Best casino sites in the USA

Population: 328 million
Active Players: 50 million
Currency: USD ($)
Regulated Gambling Products: Casino, sports betting, horse racing, fantasy sports, lotteries
Operator Types: Land-based casinos, local and offshore online casinos
Designated Authority: Various gaming boards for each state
Status: Regulation still in progress 

The USA is the world’s largest economy and military power. This country holds many superlatives, from jaw-dropping landscapes like the Grand Canyon and all the way to companies like Microsoft, Google, or Apple that changed the world forever. However, for casino enthusiasts, all these are less important than the flashy and luxuriant Las Vegas. Despite having a long history of gambling and betting, when it comes to playing in an online casino, USA things are not at all straightforward.

For a very long time, all forms of online gambling were illegal in the USA, until the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act of 2009 was passed. A year later, New Jersey became the first state to pass a law expressly legalizing online casinos. Even though 2009 marked a very important moment for the United States online casino industry, the market is far from being regulated. Every state decides on its approach towards online gambling and the situation is still developing as you’re reading this.

Did You Know That?

• The legal gambling age in the US is 18 or 21 depending on the state
• There are only 5 states that allow online casinos to operate on their territory
• In most cases, an online casino needs to be run through a land-based casino licensee
• New Jersey is the first state to legalize online casinos and most operators are located here
• Nevada, where Las Vegas is located, doesn’t allow online casino sites to operate.

Casino Sites in the US

With only 5 states allowing online casinos to operate legally in the United States, the country offers a mix of licensed and offshore operators. Players in states where online casinos are not allowed turn to international casinos to enjoy their favorite online slots and table games. However, not all casinos that accept US players are trustworthy and that’s why an in-depth look at both sides is required.

Legal Casino Sites in the US

The only legal casino sites operating in the United States are located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and Delaware.

• New Jersey was quick to pass a law allowing land-based casinos in the state to deliver online services as well. As a result, most Atlantic City casinos are also available online right now. Golden Nugget Online, Virgin Casino, or Tropicana Online are some of the most popular names right now.
• Pennsylvania licensed its first online casino in July 2019, Hollywood Casino Online being the first operator in this state. In the meantime, European online casino and bookmaker Unibet joined the list as well. 
• West Virginia is the newest state to legalize online casinos on its territory. In July 2020 the DraftKings Casino became the first operator and BetMGM joined the party in august. 
• Delaware was actually the first state to legalize online gambling back in 2012. However, the first operators started to appear towards the end of November with names like Delaware Park or Dover Downs.
• Michigan is also finished with the paperwork to legalize online casinos. The bill was signed in December 2019, however, there are no active operators in the state just yet. Unibet, Wynn, BetMGM, and William Hill are the new USA online casinos that could become available very soon.

International Casino Sites that accept US players

Casino enthusiasts from other states than the ones mentioned above have no legal option to play online. Luckily, several top offshore online casinos are offering their services to players from the USA. Even though the current legislation still deems these casinos as illegal, no real effort from the authorities to block these casinos can be seen. On top of that, players aren’t assuming any risks when they enjoy the services of these casinos, as only the operators are rarely targeted. 

When talking about international sites, the best online casino USA can be chosen from the likes of BetOnline, Bovada, Intertops, BetJoe, or BetDSI.

Welcome Bonuses and Deposit Limits

Now that you have a clear idea on the differences between legal and international online casinos in the country, it’s time to take another step towards deciding the best online casino USA has to offer. And for most players, picking the best is all about the welcome bonus. 

Since the online casino scene is still relatively new in the US, most casinos still offer a free sign-up bonus to players right after registration. Afterwards, similar to the biggest European markets, casinos apply a mix of first deposit bonuses, free spins, and cashbacks for the welcome package. It looks like the most popular first deposit bonus is the cashback bonus, judging by the number of casinos offering it. Another interesting difference compared to operators in Europe, the cashback at the best USA casino sites is offered as cash money, with no wagering requirements. 

The minimum amount that makes you eligible for the first deposit bonus at USA casinos is $10 while the maximum bonus you can get in a single take can go up to $1,500 as it’s the case at Golden Nugget Casino.

Betting with US Dollar

The USD is such a popular currency across the globe that all online casino USA real money operators offer it as standard. It doesn’t matter if you play at a licensed casino or at offshore operators, you can be sure you’ll use the US Dollar to enjoy your favorite games. This means you won’t have to worry about currency exchange fees or any other hidden taxes that may occur when you’re not playing in your currency. BetJoe, Bovada, or BetOnline are a few international casinos offering USD gambling to all players. 

How to Deposit and Withdraw on US Casino Sites?

Despite making the first steps towards putting an online casino framework in place, the United States has a lot of work ahead of them when it comes to payment methods. However, cards, ewallets, bank transfer, and even cash payments are the methods players can use to top-up their accounts.

Bank Transfer

Topping the account via bank transfer is possible thanks to the online banking apps developed by the main banks in the USA. Some of the most popular are JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, and Citibank. Having an account with any of these will allow you to make direct bank transfers or to send ACH e-checks. However, this method is only available in states where USA casino sites are regulated. An alternative to the regular bank transfer is using VIP Preferred, an e-check provider that offers a faster process and is supported at most regulated online gambling sites as a deposit and withdrawal method.

eWallet Options

Another popular payment option made available by the best casinos in USA, the ewallet is not as widely available as you’d find in European casinos. PayPal is the only ewallet that is offered by most USA casinos, while Neteller and Skrill are only available at operators licensed in New Jersey. Even so, since PayPal is a local payment method, the chances of a casino player not having an account with the American ewallet are very low.

Mobile Payments

For the time being, it looks like the USA casinos don’t have a dedicated mobile payment app. Bank transfers can be done via mobile, however, it’s not a 100% payment method dedicated for smartphone or tablet users. There’s nothing to worry about, though. You can just use the various ways to pay with your bank account or an ewallet to get funds into your casino account. Another alternative to mobile-dedicated payments is to pay with cash at PayNearMe terminals or at 7-eleven shops. Apple pay is a valid payment method, however, due to the stringency of the current regulation, Apple does not allow transactions to and from online casinos in the USA.

Cryptocurrency

The licensed online casinos in the country don’t support cryptocurrency just yet. So, if you want to enjoy a Bitcoin casino USA experience, you can always turn to the operators mentioned above. BetOnline and BetJoe are accepting Bitcoin payments for both deposits and withdrawals.

How to Create and Verify Your Account on USA Casino Sites

Even though the regulations on online gambling aren’t as clear as other jurisdictions, joining a new online casino is a straightforward process. Please note that before following the steps below to create an account, you should first decide on the casino to play at.

• Visit the casino website and locate the “Join Now” or “Registration” button to start the procedure
• In the new window that appears, complete the fields required. The most frequent information needed by new USA online casinos to open a new account is: First and Last Name, Email, Password, Zip/Postal Code, Phone Number, and Date of Birth.
• Once you insert the required information in all these fields, you’ll also be asked if you agree with the casino sending you emails, SMS messages or calling you. Decide if you want any of these by ticking the boxes for each.
• Press “Join” once more to create the account 

Some casinos will show a pop-up window asking if you want to make a deposit right after the account is created. However, if this doesn’t happen, no matter if you joined a Bitcoin casino USA or a standard currency one, the depositing procedure is just as easy as getting a new account. 

Just click on the “Deposit” button and you’ll get a list of the available payment methods. Choose the one that suits you best and the amount to deposit, then complete the needed details to perform the payment. That’s it, you’re now ready to play, score winnings and request a withdrawal. The cashing out procedure at any United States online casino is also fast and easy. It’s actually identical to depositing, the only difference comes from selecting “Withdrawal” in the cashier.

What Can We Expect from USA Gambling Law Changes?

The situation is still far from being clear regarding the online casino sites USA. If online betting registered considerable progress in the country, the United States online casino sites are not yet regulated. Furthermore, it looks like there are no solid plans to change this situation as even the best USA casino sites can’t function legally. With a very consistent presence of land-based casinos in the country and different regulations on gambling from one state to another, there’s no real hope for regulating the online casino environment in the future.