The US online casino industry is an ever-changing regulatory landscape – as many individual American states have moved to pass online gambling legislation in recent years.
Although the focus has been primarily on pushing through sports betting bills, online casino gaming continues to be a lucrative industry in states with regulated markets and even those without.
Which States Currently have Safe, Legal and Regulated Online Casinos in the US?
- New Jersey – One of the first states to legalize and regulate online gambling.
- Pennsylvania – Offers a variety of online casino games.
- Michigan – Recently joined the states offering legal online casinos.
- West Virginia – Permits online slots, table games, and poker.
- Delaware – One of the early adopters of online gambling legislation.
- Connecticut – Has legal online casinos with partnerships with local tribes.
- Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Senate approved an online casino gaming bill (S 0948) by a vote of 30-4 in June 2023.
In January 2025 State Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary submitted legislation that seeks to legalize online casinos throughout the state.
It´s quite possible that more states will enact legislation to legalize online casinos as 2025 unfolds.
US Online Casino Regulators
Online casino regulation in the United States is handled by each individual state. The vast majority of states have their own department or division of gaming within the government while some have independent racing and gaming commissions.
Any gambling company that wishes to offer online casino products and services within state borders must apply to the relevant gambling or gaming department. However, in those states where online casino gambling is regulated, there may be a limitation on the number of licenses issued.
When applicable, all online casino gaming regulation is handled by a state’s gambling regulatory authority.
| State | Online Casino Legal | Gambling Regulator | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Gambling Commission Proposed | – |
| Alaska | No | Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division, Gaming Group |
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 500 Anchorage, Ak 99501-3555 |
| Arizona | No | Arizona Department of Gaming | 100 N, 15th Ave, Suite 202, Phoenix, AZ 85007 |
| Arkansas | No | Arkansas Racing Commission | 1515 Building 1515 W 7th St, Ste 505 Little Rock, AR 72201 |
| California | No | California Gambling Control Commission | 2399 Gateway Oaks Dr. Suite 220 Sacramento, CA 95833-4231 |
| Colorado | No | Colorado Division of Gaming | 1707 Cole Blvd Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80401 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Connecticut Gaming Division | 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103-1840 |
| Delaware | Yes | Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement | 600 South Bay Road, Suite 2 Dover, Delaware 19901 |
| Florida | No | Florida Gaming Control Commission | – |
| Georgia | No | Georgia Lottery Corporation | 250 Williams Street, Suite 3000 Atlanta, GA 30303 |
| Hawaii | No | None | – |
| Idaho | No | Idaho State Lottery Commission – Charitable Gaming & Lottery Casinos regulated by tribal groups |
1199 Shoreline Ln STE 100, Boise, ID 83702 |
| Illinois | No | Illinois Gaming Board | 160 North LaSalle Suite 300 Chicago, Illinois 60601 |
| Indiana | No | Indiana Gaming Commission | East Tower, Suite 1600 101 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
| Iowa | No | Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission | DMACC Capitol Center 1300 Des Moines Street, Suite 100 Des Moines, IA 50309 |
| Kansas | No | Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission | Eisenhower State Office Building 700 SW Harrison St. Topeka, KS 4th floor rm. 450 Auditorium A/B |
| Kentucky | No | Gambling Commission Proposed | – |
| Louisiana | No | Louisiana Gaming Control Board | 7901 Independence Blvd. Building A Baton Rouge, LA 70806 |
| Maine | No | Gambling Control Unit | 45 Commerce Drive, Suite 3 Augusta, ME 04333-0087 |
| Maryland | No | Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency | 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330, Baltimore, MD 21230 |
| Massachusetts | No | Massachusetts Gaming Commission | 101 Federal St., 12th Floor Boston, MA 02110 |
| Michigan | Yes | Michigan Gaming Control Board | 3062 West Grand Boulevard, Suite L-700 Detroit, MI 48202-6062 |
| Minnesota | No | Minnesota Gambling Control Board | Suite 300 South, 1711 West County Road B Roseville, MN 55113 |
| Mississippi | No | Mississippi Gaming Commission | 620 North St STE 200, Jackson, MS 39202 |
| Missouri | No | Missouri Gaming Commission | 3417 Knipp Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65109 |
| Montana | No | Montana Gambling Control Division | 615 S 27th St A, Billings, MT 59101 |
| Nebraska | No | Nebraska Gaming Commission | 5903 Walker Ave, Lincoln, NE 68507 |
| Nevada | No | Nevada Gaming Control Board | 555 East Washington Ave Suite 2600, Las Vegas, NV 89101 |
| New Hampshire | No | New Hampshire Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority | c/o New Hampshire Lottery Commission, 14 Integra Drive, Concord, NH 03301 |
| New Jersey | Yes | New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement | S Tennessee Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 |
| New Mexico | No | New Mexico Gaming Control Board | 4900 Alameda Blvd NE Albuquerque NM 87113 |
| New York | No | New York State Gaming Commission | PO Box 7500 Schenectady, New York 12301-7500 |
| North Carolina | No | Casinos regulated by tribal groups | – |
| North Dakota | No | North Dakota Gaming Division | 600 E. Boulevard Ave Dept. 125 Bismarck ND 58505 |
| Ohio | No | Ohio Casino Control Commission | 100 East Broad Street, 20th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Oklahoma | No | Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit | 2401 N Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 |
| Oregon | No | Oregon Lottery | 500 Airport Road SE, Salem OR 97301 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | Commonwealth Tower, Strawberry Square, 303 Walnut Street, 5th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Division of Commercial Licensing and Racing & Athletics | 1511 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| South Carolina | No | None | – |
| South Dakota | No | South Dakota Commission on Gaming | 445 E Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501 |
| Tennessee | No | Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation | 26 Century Blvd., Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37214 |
| Texas | No | Gambling Commission Proposed | – |
| Utah | No | None | – |
| Vermont | No | Office of the Attorney General – Charitable gaming only | 109 State St Montpelier, VT 05609 |
| Virginia | No | Virginia Lottery | 600 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Washington | No | Washington State Gambling Commission | 4565 7th Avenue S.E. Lacey, WA 98503 |
| Washington D.C. | No | Office of Lottery and Gaming | 2235 Shannon Place SE, Suite 3040, Washington, DC 20020 |
| West Virginia | Yes | West Virginia Lottery | 900 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston, WV 25302 |
| Wisconsin | No | Wisconsin Division of Gaming | 3319 W. Beltline Hwy, Fl 1 Madison, WI 53713 |
| Wyoming | No | Wyoming Gaming Commission | Energy II Building, 951 Werner Court, Suite 335 Casper, WY 82601 |
Online Casino Laws in The United States
Like legal sportsbetting in the US, casino gambling is legal in many states in the US. However, this does not mean that online casino gaming is permitted in all states with bricks and mortar casinos.
In fact, some states have passed legislation to prohibit all forms of remote gambling (gambling via the internet) even though they have thriving retail casino industries.
One important fact though is that there is currently no federal law that prohibits online casino gaming or online gambling of any kind. This wasn’t always the case though as back in 2006 President George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). While this law didn’t specifically target online casino gaming, it did make it illegal for businesses to transfer funds to and from online gambling companies.
The UIGEA didn’t come into effect until 2010 at which point many online poker companies had already pulled out of the US market. A few remained and would pay the ultimate price.
On April 13th, 2011 the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a 52-page indictment that named executives of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker. The indictment also included a civil complaint against the companies that sought $3 billion in assets from the sites. As you’d expect, this had a negative impact on the potential for regulated casino gaming.
However, the Department of Justice later that year published a revised opinion on the Federal Wire Act that indicated that it only applied to sports betting. The Federal Wire Act had previously been used in conjunction with the UIGEA to determine if any state laws were broken but the DoJ’s new stance on the Act opened the industry up for possible legalization and regulation on a state-by-state level.
Since then, several states have moved to legalize online casino gaming, but the US Supreme Court’s decision that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was unconstitutional put all the focus back onto sports betting.
This means that online casino regulation in many individual states has stalled as lawmakers push through legislation for the more lucrative sports betting industry.
At the time of writing there are seven US states that have legalized online casino gambling (iCasino):
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island
In June 2023 Rhode Island‘s online casino Bills HB6348/SB948 were signed into law – legalizing online gambling (casinos, sportsbetting, poker) in the state of Rhode Island.
Legislation has also been proposed in the following states:
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New York
It’s worth noting that there are also a number of grey states where there is no specific prohibition of online casino gaming in state legislation. In these states, international gambling companies will often serve the market, but these companies are not regulated and have no rules or restrictions regarding how they conduct their gambling business.
Choosing The Best US Online Casino
Choosing a trusted & reliable real-money online casino site in the US can be difficult. There are many factors to consider when choosing a new online casino to play at – such as how long the company has been in operation, whether they operate under a gaming license in regulated markets, payout speed and options, the selection of games on offer, casinos bonuses & reload bonuses and promotions.
Which US Casinos Games Have the Lowest House Edge and Biggest Payouts?
When it comes to playing casino games online, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best odds possible. This means looking for games that have low house edges and high payout rates. Here are some of our top picks:
Blackjack
- House edge: 0.5% – 3%
- Payout rate: up to 99.5%
- Strategy: Use basic blackjack strategy
Baccarat
- House edge: 1.06% – 1.24%
- Payout rate: up to 98.94%
- Strategy: Play the banker bet or tie bet
Roulette
- House edge: 2.7% – 5.26%
- Payout rate: up to 35:1 (single number)
- Strategy: Choose your numbers wisely and consider using systems like the Martingale system
Video Poker
- House edge: 0.5% – 6%
- Payout rate: up to 99.5% (full house or royal flush)
- Strategy: Use basic strategy or more complex methods like exploiting patterns in the game
Slots
- House edge: 2% – 12%
- Payout rate: varies widely depending on the game and slot machine
- Strategy: Look for machines with high RTP (return to player) and maximize deposit bonuss
Most Popular Online Casino Games
Online casinos typically offer a wide variety of gambling games, including:
- Card games: These include classic games like Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat, and several variants of each.
- Slots games: These are the most popular games found in online casinos, and include classic slots, video slots, and progressive slots with jackpots that can reach millions of dollars.
- Table games: These include Roulette, Craps, and other popular games played on a table.
- Dice games: These include games like Sic Bo and Craps, where players bet on the outcome of rolls of dice.
- Video Poker: This is a popular game that combines elements of poker with slots.
- Live dealer games: These are games that are played with a real dealer who is streamed live from a studio or casino.
- Sports betting: Many online casinos also offer sports betting options, where players can bet on a variety of sports events.
- Specialty games: These include crash games and games like Keno, Bingo, and online scratch-card games. Crash games in particular offer RTP between 97% and 99.3%
The exact selection of games offered can vary by online casino, but these are some of the most common game types you can find.
Popular American Online Casino Promotions
- Casino welcome-bonuses: bonuses given to new players when they sign up for an account and make their first deposit. Welcome bonuses can come in the form of a match bonus, where the casino matches a percentage of the player’s deposit, or as free spins on slot machines.
- Reload bonuses: These are bonuses given to existing customers at online casinos when they make a new deposit. Like welcome bonuses, reload bonuses can come in the form of a match bonus or free spins.
- No deposit casino bonuses: These are bonuses given to players without requiring them to make a deposit. No deposit bonuses can come in the form of free spins or free chips, and are a great way for players to try out a casino’s games without risking any of their own money.
- Cashback promotions: These are promotions where players receive a percentage of their losses back as cashback. Cashback promotions can be ongoing or limited-time offers.
- Casino VIP programs: These are loyalty programs where players earn points for playing games and can exchange those points for bonuses, cashback, or other rewards. VIP programs often have tiers, with players earning more rewards as they move up the tiers.
- Casino Tournaments: These are competitions where players compete against each other for a prize pool. Tournaments can be based on slots, table games, or other types of games.
How to spot a safe and licensed US Online Casino
There are many international gambling companies (often referred to as offshore companies) that allow US players to register at their online casinos. However, as these online casinos are not regulated, players who use them do so with no legal protections.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to only use online casinos that are licensed by a state authority. And the easiest way to find out if an online casino is licensed in your state is to check for it licensing details on the homepage of its website or its home screen on a mobile app.
Alternatively, any of the state gaming departments and divisions listed above that currently regulate an online market will provide information of all licensed online casino operators on their websites.
Regulated & Legal Casinos offer a Safe and Fair Online Casino Experience
If you’re considering playing at an online casino in the US, here are some reasons why you should choose a fully legal and regulated USA casino where possible.
- Protect your banking information: Legal online casinos have strong safeguards in place to keep your financial information safe and secure.
- Stellar reputations: Legal online casinos rely on good word of mouth to keep their customers happy, so you can expect excellent customer service and plenty of promotions and perks.
- Protect your identity: Regulated online casinos are required to protect your personal information, so you don’t have to worry about identity theft or your data being sold to third parties.
- Guaranteed payouts: Legal casinos always have the funds available to pay out your winnings.
- Fair games guaranteed: Legal online casinos are independently audited and regulated by US state gaming authorities to ensure that all games are fair and random.
- Responsible gambling measures: Legal casinos in the US encourage responsible online gambling and have protective measures in place, such as deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion periods, to help you manage your game-play.
- Benefits to the local community: Legal online casinos provide critical tax revenue that is used to fund important services within communities, such as problem gambling non-profits, charities, food banks, and healthcare organizations.
- State and federal protections: If you have any issues while playing at a regulated US gambling site, the state and federal regulators have the legal authority to step in and assist. international or “offshore” casino sites, however, are outside of their jurisdiction, so they wouldn’t be able to help if you ran into any problems.
There are many international casinos which provide stellar service to Americans – do your research and make sure to read up on casinos via casino reviews – a good way to get an idea of where to gamble safely online, what games and software are available, as well as information on casino bonuses and free spins which enable you to test out casino games for free.
How To Spot a Legitimate USA online casino in 2025
- A valid Gaming regulator seal: A legal casino in the US will have a seal from a gaming regulator at the bottom of its homepage, showing that it is licensed and regulated by a trusted authority – and that games are fair.
- Confirmation of legal states: Not all US states currently legally allow online gambling, so the casino should clearly state which states it is legal in.
- Association with a land-based casino: Many land-based casinos in the US are moving online, either on their own or with a partner. This can provide peace of mind that you are playing at a legal online casino.
- Reputable brand names: If the online casino is not associated with a land-based brand, it should still have a recognizable name and a good reputation.
- US headquarters: A legal online casino operating in the US should have its headquarters located in the country to ensure it is following state and federal guidelines.
- Regulator logos: Online casinos need to be licensed and regulated in the state where they operate. Look for state regulator logos to make sure the casino is legitimate.
Sweepstakes Casinos
What are “Social Casinos” / Sweepstakes casinos and poker sites – and do they pay out real money?
Legal in most states in the USA, sweeps gambling sites are online gambling platforms that offer casino-style games such as slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette.
Sweepstakes casinos operate on a unique model that allows players to engage in casino-style games, like slots or poker, without technically gambling for real money. Instead of purchasing gambling credits directly, players acquire two types of virtual currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
Popular sweepstakes casinos / gambling sites include Global Poker, Chumba Casino, WowVegas, LuckyLand Slots and Pulsz.
The World Poker Tour (WPT) announced its entry into sweepstakes gambling in 2024, via its upcoming “ClubWTP Gold” product – a real-money online poker platform based on the sweepstakes model which is slated to go live for the public in Q1 2025 according to poker news website PokerIndustryNews.com.
Here’s how it works:
- Gold Coins:
Gold Coins are typically the main in-game currency used for playing casino-style games. Players can purchase Gold Coins with real money or receive them for free through daily bonuses, promotions, or social media giveaways. However, Gold Coins have no cash value and are purely for entertainment. You can use them to play games, but you cannot redeem them for cash prizes. The Gold Coins are more like playing tokens for fun.- Example: You purchase a package of 10,000 Gold Coins for $5 and use them to play your favorite slot game. Even if you win a large amount of Gold Coins, you cannot cash them out for real money.
- Sweeps Coins:
Sweeps Coins are the secondary currency used in sweepstakes casinos, and they offer the potential for real-world winnings. Players cannot purchase Sweeps Coins directly; instead, they receive them as a bonus when buying Gold Coins or through free methods like mail-in requests or promotions. Sweeps Coins can be used to play the same games available with Gold Coins, but unlike Gold Coins, if you win using Sweeps Coins, you can redeem them for real cash or prizes once you reach a certain amount.- Example: Along with your 10,000 Gold Coins, you might receive 5 Sweeps Coins as part of a promotion. You use those Sweeps Coins to play blackjack, and if you win, you can redeem your winnings (e.g., 50 Sweeps Coins) for real money, which would equal $50 (since 1 Sweeps Coin typically equals $1).
Summary
- Gold Coins are for fun, have no real value, and can’t be redeemed for cash.
- Sweeps Coins are used for sweepstakes games and can be exchanged for real prizes or cash if you win.
- Legal Structure: Sweepstakes casinos comply with legal restrictions in the U.S. because players aren’t technically betting real money directly. The model relies on sweepstakes laws rather than gambling regulations.
Example:
Imagine you visit a sweepstakes casino and buy a $20 package that gives you 100,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins. You use the Gold Coins to play some slot games just for fun. Afterward, you switch to using Sweeps Coins in a poker game and win 100 Sweeps Coins. You can now cash out the 100 Sweeps Coins for $100.
Reactions To Sweepstakes Gambling In The US
The rise of sweepstakes casinos has sparked varied reactions from gambling regulators, trade associations, and tribal gambling operators. Since sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area by using alternative currencies (like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins) and aligning with sweepstakes laws, rather than traditional gambling regulations, their growth has attracted both concern and support.
Here’s how these groups have responded:
1. Gambling Regulators:
Regulators across different jurisdictions have expressed caution and concern about sweepstakes casinos. Since these platforms sidestep traditional gambling laws by positioning themselves under sweepstakes rules, they operate in states or countries where online gambling may otherwise be restricted or illegal.
- Concerns about Legal Loopholes: Many regulators feel that sweepstakes casinos exploit a loophole in the law, which allows them to offer gambling-like experiences without being subject to strict gambling regulations. Regulators in several U.S. states, such as Washington and Arkansas, have challenged sweepstakes models, asserting that the operations closely resemble real-money gambling and should be more tightly regulated or even banned.
- Consumer Protection Issues: Regulators are concerned about the lack of consumer protections that typically apply to gambling. Since sweepstakes casinos fall outside the usual gambling oversight, they may lack safeguards for responsible gambling, protection of player funds, or transparent game fairness measures.
- Legal Action and Legislation: Some states have taken legal action or have passed laws to curb the operations of sweepstakes casinos, requiring these companies to comply with stricter gambling laws, register as real-money gambling operators, or cease operations in certain areas. VGW (Virtual Gaming Worlds- operator of Chumba Casino) has faced several lawsuits, including a class action lawsuit in the state of Mississippi.
2. Trade Associations:
Trade associations, particularly those representing the traditional gambling and iGaming sectors, have had mixed responses.
- Competition Concerns: Traditional casinos and gaming industry trade groups view sweepstakes casinos as unfair competition, as they often operate without paying taxes or licensing fees required of regulated gambling operators. They argue that sweepstakes models benefit from lower regulatory scrutiny and can outcompete established gambling businesses in terms of marketing and accessibility.
- Calls for Regulation: Many trade associations, like the American Gaming Association (AGA), advocate for more consistent regulations that encompass both traditional online gambling operators and sweepstakes casinos. They support leveling the playing field by calling for clearer guidelines on what constitutes gambling and how sweepstakes casinos should be regulated.
- Support for Innovation: Some sectors within the industry view sweepstakes models as an innovative way to reach new customers. Sweepstakes casinos have proven popular among casual players who are not typically interested in traditional gambling, so some trade bodies are exploring whether similar models could be adapted for regulated operators.
3. Tribal Gambling Operators:
Tribal gambling operators, who often operate under sovereign legal frameworks, have had a more defensive reaction to sweepstakes casinos. Tribal gaming enterprises are heavily regulated by federal and state laws under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), and their gambling operations fund significant governmental and community services.
USA Online Casinos Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play casino games online with a Credit Card like Visa, MasterCard or Amex?
Yes – most casinos servicing the American market accept credit cards as well as debit-cards. Many casinos also accept cryptocurrencies which saves on bank-fees, and PayPal is also a banking option with US casinos in states where iGaming is legal and regulated.
How many US states have legal, regulated online casinos?
At the time of writing there are seven states that have legalized online casino gaming:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island
In June 2023 Rhode Island‘s online casino bills HB6348/SB948 were signed into law – legalizing online gambling (casinos, sportsbetting, poker) in the state of Rhode Island.
Do I need to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in the US?
The answer is yes.
- If you win above a specific threshold the payer (poker room, bookmaker or casino) will deduct 24% from your winnings before paying you the remainder.
- When filing your annual tax return you must report your winnings and your tax payments.
- Depending on your specific tax bracket, you may then have to pay an additional amount – or you may get a refund payout.
- Gamblers can deduct gambling losses up to the amount of winnings that they report.
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