Is it Legal to Gamble Online in the USA?

USA Flag.

The six main US states where it is completely legal to gamble in the real money mode at online casinos and other licensed gambling sites, such as poker rooms, bingo sites, and lottery sites, include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

There are currently six states where online casino gambling is legal, six states where online poker is legal, and more than 20 states where online sports betting is legal. Find out more about online gambling in the USA right here.

Is it legal to gamble online in the USA?

Yes and no. In other words, some states have legalized various forms of online gambling, such as poker, casinos, and sports betting, and other states have yet to legalize all three of these forms of online gambling. The states where it is currently legal to gamble at online casinos are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. However, saying that, there’s nothing stopping US players from signing up to foreign-owned online casinos that are licensed offshore and fall outside of US jurisdiction.

What does offshore casino mean?

An offshore online casino is one that is not based on US soil. It is not licensed or regulated by any US authority, but it accepts real cash wagers from US players who wish to sign up. Rootz Limited online casinos, for example, such as Spinz Casino, Wheelz Casino, Wildz Casino, Chips Casino, and Caxino Casino, are all fully licensed by the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) – one of the most trusted online gambling licensing authorities/jurisdictions in the world. There is no law in any US state that prohibits a player from signing up to one of these trusted online casinos.

Are offshore casinos that are foreign-controlled by foreign operators trustworthy?

Yes and no. As mentioned, only online casinos that are licensed by ‘trusted’ licensing authorities are worth signing up to, such as the ones mentioned above. Also, only licensed casinos that are controlled by reputable operators can be trusted. Some of the other ‘top-tier’ licensing authorities around the world that also issue licenses to reputable online casino operators are based in the United Kingdom (known as the UK Gambling Commission), in Kahnawake (known as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission), and in Gibraltar (known as the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority).

Some of the worst licensing jurisdictions in the world that carry out very few checks over the licensees tend to be based in Anjouan/Comoros, Belize, Costa Rica, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), and Panama. It’s best to just steer clear of an online casino that is licensed by a licensing authority in one of these jurisdictions. It’s not to say that every casino that operates from one of these jurisdictions is a rogue casino. However, many rogue casinos in the past have been known to come from these regions. The worst type of online casino is one that is not licensed at all. Avoid these casinos at all costs.

More about legal online gambling in the US

As you can see, online gambling laws and options vary a great deal from one state to the next. The best thing to do would be to carry out your own research for the state that you live in prior to signing up to any old online casino. The one thing to remember, though, is that you have nothing to worry about should you sign up to an offshore casino that’s licensed abroad and controlled by a foreign operator. These particular sites often rank among the best online casinos in the world.

What type of games can I find at offshore casinos?

You can often find 1,000 or more games at offshore casinos from some of the world’s leading online casino software providers, such as:

  • Evolution Gaming (live dealer games only)
  • Microgaming (slots, table & card games, progressive jackpot games, and more)
  • Big Time Gaming (slots)
  • Play’n GO (slots)
  • NetEnt (slots, live dealer games)
  • Push Gaming (slots)
  • Red Tiger Gaming (slots)
  • Pragmatic Play (slots)

A look at two main bonuses that can be claimed at today’s best US online casinos

At today’s best US online casinos that accept real money wagers from players living in the United States, the two main types of bonuses you can look forward to are free spins bonuses and matching deposit bonuses. Don’t forget, when you sign up to one of these casinos, you can claim an instant guaranteed welcome bonus.

Other important things you need to know?

You can play at these casinos from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The games take just seconds to launch in most web browsers, which means that there’s no need to download any software onto your preferred device. You can deposit and withdraw using a wide range of popular online payment solutions (e.g., credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, prepaid cards, etc.), and you can count on 24-hour player support. The casinos are all free to sign up to, and in most states, you need to be at least 18 years old to gamble in the real money mode.

About Carson Derrow

My name is Carson Derrow I'm an entrepreneur, professional blogger, and marketer from Arkansas. I've been writing for startups and small businesses since 2012. I share the latest business news, tools, resources, and marketing tips to help startups and small businesses to grow their business.