Online Gambling in the US: August 2024
Online gambling in the US presents a complicated picture. Seven states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, have various casino gaming titles. Nevada offers online poker but no casino games like online slots and tables. Thirty-eight states have legal sports betting operators, but only thirty states have legal online or mobile apps for sports betting.
Players must be physically present within the state boundary when playing at a casino or sportsbook licensed in the state. No legal real money online casino or betting site is available for all US players. Gambling licenses are awarded according to state regulations. A gambling operator legal in one state may not be licensed in another.
Unregulated sweepstakes casinos are available in over forty states. As of December 2023, the USA has 486 commercial casinos in 27 states. Casino and betting regularization legislation is ongoing in some states. Read our guide on US states and legal gambling options to learn more.
States With Legal Online Casinos
The American Gaming Association states that the industry’s annual economic impact is $329 billion, with $53 in annual tax revenue. 47 states have legal casino gaming of different kinds, and the US gaming industry directly supports 1.8 million jobs. Only seven states have the full range of mobile casino games online and betting.
The regulatory oversight of online casinos and betting includes licensing rules, anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, game testing requirements, an age limit, taxes and fees, a tax on promotional credits, game availability, restrictions on political contributions, and responsible gambling measures.
New Jersey
New Jersey has legal online casinos (iGaming), mobile sports betting, retail betting and commercial casinos. There are no tribal casinos in the state.
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement regulate the state’s casino gambling and sports betting. New Jersey has its own Testing Services Bureau (TSB) to test gaming equipment, including slot machines, for integrity.
Sports Betting & Online Casinos.
Pennsylvania
Online casinos and sports betting apps are legal in the state. The state has 17 commercial casinos.
Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board (PGCB) supervises casinos, slot machines at racetracks, online casino gaming, and the sports betting industry. The Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations tests gambling games for fairness.
Sports Betting & Online Casino
Michigan
Apart from legal online casinos and mobile sportsbooks, Michigan has 23 tribal casinos and three commercial casinos.
The Lawful Internet Gaming Act enacted in December 2019 states that internet gaming may be offered by the three Detroit commercial casinos or by a tribe that operates a Class III casino in Michigan.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulates iGaming, casinos, and betting in Michigan. Testing requirements in the state ensure that the MGCB must approve all gambling machines and can use an independent gaming test laboratory.
Sports Betting & Online Casinos
West Virginia
The law allows the state’s five licensed casinos to operate online casinos. Casinos may partner with up to three interactive gaming management service providers (called mobile skins) to offer online gaming. The state is also part of the multi-state Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) for online poker. The West Virginia Lottery oversees casino gaming in the state.
Sports Betting & Online Casino
Connecticut
Connecticut’s two gaming tribes, the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot, are authorized to offer online casino gaming off-reservation. The two tribes and the Connecticut Lottery can offer mobile betting.
Sports Betting & Online Casino
Delaware
Internet gaming is available through the state’s three racetrack casino licensees. The Delaware Lottery is charged with regulating and overseeing the gambling industry, and sports betting is limited to the state’s three casinos. Mobile sports betting is legal but currently not offered.
Rhode Island
The approval of Senate bill (948) in June 2023 authorized Bally’s Corporation as the state’s iGaming platform and iGaming game vendor. Bally’s Corporation is the state’s iGaming platform, effective March 1, 2024.
TheState Lottery Division of the Department of Revenue is authorized to implement, operate, conduct, and control iGaming facilities.
Legal Online Sports Betting States
Online gambling sites are spreading through America led by sports betting. So far, 30 states (and DC) have legalized mobile, online sports betting or both. In most states with mobile betting, sweeps casinos also operate to fill a vaccum for casino gaming. In August 2024 the some key states open for mobile betting are:
New Hampshire
DraftKings the monopoly provider
Oregon Online Gambling
Oregon Lottery Scoreboard the monopoly provider
Washington D.C. Online Gambling
Limited Online Sports Betting
Online Sports Betting Only
Online Sports Betting Only
Online Sports Betting Only
Online Sports Betting Only
Online Sports Betting Only
Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos or social casinos are available in over forty states in the US. The table below explains how these virtual coin casinos differ from the real money casinos gaming sites. These are also referred to as social casinos or online casino sites for real money prizes. Players do not win or withdraw real money at a sweepstakes casino but they get to redeem eligible sweep coins for real money prizes.
| |
Social Gaming |
Sweepstakes Casino Gaming |
Online Real Money Gambling (casinos, sportsbooks |
| Description |
These games monetize through in-app purchases of in-game items, or via advertising. |
Players get to play all "casino-style" games with free gold coins and sweeps coins. Gold coin package purchases or social media competitions and giveaways award promotional sweepstakes currency, which is in turn used to play games and can be redeemed for real money prizes. |
You deposit and withdraw real money like a traditional casino. All popular gambling games such as slots, table games, bingo, plinko, poker, sports betting, and scratch games available. |
| Real Prizes Awarded? (Prize) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Outcomes Based On Luck? (Chance) |
Depends on game mechanics |
Depends on game mechanics |
Yes |
| Payment Required To Play (Consideration) |
No |
No (free to play, optional purchases) |
Yes |
| Regulated As Gambling? |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Legality In The USA |
In all 50 states |
Most operators live in 45+ states |
Mobile Casinos live in 7 states, sports betting live in 30 states and Washington D.C.; Online Poker in Nevada. |
| Popular Brands |
Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans, Angry Birds |
High5, McLuck, Chumba Casino |
BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Fanatics, others. |
Sweepstakes & Social Casinos Only
Sweeps Coins Casinos Only
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We Review Online Gambling Sites
We review online casinos and sportsbooks operating in the US gambling market. We do not recommend a casino that is not legal in the US. Real-money online casinos offering the full range of games are legal only in seven states (MI, NJ, PA, WV, CT, Delaware, and Rhode Island), and online sports betting is legal in 30 states. You will find hundreds of casino brand reviews and gaming pages on our website covering all things related to casinos and gambling apps.
Whether you are a new, would-be gambler looking for information or a seasoned bettor looking for new welcome bonuses, we have got you covered. We provide you with online gambling guides and tools so that you can make an informed decision about casino gaming. Our betting and gaming resources ensure you play with industry knowledge, not just free coins and bonuses.
We Encourage Responsible Gambling
We encourage you to use all responsible gambling tools available to bet responsibly. When the fun stops, you should stop, too. Players can set deposit, wagering, and time-out limits or put themselves on the self-exclusion list when required.
We Keep You Updated
Which states are on the verge of legalizing mobile casinos or sportsbooks? Which online casino is closing business? What are the trending slot games you can play? What is the latest casino promotion that you can grab this holiday season? We keep you updated with news about gambling and industry developments.
Responsible Gambling in the US
Responsible gaming programs are a critical part of business practices in the US casino gaming industry as per the American Gaming Association (AGA). Responsible gambling laws and regulations vary between commercial gaming jurisdictions and broadly fall into one of these categories.
- 21 jurisdictions mandate that land-based and online gaming operators prepare and submit a wide-ranging responsible gaming plan for approval. The plan also includes employee training and public awareness efforts.
- 34 jurisdictions require casino gaming or sports betting operators to adopt self-exclusion programs. The length of the voluntary exclusion is not uniform across different states.
- Most legal requirements mandate that gambling operators cannot target minors with advertising and that ads cannot be deceptive.
- 25 jurisdictions provide for wagering/time limits within casino and betting accounts.
- 28 jurisdictions have legal commitments to support treatment and research funding.
- Other measures include property signage, alcohol restrictions, limiting the use of house credit, and restrictions on certain financial instruments.
Online Gambling Q&A
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Is it safe to gamble online?
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Yes, online gambling is safe. Gambling sites are overseen and regulated by gambling authorities, who ensure they stick to the strict standards they've set. Even the game provider companies (IGT, NetEnt and others) that create all those fun slots are regulated. Read our casino terminology guide to begin your gambling journey.
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What are the best online gambling sites?
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Best choices for US players include sites like BetMGM, or DraftKingsIf you want to read more, check out our comprehensive BetMGM Promo Codes section. Or check out some amazing offers like the $200 free spins offer.
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Can I pay with PayPal?
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