus and any subsequent winnings associated with this bonus to be removed.
- Bonus funds cannot be used for play on Live Dealer games.
- Craps and Live Dealer play do not count toward meeting rollover requirements for withdrawal.
- All games, except Craps and Live Dealer, contribute towards playthrough requirements; however, certain games may have a greater contribution than others.
Ignition Casino
- Accepts Cryptocurrency
- iTech Labs Certified
- Processes cryptocurrency withdrawals very quickly
- The deposit plus Casino bonus amount is subject to a 25X Casino playthrough requirement before the deposit, bonus amount and any winnings can be withdrawn.
Vegas Casino Online
- Mobile Friendly
- Established Since 1999
- Frequent Promotions
• This offer is valid only for first-time depositors at Vegas Casino.
• The offer is limited to one player per household and/or computer.
• The coupon can only be redeemed once by the player to a maximum of $500 in bonus.
• Deposit a minimum $25 to qualify for this bonus.
• The deposit and bonus must be wagered fifty (50) times before a cashout is permitted.
• Only the following games count towards the wagering requirements of the bonus: some Real Video Slots, some Slots, Keno and Scratch Cards.
Cafe Casino
- Transparent banking options
- Crypto friendly
- Live dealers available
- Bonuses issued at the discretion of the Company are subject to one per individual, household, civic address, e-mail address, deposit instrument, bank account, telephone number, computer/device, and/or IP address.
- If you cancel or forfeit the bonus at anytime prior to wagering and rollover requirements being met, all funds generated by the bonus (including the bonus) will be void and be ineligible for reinstatement. Details on the applicable restrictions can be found in the specific terms of the promotion.
- Unless otherwise stated, the minimum amount required to activate a deposit bonus is $20.
- Bonuses are subject to wagering and rollover requirements and must be met by their specified timeline prior to any approved requested withdrawals.
Red Dog Casino
- Rewarding promotional offers
- Supports Bitcoin
- Smooth site navigation
225 Slots Bonus + Extra 20% for deposits with crypto. Min dep: $10 Neosurf, $20 BTC, $20 LTC, $20 ETH, $20 BNB, $20 XRP, $20 DOGE, $20 Flexepin, $30 CC, $40 USDT. Valid 5 times. WR: 35x(D+B). Max bet: $10. Max PO: 30xD. Games included: Video Slots, Keno, Scratch Cards, Board Games.
Wild Casino
- Diverse and transparent banking options
- Regular promotions and tournaments
- Dedicated phone support available
- Players can claim the WILD250 bonus code on their first deposit only.
- Players can claim the WILD100 bonus code on their 2nd to 5th deposits only.
- A minimum deposit of $20 is required to qualify for WILD250 and WILD100 bonus codes.
- The maximum bonus amount per deposit is $1,000.
- The correct bonus code needs to be entered to claim the correct match bonus with your deposit. ie WILD250 on your first deposit and WILD100 on subsequent deposits.
- This bonus is only valid on select Slots, Table games and Video Poker games.
- This bonus is not valid in the Live Dealer Casino.
- The deposit plus bonus amount is subject to a 40X rollover requirement before any winnings can be withdrawn.
- Not all games contribute towards bonus rollover; please check our bonus contribution page for further details.
- If the rollover requirements are not met within 30 days of claiming the bonus, any remaining bonus funds winnings will be forfeited.
- Only one bonus can be active at any one time.
- The maximum release amount is 5X the bonus amount up to $5,000.
- Rollover requirements must be met before any additional bonuses can be granted.
- This promotion is non-transferable.
- Standard bonus terms and conditions apply.
- Wild Casino reserves the right to alter or amend the Terms and Conditions of this promotion at any time without notice.
Slots.lv
- Mobile Friendly
- Accepts Bitcoin
- Great Customer Support
Redeemable once per player
Sloto Cash
- Offers live dealer options for US players
- Great variety of slot machines available
- Great rewards program
All free bonuses require a minimum of 60x wagering before any withdrawal can be made. Wagers placed on Blackjack, Video Poker, Craps, American Roulette, Baccarat, and other table or non-slot games will not count toward this wagering requirement unless explicitly stated otherwise. Playing any excluded game before meeting these wagering requirements may result in the casino voiding all winnings and potentially closing the account. Withdrawal requests submitted before completing the wagering requirements will be denied until these requirements are fully met.
SportsBetting.ag
- Allows US Players
- Live dealers available
- Frequent promotions available
Las Vegas USA
- Mobile Friendly
- Established Since 1999
- Low Minimum Deposit
Wagering requirements: To withdraw you must first wager 40 times your deposit plus bonus in valid games.
Current Federal US Laws That Regulate Online Casinos
Here’s a statement no one was expecting — no federal law in the US says that online gambling is illegal. However, it also doesn’t say that it is legal, which makes the market a gray area. US citizens are allowed to place wagers online, but only if the website isn’t based in the US.
The US federal law explicitly prohibits banks — or any other financial institution — to knowingly process transactions between a known web-based gambling business and US-based customers. In essence, it is illegal for your bank to handle a withdrawal or deposit to or from your casino account. That was the goal of the much-grumbled-about UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).
You should notice, however, that it isn’t a crime for a US-based player to make or request a transaction — it’s just illegal for the bank to process them.
When it comes to lawmaking, the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution states that anything that doesn’t have a specifically granted Federal purview and jurisdiction is up to the states. Thus, the Federal Government has not taken any stance related to gambling taking place within individual states — it up to individual states to do that.
The only two areas that the Federal Government regulates are:
- Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
- Interstate Commerce
The consequences of the first were already explained. The latter resulted in allowing states such as New Jersey to have online casinos, but only if they are being offered to US citizens physically located within New Jersey’s boundaries.
Casino Laws by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Current States’ Laws That Regulate Online Casinos
If federal law was all that US players had to consider, the legality of web gambling would be a lot easier to talk about. Unfortunately for US-based gamblers, US state law is sometimes more restrictive than federal law.
So how strict are US state laws on internet gambling? Some US states have laws that explicitly prohibit all forms of online gambling.
Those are:
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- Montana
- Oregon
- Louisiana
- Utah
- Hawaii
State law prohibits the residents of these states from placing any kind of bet over the internet, regardless of federal regulation. Other states are less strict but are still restrictive — in South Dakota, for example, anyone in “the gambling business” is not allowed to place online bets, which is a really quirky law if you think about it.
Long story short, some US players have to walk a thin line if they want to play in an online casino while remaining within the confines of the law. Thankfully, the US rarely prosecutes online gamblers. We only found two instances where an online gambler broke a law, and both come from politically conservative states.
States in Which Online Casinos Are Legal
Thankfully, several states are more liberal toward online gambling and allow online casinos to operate in their area.
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey doesn’t prohibit online casinos and online poker. It is currently the biggest market for regulated online gambling in the US. Over a dozen licensed and legal online casino websites and poker rooms compete for their place in the sun in a market that is worth over $255 million per year.
Pennsylvania
In PA, online casinos were launched in July 2019 and online poker in November 2019. Gamblers have the option to bet in person or online via mobile app or website. Many Pennsylvanian major land-based casinos have created their online casino versions too.
Delaware
In Delaware, online casinos and online poker were launched at the same time — in November 2013. Although the First State seems like a strange location for amazing web-based gambling, that’s exactly what it is.
Michigan
As of December 20, 2019, online casinos and online poker are legal in the state of Michigan. However, operators are limited to a single online skin, and multi-state games aren’t permitted. Each of the 23 tribal and three commercial casinos can apply for licensing, but online casinos are still waiting to be legalized.
Nevada
Even though it is an unofficial birthplace of American gambling, the state of Nevada only allows online poker in designated poker rooms. Yes, they do have a legal WSOP website, but other online casino games are prohibited.
Offshore Casinos — A Handy Alternative
Even if you aren’t physically located in the states where online casinos are legal, there is still a way to find some quality entertainment online — by playing in offshore casinos.
Any US citizen can legally access these licensed offshore gaming platforms from most states. As we already explained, in Washington, Wisconsin, Montana, Illinois, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, and Louisiana, all forms of online gambling are explicitly forbidden.
If you are wondering whether it is safe to play in casinos that aren’t licensed in the United States, the answer is yes. These casinos are legitimate and have clearly defined guidelines and rules that ensure a safe and fair gaming environment.
In addition, in order to offer casino games to gambling enthusiasts and be able to do business around the globe, offshore casinos need a license from reputable gambling jurisdictions, which makes them safe and trustworthy.
Moreover, since no federal law prevents US-based players from gambling in licensed offshore casinos, they can enjoy playing their favorite games on these platforms. Safe online casinos that accept US citizens possess valid certificates and licenses and are monitored by reputable governing bodies. They also have enticing welcome bonuses, a slew of interesting games, and a protected online gaming environment.
Future of US Laws That Regulate Online Casinos
The future is bright. Really bright. The biggest obstacle toward legalizing online casinos in the US was that the government was trying to stop the gradual loss of citizens’ interest in their official gambling zones — Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Since that has already happened, there is nothing that stands in the way of progressive legalization of online casinos across the nation.
Not to mention the fact that states without legal online casinos are starting to lose gambling aficionados who travel across state lines in order to play in states where gambling is legal. For instance, the legislative trend in New York is going toward expansion of gambling activities rather than contraction, since the state doesn’t want to lose its players to its neighbor New Jersey.
FAQ
You need to be at least 21. Even though the legal age limit for the online lottery is 18, you have to be 21 to play in an online casino. It is likely that lawmakers will decide to change the limit in the future.
In the states where they are legalized, online casinos must follow strict regulations and are therefore completely safe. However, you should exercise due diligence — always do thorough research before you decide to join a casino.
Yes, you can; many casinos offer these games. Lately, a lot of online casinos have begun introducing this section on their platforms. Live casino games are popular since they offer a genuine casino experience. Of course, not all online casinos sport a Live Casino section, so make sure you find those that do.
Just like all other industries today, the online casino industry is very competitive, meaning there is a myriad of casino games at your disposal. Any land-based casino game you can think of probably has an online version. What’s more, online casinos can often surprise you and you can run into some games you’ve never even heard of.
To cater to the needs of their players and thus remain competitive, the majority of online casinos offer a broad selection of payment methods. This results in easy and secure online payments. Of course, the processing time depends on the payment option you select.
Yes, you can. Online casinos, like other websites, understand the importance of mobile optimization and do everything in their power to meet the needs of their players. Since many players prefer to use their smartphones to play games, most casinos either have a fully optimized mobile site or a dedicated mobile app.
