The number of legal USA online casinos is rising as more states move to regulate gaming for real money. However, there are still opportunities for players to explore casino games in unregulated states. Learn about the laws and regulations related to online casinos in the United States below, and explore our list of carefully reviewed casino sites by state.
Best Online Casino Sites in the USA
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Online Casino Regulation in the USA
Online casinos in the USA are regulated at the state level, creating a diverse landscape that’s confusing to grasp, with laws that are constantly evolving and changing in each area. The government has previously relied on outdated federal regulations to try and control the market. But over the last decade, this has changed, and slowly, states are focusing on developing a legal framework to license and regulate local online casinos in the USA and give players safe gambling options.
Federal Online Casino Legislation
The federal government has developed several critical pieces of legislation over the last 50 years. Many rules are outdated and require lawmakers to make amendments over the years, with the most important being the DOJ decision to allow states to develop their framework, providing a helpful move that started the growth of legal online casinos in the USA at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
Federal Wire Act:
The Federal Wire Act of 1961 is one federal US statute that online gambling firms find extremely significant. In 1961, Attorney General Robert Kennedy proposed the legislation. According to this law, operators who provide gambling services in unregulated markets over wire communication facilities run the danger of fines and maybe jail time. Prior to the widespread usage of the internet, lawmakers employed broad wording to cover internet facilities for online gambling services, including USA online casinos, even though these regulations were primarily focused on telephone systems and sports betting.
Under the Wire Act, businesses operating and servicing customers in a legal gambling state can conduct business without scrutiny. On this federal level, the DOJ maintains that internet gambling remains illegal within the country. In 2002, a court hearing made vital differences, ruling that the act only talks about sports and fails to mention casino or poker gaming. In 2011, the Department of Justice changed its stance, allowing states to begin legalizing services at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
PASPA:
Another federal law that helped shape the online gambling sector was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which they introduced in 1992. It gave Nevada a sports betting monopoly and angered many other states.
The act was abolished in 2018, and states quickly moved to start regulated sports wagering in their region. Since then, the industry has boomed, generating billions in tax revenue and providing safe wagering options for sports fans. The success of this market has been a critical factor in many states’ decisions to expand legislation and offer legal online casinos in the USA for gamers at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
UIGEA:
After much confusion, the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. This framework focuses on the language that the outdated Wire Act missed and made it illegal for businesses to accept payments for providing unlawful gambling via the internet. It’s important to understand that these regulations didn’t outlaw internet gaming but focused on operators’ payment processing abilities at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
It included a framework that allowed the Federal Reserve to ban these payments at financial institutions, including the top banks and credit card providers in the USA. It started an exodus of operators from the US market, with many large companies fearing the repercussions of significant fines and imprisonment.
Other Online Casino Legislation:
After this, other bills were introduced by House Representatives in a bid to clarify the differences and pave the path for legitimate local businesses to offer online casinos in USA-regulated states at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
The most notable were the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, the Skill Game Protection Act (2007), and the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (2013). They aim to regulate and tax licensed internet gambling businesses and distinguish skill-based games like poker from the top chance games like online slots.
State Online Casino Legislation
One of the main reasons US online casino regulations are hard to understand is the differences in rules between each state. With 50 states and varying laws and regulations, it’s pretty challenging for regular players to learn what’s permitted and illegal in America at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
The ability of states to create their own rules has led to much confusion and considerable gaps in this growing market. For example, in Hawaii and Utah, all types of gambling remain illegal. In contrast, more progressive states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania gave the green light and now accept all types of online gambling, including poker, sports wagering, and online casinos at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
Betting on sports has been the most popular gambling sector to grow. It is available in more US states than online poker and casino gaming. Because of the easy access to online services, many state lawmakers have taken a slow and methodical approach as they examine the results of legal betting within their communities. It means that even after nearly a decade since the introduction of the first legit US online casinos, there are only seven states where players can find locally regulated and safe online casinos on USA sites at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
USA Legal Online Casino States and their Regulations:
- Connecticut: Online USA casinos became legal in Connecticut in 2021 after the governor signed the HB6451 bill, which also covered sports, poker, and DFS. Players over 21 can enjoy safe gambling on two legal casino sites licensed and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
- Delaware: In 2013, Delaware was among the first states to allow customers to play at a legit online casino in the USA. Rules came into play with House Bill 333 passing and allowing the Delaware State Lottery to provide gaming services to residents over 21 at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
- Michigan: Lawmakers approved the Lawful Internet Gambling Act (Act 152) 2019 bill for online gaming in 2019. It took two years, but the first MI online casinos launched in 2021, following the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulations. The state now has over 15 legal casinos available to locals over 21.
- New Jersey:In 2013, the A2578 online gambling bill passed, allowing poker rooms and USA online casinos within the USA to operate legally with local state licenses starting later in the year. Over 20 NJ online casinos are licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania permitted poker and online casino sites to operate legally in 2019 after expanding gambling laws when the governor signed House Bill 271 in 2018. Now, residents over 21 can pick from 20 safe casinos licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
- Rhode Island: In June 2023, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee signed the SB948 bill allowing the state lottery to offer legal online casino services to locals over 18.
- West Virginia: An Interactive Wagering Act expansion bill passed in 2019 permitting online casinos to register for state licensing under the control of the West Virginia Lottery. The first platforms went live in 2020, and currently, players over 21 can choose four established online casinos within the USA at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
States Working on Passing Online Casino Legislation:
Several states are shifting their stance and moving towards allowing legit online casinos from the USA to operate. They’re taking their time, with many bills stalled during 2023. However, progressive lawmakers have got the ball rolling. These five states are at the forefront and stand next in line to open services for customers to enjoy safe online casinos in the USA at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
- New York: Many lawmakers in New York are passionate about the state opening its doors to the top legit online casinos, aiming to pass Senate Bill S4856. However, online sports betting began in 2022, and opponents aren’t quick to rush in and approve other gambling forms yet. As such, locals hope for legal online casinos from the USA to pass in 2024 and beyond.
- Illinois: Two separate Internet Gaming Act bills were introduced in 2023, including SB1656, aiming to permit online casino gaming by state-licensed racetracks and retail casinos. The details include a 12%-15% tax and a lengthy six-month registration procedure. They failed to gain traction during the year, and Illinois players will have to wait til 2024 to see if new laws manage to pass and open the market at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
- Indiana: Republican Ethan Manning introduced House Bill 1536 in 2022, listing a higher 20% tax rate to help with addiction services. It met strong opposition in the Senate in 2023, and locals must be patient to see how it progresses in 2024.
- Maryland:Maryland is keen to begin opening legal USA online casinos, with senators introducing the SB267 bill to legalize casino gaming. Due to state policies, a state referendum will include this topic during the 2024 general election and hopefully open the state up for online casino gaming.
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire senator Timothy Lang introduced Senate Bill 104 in 2023 that didn’t detail much information like licensing costs and tax procedures. It passed the local Senate but met resistance from 20 Ways and Means Committee members. With this start, it’s expected New Hampshire lawmakers will continue efforts to legalize US online casinos in the state at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
States where Online Casinos are Restricted:
Unfortunately, there are still many states where USA online casino gaming remains illegal and no top sites exist. These include Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Social and Sweepstakes Casinos:
Players residing in states where USA online casinos aren’t regulated can still enjoy fun online games on social and sweepstakes platforms. These services are available in most US states, except for a handful of regions. Players can enjoy a wide selection of the top slots and table games, with the ability to win money using sweep coins.
Currently, the top casino sites with sweep prizes aren’t accessible for residents in Idaho, Kentucky, and Washington, and some operators may restrict gameplay in several other regions, including Michigan and New York. With a lack of regulations in place, most states are open. You can read our social & sweep site reviews or visit the site’s terms and conditions page for the latest information at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
Benefits of Regulated USA Casino Sites
Many internationally licensed casinos offer services to those in the USA, and many locals may wonder what the benefits are of playing at locally regulated USA casinos online. We’ve highlighted some main advantages of playing on a legit gambling site that adheres to local state regulations.
✅ Player Protection: Customers can stay safe while wagering online by picking the top licensed and legal USA online casino. These businesses are located in the US and vetted by state gambling regulators during a thorough registration period. Customers can expect certified and fair games, legit payment solutions, and brands which are accountable if anyone makes a complaint at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
✅ Responsible Companies: Gambling at online casinos in regulated US states is a safe option, and players can access a range of responsible gambling tools supplied by the company and software providers thanks to regulations. These conditions allow customers to sign up, play their favourite games, and not stress about breaking limits or using a service that doesn’t follow safety guidelines.
✅ Enforced Regulations: Playing at legal USA online casinos offers many benefits, including regulations enforced on the state level. Now, it’s much safer for customers to gamble online at a licensed site, knowing the operator must follow local USA online casino laws, ensure they provide adequate player protection, and be financially stable with enough funds to payout casino wins.
Find the Top Online Casino Sites by US State
To help our readers find the top online casinos in the USA, we’ve prepared a table with links to the gambling regulations in each state. You can use this table to visit your local state page, discover the relevant laws and rules, and view a list of reputable and safe online gaming sites, including real money and top social gaming sites at Top USA Online Casinos – September 2024.
| State | Real Money Casinos | Social Casinos |
| Alabama | no | yes |
| Alaska | no | yes |
| Arizona | no | yes |
| Arkansas | no | yes |
| California | no | yes |
| Colorado | no | yes |
| Connecticut | yes | no |
| Delaware | no | yes |
| Florida | no | yes |
| Georgia | no | yes |
| Hawaii | no | yes |
| Idaho | no | yes |
| Illinois | no | yes |
| Iowa | no | yes |
| Kansas | no | yes |
| Kentucky | no | yes |
| Louisiana | no | yes |
| Maine | no | yes |
| Maryland | no | yes |
| Massachusetts | no | yes |
| Michigan | yes | no |
| Minnesota | no | yes |
| Mississippi | no | yes |
| Missouri | no | yes |
| Montana | no | yes |
| Nebraska | no | yes |
| Nevada | no | yes |
| New Hampshire | no | yes |
| New Jersey | yes | no |
| New Mexico | no | yes |
| New York | no | yes |
| North Carolina | no | yes |
| North Dakota | no | yes |
| Ohio | no | yes |
| Oklahoma | no | yes |
| Oregon | no | yes |
| Pennsylvania | yes | no |
| Rhode Island | no | yes |
| South Carolina | no | yes |
| South Dakota | no | yes |
| Tennessee | no | yes |
| Texas | no | yes |
| Utah | no | yes |
| Vermont | no | yes |
| Virginia | no | yes |
| Washington | no | yes |
| West Virginia | yes | no |
| Wisconsin | no | yes |
| Wyoming | no | yes |
Top 10 Online Casinos in the USA
To help our readers find the best casinos online in the US, we’ve ranked our list of top 10 brands this year. Reputable American companies run these sites, which comply with local gambling laws, and are known as the top rated online casinos in the country.
