With almost 40 US states having legal sports betting, online casinos are only allowable in 7 states as of December, 2024. Lawmakers are slow to legalize iGaming platforms as they believe the risks of addiction are higher when playing games like slots and roulette.
This guide highlights where you can legally play at online casinos in the US, as well as alternative options if the activity is illegal in your state. You’ll learn how to choose the best casino site for your needs, how to sign up for an account, and what games you can play.
Where Are Online Casinos Legal in the US?
Only 7 states currently offer legal online casinos. The main reasons why many states are hesitant to allow the activity are because of fears over gambling addiction rates.
There are also lawmakers in some regions that have land-based casinos who fear allowing online gambling will eat into the revenues of the physical properties, leading to job losses.
Here’s a quick look at the 7 states that do have legal online casinos:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
Where Are Online Casinos Not Legal in the US?
The list of states where online casinos are not legal is much longer, with 43 regions currently on this list, as well as Washington, D.C. We’ll be sure to update this guide whenever another state changes its stance.
People who live in any of the following states can turn to offshore casinos to play casino games online:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How to Select an Online Casino to Begin Playing
When there’s a selection of online casino sites to choose between, it can be difficult to know where to begin. We’ve spent hundreds of hours testing the leading online casinos so you don’t have to. Here are some of the areas we focus on the most when delivering our final assessments:
- Has a license: Our first port of call is checking whether the online casino holds a license from a trustworthy regulator. This lets us know that the platform is subject to strict oversight and much less likely to try to take advantage of players.
- Stellar customer reviews: It’s important to take into consideration the opinions of others. We look at impartial reviews from real customers through websites like Trustpilot. We also check out social media and forums to see what people like and dislike about the online casino.
- Game selection: Once you know you’re dealing with a legit online casino, you need to check the quality of the game selection. We want to have a good variety of game types. A quick way to judge the quality of a game library is by checking what studios supply the games.
- Enticing promotions: The best online casinos in the US will offer enticing welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions to keep people coming back. Looks can be deceiving, so we always consider the terms of an offer to see how hard it is to convert the bonus into real money.
- Commitment to customer support: Nobody wants to have to talk with a member of the customer support team, but occasionally the need arises. Players want to know they can get quick responses that resolve their issues with minimal fuss.
- Fast processing speeds: Another key area we consider is the withdrawal speeds of online casinos. Some platforms can take a lot of time to process funds, while others will have your money to you almost instantly.
Popular Casino Games to Play
The majority of online casinos will make sure to cover a wide range of game types so users will always have access to something enjoyable. Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular casino games:
- Slots: The majority of an online casino’s game library will be slots. These can vary from classic slots to video slots and jackpot games. Different types of themes will be playable and all sorts of fun bonus features are available.
- Table Games: Most online casinos will provide traditional table games like blackjack, roulette, and casino poker that allow you to play against a computer.
- Live Dealer Games: All leading platforms will have live casino games available, which allow you to play your favorite table games with a real-life dealer through an HD stream.
- Niche Games: Then there will often be support for a variety of niche games, including video poker, scratch cards, arcade games, virtual sports, crash games, and bingo.
How We Rate Online Casinos
If you want to know more about our process of testing and reviewing online casinos, we will outline the most important steps. You can apply the same principles if you want to do your own testing.
Visit the Website or Download the App
We start building an initial impression of the online casino as soon as we visit the website or download the app. This includes taking on board the welcome offer, initial aesthetics, and anything else that pops out straight away.Create an Account
We then want to see how long it takes to set up an account, so we go through the entire process. This includes choosing a username and password, as well as entering all the necessary details and completing KYC if necessary.Adding Funds
Making a deposit allows us to get an idea of how smooth and efficient the payment system is at the casino site. We add funds to our account so we have real money to play with.Browse the Game Library
Our next step is taking a look at the game library to see how easy it is to navigate and get to grips with the selection of titles.Play Games
We then begin playing a mix of different game types, noting the loading times and the smoothness of gameplay. We go through this process both on mobile and a computer.Withdraw Money
Once we finish testing the games, we’ll initiate a withdrawal to make sure that the payout speeds operators promise are what customers get in reality.
How to Sign Up for an Online Casino
If you’ve identified the online casino you want to play at and are ready to get up and running, then you only need to spend a minute or two of your time to do so. Here’s a look at the main steps when creating an account with Wild Casino, our number one US online casino pick:
Step 1: Go to the Website or Download the App
Your first step is visiting the online casino’s site or downloading the app from the respective app store.
Step 2: Sign Up
Then you can sign up for a new account. This means entering your full name, address, and date of birth. Contact details are also necessary, as well as players having to decide on a username/password combo. Once you agree to the site’s terms and conditions, you’re good to go.
Step 3: Deposit Money
You can now go to the payments section and choose a method to add money to your account. At this point, you will often have to enter the relevant bonus code to claim the welcome bonus. Then be sure to meet the minimum transaction size before confirming your payment.
Step 4: Start Playing
Deposits typically hit your account straight away, so you can begin playing your favorite games with real money. Browse the library to see what title tickles your fancy. It should load almost instantly when you click, and you’re free to enter your stake and begin playing.
Latest News in the US Online Gambling Space
With only 7 states currently having legal online casinos, it is only a matter of time before more regions join this list.
Our news team is always looking out for the latest news about iGaming legalization. This means you can always stay up to date with the latest goings on in the space. Here are some of the most recent eye-catching news articles from our team:
- New Ohio iGaming Bill Could Bring Over $500M In Annual Tax Revenue
- Gambling Losses Are Tax Deductible, According To Tax Services
- Artificial Intelligence Expert Says AI Could Help Gamblers Win Money
Responsible Gambling
Playing casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots is enjoyable, and online platforms give you a tremendous level of choice. However, it also means you have 24/7 access to gambling options, which can be a problem for some people.
If you ever feel like you’re struggling to control your gambling, be sure to seek help and restrict your account. Most online casinos offer tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion to help people take back control. To learn more about the topic, check out our responsible gambling page.