Guide to Online Casinos in the US

Based on our ranking criteria, we have compiled a list of the top 10 real money online casinos currently available to players in the USA. Below our top 10 list, you can read more information about the three best online casinos in the US. If you would like to learn more about any of the online casinos featured on this list, click on the casino to read a full review written by one of our casino experts!

Top 10 US Online Casinos

1. FanDuel Casino (CT, MI, NJ, PA, WV)
2. DraftKings Casino (CT, MI, NJ, PA, WV)
3. Caesars Palace Casino (MI, NJ, PA, WV)
4. BetMGM Casino (MI, NJ, PA, WV)
5. BetRivers Casino (MI, NJ, PA, WV)
6. Bet365 Casino (NJ)
7. Borgata Casino (NJ, PA)
8. Jackpot City Casino (NJ, PA)
9. Hard Rock Bet Casino (NJ)
10. Bally Casino (NJ, PA, RI)

See the list of all US online casinos →

Legal online casinos in the US are still a relatively new commodity, with the earliest legal online casinos launching in 2013 when New Jersey became the first state to implement a legal online gaming framework. Since then, six additional states have formulated their own legal frameworks to allow iGaming, bringing the total number of states with legal online casinos up to seven. Rhode Island is the latest state to introduce online casinos, officially launching iGaming in the state back on March 5, 2024.

Take a look below to see the full list of US states that allow legal real money online casinos.

States with legal real money online casinos

Now that you know where USA online casinos are permitted, it's time to get started with online casinos and everything it entails.

Learning about anything new brings with it a whole series of questions. Fortunately, we've been in your shoes. This means we have a good idea about the kind of queries you have and, better still, our experience of playing online casino ourselves means we have the answers too.

Step-by-step, this section guides you through all you need to know about online casino gambling USA

In particular, we will discuss:

1. How to choose the best online casino🥇
2. How online casino bonus work 💸
3. How to sign-up to a casino site ✍️
4. How to deposit at an online casino site 💳
5. How to play online casino games 🎲

Whether you are lucky to be located in a state with legal online casinos, or, anticipating legal approval in a state near you, it’s wise to know what to look for when looking for the best online casino site.

Here's what to keep in mind:

• Legitimate online casinos are best: The safest online gambling sites are those that are permitted in legal states.
  
• Consider game variety: Is the selection of games broad or lightweight? Plus are your favorites available?
• The more payment methods the better: Top casino sites guarantee numerous banking methods for deposits AND withdrawals.
  
• Test the sites across all devices: If you're going between phone and desktop to wager you want a casino site/app designed for both.
  
• Are there ample customer support options: A good level of customer service is a prerequisite of all top casinos in the USA.

You may have wondered why online casino bonuses were not highlighted as a factor to consider when finding a legal US online casino. There are two reasons for this.

One, a bonus offer is not representative of the entire offering of a gambling site. And two, this topic required it's own dedicated section that will enable us to explain casino bonuses in detail.

In this part of the guide, we explain the difference between each type of bonus so you know exactly what type of bonus you will be getting before you sign up.

Online Casino Real Money Bonus Offers

• First deposit bonus - most common type awarded to new players on first deposit
• Deposit bonus - same as above but issued to existing customers as part of a promotion
• No deposit casino bonus - the chance to earn free bonus money without depositing a single dime
• Bonus spins - spin the reels on a certain game using bonus spins
• Reload bonus - a promotional cash offer for existing customers and to reward loyalty
• Loyalty bonus - awarded to players signed up with an online casino for a long time
• Referral bonus - refer a friend and receive a fixed bonus amount or a percentage of their deposit

Deposit bonus

The one bonus you’re likely to come across more than any other as a new player. First deposit casino bonuses offered 'up to' a certain amount, e.g. 100% deposit up to $100.

Before becoming eligible new players must create a new account and make a first deposit. Using the example above, this would amount to anything between the industry minimum of $10 and a maximum of $100.

The amount deposited will then be matched by the casino operator. In this case, the offer is a 100% match. So, let's say you make a first deposit of $50. This will be matched with a bonus of $50 giving you a total of $100 to start gambling with.

No deposit casino bonus

Before risking your own money, you can play ‘on the house’. Such an offer, also known as a Bonus Money, only comes into effect once you create a new account.

The bonus does not require a deposit to be made, hence the name. But bear in mind wagering requirements and withdrawal limits that are attached to this type of offer.

Bonus spins

New players who enjoy slots should check out slots-only promotions, aimed with just slots players in mind.

You'll be issued with a set number of spins that are credited to your account upon a deposit being made.

As part of a welcome bonus, you may also be offered Bonus Spins No Deposit. Here, you can play and test the game without having to deposit.

Reload bonus

From time to time, a casino will reward committed players by adding to their deposit amount, albeit at a lower percentage than new players, so less than 100%.

Usually, depending on the casino you can expect to see reload bonuses offered on a weekly basis or to coincide with a big event.

Loyalty bonus

Regardless of how intense the competition is in attracting new customers, online gambling sites need to keep existing players happy too.

Customers who have been an active customer for a sustained period of time (normally between six months and a year) may be rewarded with a bonus spin or a ‘monthly match’ bonus in return for the loyalty a customer has shown.

Reload bonus

From time to time, a casino will reward committed players by adding to their deposit amount, albeit at a lower percentage than new players, so less than 100%.

Usually, depending on the casino you can expect to see reload bonuses offered on a weekly basis or to coincide with a big event.

Referral bonus

Tell your buddy, a family member, or somebody at work about how good your new casino site is, and, providing they go on to create an account, you will be rewarded with a percentage of their first deposit.

The refer-a-friend style of bonus is worth exploring but don’t be surprised to come across strict wagering requirements for you and the person you have referred.

Fingers crossed, you have in mind your preferred casino website at this point. Great, because in this part we are going to move on how to sign up and create an online gambling account.

Online gambling operators are always on the lookout for the best way of adding to their offering and one of those is making sure players can sign-up as efficiently and conveniently as possible.

Using the simple three-step process at 888casino as an example, we break down the stages of the registration process for you below. The entire process took us no longer than ten minutes from start to finish.

Step 1 - Enter personal details

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Gender

Step 2 - Create account details

• Username
• Password
• Email
• Security question
• Security answer
• Mobile phone number

Step 3 - A few last details

• Address (street number, street name, apartment)
• City
• Zip Code
• State
• Last 4 digits of your SSN

As online casino players, the need to deposit money to our accounts in a quick, simple, and hassle-free manner is a universal one.

Fortunately, there are a multitude of trusted casino deposit methods that help us do exactly that. For instance, credit and debit cards such as VISA, Mastercard, Discover remain as popular and convenient as ever.

The same for digital wallets which offer customers anonymity as well as a fast and secure transaction. PayPal is by far the most popular e-wallet and widely used across America.

Like PayPal, there are also online banking methods such as ACH, that enables a transfer to be made without ever having to provide a site with your financial information. It's not unusual for deposits to still be made in-person at a land-based casino or a PayNearMe location either.

Most popular US online casino deposit methods

Credit/Debit cards

• VISA
• Mastercard
• Discover
• American Express

E-wallets

• Paypal
• Skrill
  
• Neteller

Bank Transfer/Offline

• Western Union
• Bank wire
  
• E-check

In-person

• Casino cashier/cage
• PayNearMe

Selecting a deposit method

There are other elements that come into play, specific to online gambling, that play a part in choosing a deposit method for an online casino.

Some points are more important to specific players. For example, if you're an experienced bettor wagering large amounts, the maximum limit you can deposit will matter to you more.

What to think about when choosing a deposit method

• Processing time: You can count on the most common payment methods to process transactions immediately or within ten minutes.
• Fees: This may come into play when using PayPal or other e-wallets. These are normally imposed by the service you use rather than the casino.
• Deposit limits: For each method, there is a maximum deposit amount. But this can be adjusted by the casino site according to the player in question. For example, if a bettor appears to be gambling beyond their means it is capped or lowered. Equally, the limit can be increased at the request of a player if the player isn't deemed a risk.
• Accepted for deposits AND withdrawals? Payment methods are not always available as a deposit and a withdrawal method, which can be frustrating. In the US especially, credit and debit cards come under this bracket.

The variety of games available at online casinos easily surpasses what can be found at brick-and-mortar casinos. Here's a run-down of the most popular casino games in the US and how to play them.

Slots

Played by the masses, slots are the backbone of any casino regardless of location. If you’re a newbie it’s probably best you stick with the 3-reel slots but that’s not to say you can’t enjoy your fair share of beginner’s luck. After all, winning on the slots is purely luck-based. In every online slot game, the destiny of your game will be decided by a Random Number Generator (RGN). The computer component used to provide a combination can be likened to the unpredictability of rolling dice.

Blackjack

A timeless classic and the most commonly played online casino game. The aim is to beat the dealer by keeping the cards you are dealt below the number 21. Go over 21 and you're out of the game. A simple yet effective card game, as you'll find out. And with one of the smallest house edges among table games, its popularity stretches across the board.

Roulette

The roulette wheel consists of red and black pockets numbered between 0 and 36. The goal is to call which pocket the ball - spun by the dealer - falls into. You can wager on red or black, odd or even or between 1-18 and 19-36. Or a specific number if you're feeling daring! These account for the most common and some of the easier wagers but a whole host of bets are available. The game is favored by new and experienced gamblers alike due to its simplicity.

In the past, little came close to the bright lights and electricity of Vegas. But is playing online now better than the real thing?

More of us are choosing to play online at our own leisure

Given how easy it is to access online casinos via mobile devices, more and more of us are swapping the suit for slippers and choosing to play online at our own leisure, rather than visit the bright lights of a physical casino.

What are the main differences then? This section explains.

Land-based casinos

There’s plenty to enjoy about a visit to a land-based casino.

The dressing up, the buzz, the socializing, the celebrations that come with beating the dealer - even the disappointment of a loss can be glossed over with a complimentary glass of something.

The whole experience is one to savor. Low cost accommodation and buffets to lure you back into the casino or indeed keep you playing. Such temptations can also be viewed as negatives, however.

It’s easy to get carried away in the excitement of it all. Playing for longer than you’d planned and spending more than you set aside are just two potential issues.

There’s also the location of land-based casinos to consider. Some casinos aren’t too much of a hassle to get to. But many are located outside major cities which can contribute toward unnecessary costs and wasted time spent traveling.

Online casinos

No such problem getting to an online casino.

No need to dress up or make unnecessary small talk. In fact, there's no need to leave the comfort of your sofa - all that's required is a mobile device or a laptop and a fast and reliable internet connection.

You won’t be offered a trip to the local buffet as at a land-based casino but there's no shortage of online casino welcome bonuses, promotional offers, and other exciting perks to take advantage of.

Online casino bonuses can range from $10 to $500

What's more, such offers can be used at a time that suits you too so need to consult the diary.

And unlike the typical opening and closing times of most physical casinos, no such restrictions apply when it comes to gambling online; online casinos are open for business 365 days a year.

Be it 2.00 in the afternoon or 2.00 in the middle of the night, you can play around the clock.

Conclusion

The thrill of an ‘actual’ casino has been viewed as hard to beat for a long time. But this is without a doubt, changing. Very fast too.

From graphics to game variety to welcome offers, online casinos are beginning to surpass its land-based equivalent at quite a rate.

This has been aided by huge advancements in the technology available, which has, in turn, altered the way we do things and changed our daily habits on a grand scale - there's not a lot we can't do from our mobile phones nowadays!

That said, you will still find players who'll prefer the experience of entering a land-based casino over sitting in front of a screen. At the end of the day, it's down to personal preference.

But with online gambling is as accessible as it is - literally in our pockets - it's inevitable more and more of us will decide to trade our suit and shoes for our slippers and the sofa.

Overall, it’s fair to say, online casinos set the ball rolling in terms of online gambling in the US.

Who got the wheel spinning?

Microgaming and CryptoLogic are probably still arguing about who was first to market. But in truth, both of their respective products, The Gaming Club and InterCasino, played significant roles in developing the technology required to power the games and financial systems we play and use today.

Even now, Microgaming is one of the most trusted software providers and more than likely to be the operator behind your favorite online casino offering today. InterCasino, meanwhile, is a renowned name within the online casino world given its status as one of the longest-running online casinos in existence.

Neither would’ve been able to function had it not been for the Free Trade and Processing Act, however. The bill, passed in Antigua and Bermuda, granted licenses to companies wishing to provide gambling services online and, in many ways, initiated matters to begin with.

Growing signs were always there

The formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in the late 90s paved the way for more and more companies to gain the gaming licenses needed to regulate online casinos.

This extended to other forms of gambling too and, before the millennium arrived, the online gambling industry as a whole was hitting record levels - over 200 websites generating revenues of over $830 million.

But this was nothing compared with what was to come with the explosion of the internet and giant steps forward in technology; the turn of the new century witnessed online casino numbers reach an estimated 8 million.

With every year bringing more advancements in technology, smarter devices, and the ability for more players to access their favorite games, the industry has continued to blossom.

Fierce competition

With more and more betting operators seizing the opportunity to get involved in a lucrative industry, the market increased further with many operators setting out to become the biggest and the best.

Not only did added competition this increase the options for customers, the overall standard of the industry evolved almost monthly with added features added time and again.

Progressive jackpots, slots based on tv shows and multiplayer games are just a few of the reasons why and how numbers have soared. And, crucially, continue to do so.

Future of casino gambling is online

Graphics used for online casino games nowadays resemble those seen in digitally animated films, making the online casino experience as true-to-life possible.

Whether you’re a traditionalist or not, the future for the casino industry is clearly online.

It’s almost inevitable we'll be talking about a $1 trillion industry in time to come, a milestone that will confirm the online gambling industry as the fastest growing market in the world.