New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware all offer some form of legal online gambling. These states allow residents to play at regulated and licensed online casinos. We will continually update this page to include new regulatory information as well as information on the best US online casinos based on player input, sign-up bonuses, ongoing promotions, and customer service.
In the United States, online gambling is legal in some states, while in others it remains an unregulated activity. Despite this, the US is still a large source of online casino players.
In 2006, the US Senate passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This act had significant impact on the US Internet gambling market. It is often misunderstood by players and lawmakers alike.
The UIGEA is aimed at restricting payment providers like eWallets and banks from funding online gambling. It does not explicitly outlaw—nor does it authorize—any form of online gambling. It deals solely with financial transactions. In the wake of its passage, many operators chose to exit the US online gambling market.
Since the passage of the UIGEA, many bills, both in support of and against the regulation of online gambling, have been introduced in the US House and Senate. The issue of regulating online gambling, however, has largely failed to gain traction at the federal level. Regulation thus far has taken place only at the state level.
Three states—New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware—have all enacted laws permitting legal online gambling sites to operate. Many other states, including California and Pennsylvania, are considering legalizing certain forms of Internet gambling.
Nevada only offers online poker. In Delaware and New Jersey, a broader selection of games is available. These include classic games like roulette and blackjack that can be found at traditional brick-and-mortar casinos.
To access the games, players must create accounts at regulated online gambling sites. These are operated by licensed online casino operators in conjunction with land-based properties. (In Delaware, the sites are operated in cooperation with the state lottery.)
To do so, players must be over 21 years of age and must be physically located within the state when accessing the games. Identity, age, location, and other information will be confirmed by the site before play can begin.
Most sites offer both desktop and mobile versions of their games. Mobile games can be accessed on iPhone, iPad, Android devices, and usually a variety of other mobile devices as well. The different sites will have different games, options, and features. (Not all games will be available across all platforms.)
There are a number of things you’re going to want to take into account before joining an online casino to ensure that you have a great experience when you play. Below we have some provided some top considerations for US players looking for information on how to successfully choose the online casino that best suits their needs.
Since the banking industry has been slow to catch up with the legal US online casino industry, some players have at times had trouble depositing funds onto US casino sites. For the most part, these issues have subsided. However, credit cards transactions (like Visa and MasterCard) are still unsuccessful at times.
Nevertheless, US online casino players generally have many options when it comes to depositing and withdrawing. These include bank transfers, using the cashier cage at land-based casino properties in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, PayPal, and others.
Check the specific casino site you want to play at for more information about accepted payments and withdrawls.
Another aspect that all players should consider when signing up at an online gambling site is the bonus structure. These are universally offered to new real money players. Casino bonuses change drastically from casino to casino, so you should review a few different sites to find one that suits your needs as a player.
For example, many US online casinos offer no deposit bonuses in the form of free spins or bonus cash as a way of welcoming new customers. Others give players a bonus on the first (and sometimes second and third) deposit. These usually come in the form of a match bonus.
Also be sure to check the restrictions on each bonus. You want to ensure that the games you enjoy are allowed and that the offer features wagering requirements that you are able to meet.
As a frequent player, you’ll also want to find a casino that has decent ongoing promotions. These include tournaments, re-deposit bonuses, seasonal promotions, featured games, and a comprehensive loyalty program.
Similar to live casinos, all online casino sites offer points-based reward systems for their players. Always examine the reward scheme before you join. You’ll want to find one that offers a high number of promotions so you can get maximum value from your play.
The last major consideration for US casino sites is customer support. This is arguably the most important thing to look at. You’ll want to feel comfortable that if an issue arises during play, it will be resolved in a fair and timely manner.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to chat with support beforehand. Ask some basic questions before you play at USA online casinos for real money to ensure that they are knowledgeable of their product and treat you courteously. This simple step can save you a lot of frustration in the long run by ensuring that a site’s customer service team is up to your standards.
