USA Online Gambling
Article

Online Gambling Guide for Beginners

Nov 18, 2024

This guide is all you need to get started with online gambling in the US!

Nick Albert
Content Writer

Online Gambling for Beginners

As a novice to online gambling, it can be daunting knowing where to start. But there really isn't too much to it as our Online Gambling Guide for Beginners is about to show you!

To get your online gambling journey started today, just follow these simple steps:

How to Start Online Gambling As a Beginner

  1. Check your state permits online gambling
  2. Choose a gambling site suited to you
  3. Create an online gambling account
  4. Make a deposit
  5. Claim a welcome bonus

1. Is online gambling legal in your state?

Online gambling in the US is legalized state-by-state. That means your right to legal online gambling is dependent on where you reside in the US.

Given the difference in gambling laws between each state, it’s essential you’re aware of where your state stands on the industry.

Here’s a list of active states with legal online gambling. Just click to discover the forms of online gambling permitted in each state.

Legal Online Gambling States

  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Michigan
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • West Virginia

Gambling Sites by state

List of All Michigan Online Casinos
Nov 11, 2024

This article presents a comprehensive list of all Michigan online casinos and valuable information about each one!

List of All NJ Online Casinos
Nov 11, 2024

Our team of online gambling experts has curated this comprehensive article, presenting an exhaustive list of all NJ online casinos!

List of All PA Online Casinos
Nov 11, 2024

UnitedGamblers is proud to present the full list of all PA online casinos! Find all of the best and newest online casinos in the Keystone State!

List of All WV Online Casinos
Nov 11, 2024

This article presents a comprehensive list of all WV online casinos and insightful information about each one, helping you find the best online casino for your gambling ...

2. Choose the best gambling site for you

To save time and make sure you choose the right gambling site from the get-go, consider your gambling intentions.

For example, will you be solely betting on sport? Playing casino games? Poker? Or, perhaps you want all three gambling verticals at your fingers tips?

Is live streaming a must? Do you need a specific payment method? And what about customer support. Does it matter if there's no live chat?

Knowing what you want (and don't want) in advance will allow you to filter out the gambling sites that do not match your requirements and narrow down your search so you end up with the one which does.

What to think about when choosing a gambling website

  • What's your primary use going to be? eg. sports, casino?
  • Is the mobile app easy to use and responsive?
  • What payment methods are available?
  • Are the customer support options sufficient?
  • Is there a good variety of markets and sports/games?
  • Does the welcome bonus represent value?

Expert advice: Horses for courses

Nick Albert
Nick Albert - Content Writer

If you’re just going to bet on sports, you're best going with one of these: Bet365, Unibet, 888sport, PointsBet, FanDuel, DraftKings. These are companies that are first and foremost, sportsbooks and established names within sports betting.

But if you’re choosing a US gambling site to play online casino games, choose from Caesars, Golden Nugget, Parx, PlaySugarHouse. Although these have online sportsbooks, they are online casinos first and therefore prioritize accordingly.

That’s not to say, an operator can’t do more than one thing; 888 has been very successful in developing sites across all three gambling verticals with 888sport, 888casino, and 888poker. And all three products are a very high standard.

But, generally, sticking to a specialist site is an easier and effective way of maximizing your online gambling experience.

3. Create an online gambling account

Once you have a gambling website that ticks the boxes, you can start with the sign-up process.

All you need to do here is provide the type of details you would if you were signing up to any online account, i.e personal information (name, address, contact details), as well as a username and password that you remember and ensure your account is secure.

US gambling sites are also obliged to ask all new customers to share the last four digits of their Social Security Number for verification purposes, so bear this in mind also. For more help and detail, check out the guide, below.

4. Make a deposit

Everything moves quickly from here, especially given the range of deposit methods made available by US gambling sites.

At least that should be the case - if you quickly discover payment options are on the light side then perhaps you need to have a look at another sportsbook.

But, on the whole, US gambling sites offer a well-rounded set of methods that enable bettors to wager quickly, based on their preference. Below, we've listed the common payment options you can expect to find when gambling online in America.

Popular Payment Options at US Gambling Sites

  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • PayPal
  • Play+
  • PayNearMe
  • Online Banking Transfer
  • Skrill

5. Claim Welcome Bonus

Players who set up a new gambling account are rewarded with a welcome bonus by online gambling operators. Across US gambling sites there are various types of welcome bonus offers waiting to be claimed.

Some will match your first deposit amount and others will allow you to get bonus bets which provide you with a helpful boost in the beginning.

You can read more about the different types of bonuses and how they work here. We’ve also listed a selection of the best promo deals in the US right now, to give you a taste of what’s on offer.

To take advantage of a welcome promo from the list of US gambling sites below, all you need to do is decide which site you want to sign up with and click on the green ‘claim’ button. And in no time at all, you'll be signed up and ready to start wagering. Enjoy!

21+. Bet Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best US Welcome Bonus Promo Offers
Operator BonusAction
#1
Play $1, Get $100 In Casino Bonus
#2
Get a $10 bonus & 100% deposit match up to $1K & 2500 Reward Credits® when you wager $25+
#3
Spin to win $1000 in Casino Credits
+ Deposit Match up to $1000 in Casino Bonus Funds
#4
Play $10, Get $100 INSTANTLY in Casino Credits
#5
BetMGM bonus
BetMGM bonus
BetMGM
4/5
100% Deposit Match up to $1,000 + $25 on the House
#6
$100 Money Back Guarantee
#7
100% Deposit Match up to $1,000 + $20 Casino Bonus
#8
100% Deposit Match Bonus up to $250
#9
25 Spins No Deposit Required & 100% First Deposit Match + 200 Spins
#10
100% Deposit Match up to $1000 + 500 Free Spins
#11
10 Days of Spins:
Get up to 200 Bonus Spins
#12
20 Reward Spins on Registration
+ 100% Deposit Match up to $100 & 100 Reward Spins
#13
125% Deposit Match + 25 Free Bonus Spins
#14
100% First Deposit Match up to $1,000
#15
100% First Deposit Match up to $1,000
#16
100% Deposit Match up to $500
+ 500 BONUS SPINS
#17
Deposit $5, Get $50 in Casino Credits