Online Casinos USA – Top Online Casinos for Real Money
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States with Legal Online Casinos
Currently, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, West Virginia and Delaware have online casino games live. Pennsylvania Lottery also has instant games available on the PA Lottery app. Instant games are essentially online scratcher and casino-like games.
| State | Casino | Online Casino | Online Poker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Y | N | N |
| Delaware | Y | Y | Y |
| Florida | Y | N | N |
| Michigan | Y | Y | Y |
| Nevada | Y | N | Y |
| New Jersey | Y | Y | Y |
| Pennsylvania | Y | Y | Y |
| Virginia | Y | N | N |
| West Virginia | Y | Y | Y |
Michigan
Michigan recently legalized online sports betting, casinos, and poker. This means that it has a full suite of options for online gambling within the state. The launch officially took place in late January of 2021. You can play with DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and WynnBet in the state, all four of which offer sports betting and online casinos.
There are also in-person sports betting, casinos, and poker available to those in the Wolverine State.
New Jersey
New Jersey was the original state to push for online casino gaming. It now boasts online casino games, online poker, and online sports wagering within its borders. You can also play in-person casino games at any of the fantastic casinos. New Jersey has the widest selection of online casinos and sportsbooks in the United States.
Out-of-state bettors, including New York bettors, are welcome to play online casino games in New Jersey, as long as you are connected to wifi within the state’s borders. You do not have to be a resident to play.
New Jersey is a part of the multi-state gaming compact, allowing players to play poker and other games with players from other states that have joined the compact.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another state that allows for in-person and online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks. The major players like FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings all offer their casinos and sportsbooks in the state. BetMGM also runs its Borgata Casino platform as well as BetMGM Poker in the state.
West Virginia
West Virginia has recently opened online casinos within the state. This goes alongside online sports betting, which launched in August of 2019. Now, FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings offer their sports betting platforms in the state.
West Virginia has legal online casinos as well as in-person casinos within the state’s borders. You can also bet on sports either online or in-person.
States that will likely take the Longest to enact Online Casino Regulation
Unfortunately, several states in the US seem to be stuck in the stone age. Whether it be a religious angle or just conservative lawmakers, these states haven’t made any form of online betting legal yet. It’s anyone’s guess when and if they will legalize online casinos.
| State | Casino | Online Casino | Online Poker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | N | N | N |
| Georgia | N | N | N |
| Hawaii | N | N | N |
| Kentucky | N | N | N |
| Montana | N | N | N |
| Nebraska | N | N | N |
| New Hampshire | N | N | N |
| South Carolina | N | N | N |
| Tennessee | N | N | N |
| Utah | N | N | N |
| Vermont | N | N | N |
Virginia
Virginia has legalized online sports betting and is looking at both online casinos and online poker as other possible revenue streams. Virginia would be a pretty big state to legalize online casinos, as many thought it was impossible just a few years ago. Since so many platforms are already established in Virginia with sports betting, it would be an easy transition to online casinos and poker.
California
California would undoubtedly be the largest online casino market in the United States. Holding a population north of 35 million, the Golden State could reach unthinkable amounts wagered per month. Currently, the tribal casinos run the show in California. There will need to be a constitutional amendment as well as an agreement between the state and those casinos to allow online gambling.
Florida
Florida is another state where the tribal casinos lead the casino game. However, Florida is making strides to allow online sports betting and potentially online casinos in the state. It seems that the Florida legislature is working on getting these things legal before working with the Seminole Tribe, the tribe that runs the casino game in the state.
New York
New York has casinos and legal sports betting. However, only sports betting is legal online. This is something that New York has worked on changing in the hope of raising revenue. However, at this point, there are no active campaigns to get online casinos legalized in New York.
Online Casino Platforms
DraftKings
DraftKings became famous with its daily fantasy application. However, the platform has moved to offer both online sports betting and online casino games. DraftKings has quickly become the king of the American online betting market as it reaches new heights every single month.
DraftKings Online Casino is one of the best there is. The games work great, and the application, as well as the browser site, are extremely easy to use. Simply put, DraftKings’ elite platform is the reason it is leading the market right now.
DraftKings currently offers a $2,000 deposit match bonus as well as a $85 free bet to new users. There is no deposit needed for the $85 bonus. Meanwhile, the $2,000 match is valid on your first deposit, and DraftKings will double your initial deposit up to $2,000 of bonus cash.
FanDuel
FanDuel is another platform that started out as a daily fantasy site. However, after Flutter Entertainment bought the majority of the company, FanDuel raised through the ranks as a top sportsbook and casino site.
FanDuel has one of the best mobile applications out there when it comes to casino games. The app is aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. On top of this, FanDuel consistently runs great existing-user promotions.
FanDuel offers its new users a day of risk-free betting worth up to $1,000, just for joining. This offer is valid for a short while after signing up. Make sure to take advantage of the risk-free wager when using FanDuel’s online casino.
BetMGM
MGM International may be the largest casino name in the world. It has teamed up with Entain to offer a fantastic online sports betting, online poker, and online casino platform. You can play BetMGM Casino in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
The BetMGM casino games are wonderfully built and fun to play. BetMGM shines as having some of the very best promotions and return to player percentages in the online casino world. There are also the M life Rewards which lead to both online and real-life prizes.
The welcome bonus for BetMGM Casino is a $1,000 100% deposit match and a deposit-free $25 bet. This offer is excellent, and the $25 free bet allows you to try out the casino before you commit to the big deposit to take advantage of the deposit bonus.
Online Casino FAQ
- Are casinos legal in the United States?
- Are online casinos legal in the United States?
- Who runs the gambling in California?
- Will New York legalize online casinos?
- Is online poker legal in the United States?
- What online casino has the best welcome bonus?
- How old do you have to be to play on an online casino?
- Are online casino winnings taxable?
- Are there online casino apps for Android phones?
- What banking methods do online casinos use?
Are casinos legal in the United States?
Casinos are not legal nor illegal; however, instead, the legality of casino gaming is up to the states. This means that each state can decide if casinos, commercial, tribal, or otherwise, should be legal in their state. At this moment, the states are roughly split on this issue.
Are online casinos legal in the United States?
Online casinos fall into a very similar category as regular casinos. Each state has its own laws and regulations. The United States government does not have a federal ban on online casinos, but it is instead up to each state.
Who runs the gambling in California?
California casinos are run by the native tribes in the state. Currently, all the gambling, besides horse racing and a few card rooms, is run by these tribes. The California State Government has oversight over these tribal casinos, but there are no commercial casinos allowed.
Will New York legalize online casinos?
While New York has legalized online sports betting, there has not been much talk about the legalization of online casinos. There is no forward outlook on if New York will have online casinos available in the near future, like its neighbor New Jersey.
Is online poker legal in the United States?
Online poker is not legal under Federal Law; however, each state can decide to legalize itself. Online real-money poker was running rampant in the United States when the federal government came down on these sites. Now online real-money poker is only available in certain legalized states.
What online casino has the best welcome bonus?
DraftKings has the largest welcome bonus with a $2,000 deposit match + $85 free. That deposit match is at a 100% rate, meaning that the entire first deposit is matched dollar for dollar. You also get a $85 free bet with no deposit required.
How old do you have to be to play on an online casino?
In every state that has online casinos, the legal betting age is 21. There is no difference between the legal betting age for in-person casinos and online casinos. This means that you must be 21 years or older to make an online casino account and receive a welcome bonus.
Are online casino winnings taxable?
Yes, just like any winnings, the income you make on online casino games is taxable income. You will need to check your tax forms for the federal and state taxes on these winnings. However, to be clear, these winnings are similar to in-person casino winnings.
Are there online casino apps for Android phones?
Yes! The Google Play Store does not have online casino applications on its store. So you need to get the download link from the mobile browser site of the casino platform you would like to play with. There, you can download the app and then play.
What banking methods do online casinos use?
Each online casino and state has its own banking methods and rules. However, almost all online casinos accept deposits from e-check, bank transfer, PayPal, debit card, and credit card. Depending on the site, there may be fewer options for withdrawals.
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How Online Casinos Became Legal
How it all Started: The Gambling Forerunners
The history of gambling in the United States is rich and complex, and along this line, nothing more epitomizes it than the glitz and glamour of Nevada’s sprawling casinos. In February of 2013, the state finally made online gambling legal, of course, much to the delight of its venturous populace. By breaking new ground and implementing some of the most cutting edge gambling laws in the nation, Nevada collected consistently large earnings from the mammoth business through the various taxes and charges. Also, back in February of 2013, New Jersey signed into law its own legalization of online casino betting. Governor Chris Christie signed the bill, A2578, with substantial bipartisan support: a rarity today. After months of tests and trials, online gambling officially kickstarted on November 26, 2013. In conjunction with the New Jersey Constitution, all online gaming servers must reside in Atlantic City itself. Similar to Nevada, the reasoning behind the forthcoming rules and regulations were threefold: for the state to collect revenue through taxes, to support New Jersey’s land-based casinos, and to provide a legitimate legal gambling experience.
Difficulty Arises
Not all states were as quick to legalize online gambling as Nevada and New Jersey. It took five whole years of discussion and deliberation for Pennsylvania to legalize online wagering. As bill H271 was invoked, the rust belt state was enveloped by tons of newfound revenue encroaching upon nearly $125 million in its first year alone. Most significantly for Pennsylvania specifically, the newly legal online casino business helped alleviate concerns that the state’s land-based casino enterprise would fall victim to the competition of booming neighboring states. In a way, it would give the state a leg up as it rivals competition by providing another source of gambling revenue interdependent of the brick and mortar casinos readily abundant in the Keystone state. Mississippi’s gambling history is nothing short of rich and far-reaching. In fact, it’s been said that Native Americans gambled regularly on such things as card games and horse races long before Mississippi was actually a settled state. Eventually, in 2017, daily sports betting was legalized. Bill H967 was generally vague, almost intentionally to avoid further scrutiny, but got the job done for gambling stands. A regulatory framework was added following the bill’s passage in 2017, and executive director Allen Godfrey has gone on the record stating that those who participate in unregulated, illicit gambling are being arrested to this day.
Small States, Big Money
Moving on, following the passion of bill S415 in 2018, online casino betting became legal in West Virginia. The bill was passed after years of attempts by delegate Shawn Fluharty and public support from attorney general Patrick Morrissey. The mountain state hopes to have its online betting platform up and running before the start of the football season in September. This past June, the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island, legalized sports gambling themselves. The bill was passed strikingly by both the House and the Senate to the likes of 66-7 and 34-2, respectively. However, the bill only legalized land-based sports betting, but similar to other states. Online gambling will be legal if the participant is wagering on site. While the Ocean state must surely be ecstatic in anticipation of the forthcoming revenue, their projections of $900 million in the first year seem to lean on the optimistic side. Because betting is restricted to Lincoln and Tiverton, the chances of hauling in those kinds of numbers seem slim.
Building the Foundation: Brick and Mortar Casinos
Grand Problems for the Garden State
Despite the abundant presence of online casinos in our increasingly digital culture, brick and mortar casinos still serve as the backbone for a strong and stable gambling experience. The previously mentioned states: New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Nevada, all contain reliable land-based casinos. New Jersey’s handful of brick and mortar casinos have relied on the revenue generated from online gambling to keep them afloat. The state’s casinos have recently overcome a decidedly rough patch where many of the casinos, including the Trump Taj Mahal, were forced to be closed due to lack of revenue. The recent upswing across the state can be attributed to a more concentrated online gambling presence and the legalization of sports betting, which has brought in an entirely new source of earnings.
Different States mean Different Problems
On the other hand, Delaware’s land-based casino enterprise poses an uncommon dilemma upon the state. Unlike many other states where officials and businesses welcome the perks of running a billion-dollar industry within state lines, Delaware’s small businesses are publicly opposed to casinos’ implementation. From restaurants’ perspective to even local convenience stores and bars, unrestrained sports betting accruing in the casinos is negatively impacting their own businesses. The correlation is a fairly easy one to see, as customers who may usually eat and drink at local stores now have a more lavish source to get their fixes in. Its effect may be more impactful in a smaller state like Delaware than Nevada, or even Pennsylvania, due to the populist appeal of casinos weighted against smaller family businesses. Speaking of Pennsylvania, their twelve casinos are also excited to set up true-to-the-end gambling sites. Like previously said, although Pennsylvania is pleased with the performance of its land-based casinos, the rivalry amongst its flanking states makes it difficult for the oil state to rely exclusively on old-fashioned casinos. This is especially true when one considers that Pennsylvania casinos have not yet constructed sportsbook facilities. Without the potential return of sports betting, the state casinos are trying to remain competitive as the sports facilities’ development nears its end.
In the South and Beyond
Mississippi’s gambling laws have been put into place exclusively for riverboat and Native American casinos in the deep south. In the 1980s, Native Americans were permitted to offer these casinos, and despite the modern look and feel of these gambling hubs, their history goes further back than one would imagine. Location-wise, of the twenty-eight casinos, many are located along the Mississippi and the Gulf Coast’s outer edge. The disparity between the number of casinos in Mississippi and West Virginia is quite surprising. Even though West Virginia only holds five land-based casinos to Mississippi’s twenty-eight, West Virginia’s are unquestionably larger. Specifically, the Hollywood Casino seems to be the new center for gambling devotees. The Hollywood Casino is the first of the five casinos to offer licensed sports betting and is partnering with DraftKings to provide a deeper wagering experience. With the evidently small state Rhode Island is, it’s unsurprising that only three casinos have sprung up, the largest being the Twin River casino. The casino holds over 4,200 gaming machines. This June’s decision to legalize sports gambling should be a sigh of relief for the state’s officials, especially with some of the gaudy internal revenue projections. Rhode Island isn’t exactly the hottest tourist spot, so more and more tourist draws would be welcome additions. Finally, Nevada is, of course, the hot bead of all gambling action. As far as land-based casinos, the best received seem to be the Wynn Las Vegas Casino and the Palazzo Resort Casino. With the recent pooling of online poker players and the PAPSA decision in May, Nevada hopes to continue setting the standard in the world of betting.
Independent Suppliers Want in
Getting a Piece of the Pie
As this handful of states continue perfecting their product, independent partners are longing for a chance to get in on the action. Among the notable independent sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings, DraftKings is making heavy ground in battleground states such as New Jersey and West Virginia. The partnering process is the embodiment of a symbiotic business relationship between casinos and suppliers due to the fruits it delivers for both sides. Across all states that have legalized sports gambling, partnerships with these companies provide a physical sportsbook presence that makes sports betting quicker and easier for customers. Moreover, it opens up the possibility of creating mobile and online wagering options that are crucial, if not necessary steps, to ensure exponential growth in the 21st century.
The Competition Heats Up
Because DraftKings has been catering their product for nearly a year, they look to have a leg up on the fierce competition expected. Interestingly, DraftKings and FanDuel are not only competing against each other but against the brick and mortar casinos’ own products they may roll out. For instance, Resorts Casino, located in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a key battleground state for independent suppliers, has already created its own fantasy sports product, dubbed FastPick. This service performs many of the similar functions that an independent supplier may furnish, such as picking players head-to-head. Because of factors such as this, DraftKings and FanDuel are already spreading their clout into states such as California and New York; these states are expected to house some of the largest gambling centers in the nation. To do this, suppliers are spending their own money on intense lobbying efforts, and in this lies the benefit of DraftKings older shelf life. The company’s past life of operation is giving them a good head start over their competing suppliers.
United States Gambling Retrospective
A Controversial History
Although it may seem like it today, gambling wasn’t always seen as a controversial exercise. In fact, before the 20th century, there wasn’t much of a legal framework surrounding the industry. However, as a conservative tide swept the nation in the early 1900s, much of the neutral public perception about gambling was swept under the rug. Casinos countrywide were shut down until 1931, when Nevada reopened many of its numerous casinos. New Jersey followed Nevada’s precedent, and the notorious Resorts International in Atlantic City opened in 1978. Since then, the momentum has been steady, and the new hot button issue has become sports gambling, an issue that the sports leagues had definitively stood against for decades.
The Leagues Strike Back
Horse race betting had long been a staple in American society, but sports gambling had always received a poor reputation aside from this exercise: perhaps deservingly so. After members of the White Sox fixed the 1919 World Series, sports decision-makers were gifted with what seemed like a foolproof argument: sports gambling maims the integrity of the game. Even as Nevada made sports gambling legal in 1949, the ten percent cut the federal government received immobilized the industry’s growth. As sports leagues continued to argue based on integrity, they were fortuitously handed more and more examples that reinforced their argument. Whether it be baseball’s Pete Rose scandal or leaked point shavings spanning three decades, the leagues lucked out. Following these events, the Federal Wire Act of 1961 was passed, making it unlawful to place bets or share information regarding them through wires across state lines. Momentum seemed to be stymied until studies in the 1970s made it absolutely apparent just how much the American public supported sports gambling. Upwards of 80 percent of citizens supported it in some form. However, with money and influence, the sports leagues were too much, and the PAPSA decision handed out in 1992 made sports betting illegal on a federal basis. Following this, continued pressure from sports commissioners such as David Stern of the NBA and Rob Manfred of the MLB kept the league’s grip on the industry tight. In the end, however, it would be the millions of avid sports gamblers across the nation that would get the last laugh after the Supreme Court repealed PAPSA this summer.
What About the People?
Public Support is on the Rise
Lost in all the legal jargon of the past century was the comprehensive support sports gambling enjoyed from the U.S. populace. By all accounts, what truly stopped the legalization movement was the sports leagues’ fear that legalization would cut into their own earnings and not bring enough to the table to compensate for it. While these sentiments can certainly be justified from a business perspective, the league’s stubbornness in this matter has shortchanged and alienated their millions of fans. For years, most Americans have approved of sports betting, and a recent poll in 2017 showed that 55% of participants approved of sports gambling. What’s most intriguing for proponents is the significant approval sports wagering receives from the youth, the future of the country. More studies from 2017 showed that 62 percent of people between 18-49 approve legalization of sports gambling while only 46 percent of those over 50 approve of it. For those who believe that the country could be on the cusp of nearly universal support in the short future, these various statistics may serve as compelling confirmation.
Change on the Horizon
Theories behind this shift are surely aplenty, but perhaps the most foolproof comes ironically from the sports leagues themselves and their deviation from their own century-long norm. Recently named NBA commissioner Adam Silver has publicly championed sports gambling, and the MLB has partnered with a company that tracks sports wagering. Additionally, the NHL has recently drafted an expansion team located in Las Vegas, and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders relocated to Vegas in 2019. For those underestimating the significance of these shifting sentiments, one can look back at just how powerful the sports leagues’ prestige was in banning sports betting in the ’90s.
Other Factors to Consider: At Home and Overseas
The Silent Beneficiaries
Native Americans benefit more than any other group from gambling casinos. Many tribes today struggle to get by, and the influx of revenue generated from casinos goes a long way in keeping them afloat. In 2009 alone, Indian reservation gambling generated about $26.5 billion in revenue, more than Atlantic City and Las Vegas combined. Tribes have long experienced a low quality of life, and employment opportunities granted through casino ventures are, in some cases, the difference between life and death. Although Indian reservations receive $4 for every $10 Americans spend at licensed casinos, these numbers plummet for tribes not located in densely populated areas. For this reason, it is pivotal that casinos are given the incentive to grow and expand. Given that many casinos have encouraged more and more Native Americans to become politically active and repair their relationships with non-Indian people groups, Native Americans are sure to continue using their voice and newfound political leverage to influence politicians to continue expanding the gambling industry in the future.
The State of Gambling Abroad
In many ways, especially economically, Europe operates as a single de facto state; yet, this isn’t exactly the case for gambling. There isn’t any standard regulation that applies across Europe as individual jurisdictions are given the discretion to apply their own rules and regulations. Of all the states, Italy’s rules are by far the laxest. This may speak to leading all countries when it comes to gross revenue accrued through gambling, leading at 18 billion euros. The United States should closely observe the profound impact sports gambling has had on the European economy. Sports gambling serves as a plurality of all gambling revenues in Europe, topping off at 37% of all earnings, significantly higher than second-place online poker. The U.S. has long been seen as Europe’s biggest imitator, and given the towering profit realized from sports betting on the continent, it is no surprise that the U.S. is once again following their big brothers’ footsteps.
It’s the Economy Stupid!
Back on U.S. soil, Nevada itself serves as a prototype of what officials can expect when online casino betting is given the tools necessary to take off. With the generation of $248 million in revenue in 2017 alone, it is now time for all states to follow its lead. The more numbers that come in, the more they prove just how large potential tax revenue could be. Even with the splitting of the dividends by multiple parties, all stand to benefit in some capacity or another. As said earlier, Rhode Island, a meager state in the upper northeast, is already witnessing the astonishing results of sports betting. Even if the states own figures seem to be a bit overconfident, the frenzy surrounding the industry is hard to ignore. Aside from the hundreds of millions of dollars of unrealized revenue, sports gambling has the ability to create jobs in the state casinos, restaurants, and hotels. As much as local politicians claim they care about their states economy, squandering the underlying demand for sports betting is doing a great disservice to their very constituents.