Top Online Casino Sites Usa

Play the best online casino games and top rated online casinos! Online Casinos For Real Money - Video Poker, Blackjack, Slots and more other interesting games. Our site contains the most popular casinos in USA with a large number of first deposit bonuses, play and win only with us. The best way to find a trustworthy online casino is to pick a big online casino with a large number of players and big revenues, which we’ve given a high reputation rating. Large casinos are generally safer for players, because they have big revenues which allow them to easily pay out players even if they win really big.

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When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) became a reality in 2006, it changed the online casino USA industry. Fortunately for American casino fans regulation is on its way, and if you live in a regulated state you have plenty of options. Here at CasinoTop10, you'll find an extensive list of casinos which have been tested and approved by our staff in all regulated states.

Our Online Casino USA Reviews

Although Las Vegas and Atlantic City are widely thought to be the largest and most well-known gambling meccas across the lands in America, the internet can also be regarded as a gambling mecca in its own right. Why? Well, simply because the list of online gambling sites to play at that can be found on the net is growing with new regulations and licenses in place in some states. And of course, similarly to land-based casinos, there’s a mixture of internet casinos which basically consists of the good, the bad and the downright ugly. The problem that’s obviously presented here is distinguishing between them in order to find the right fit for you as a gambler, and make sure they are legal in a regulated state. You can check out all the new online casinos in your regulated state and be updated on new offerings.

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Expert Reviews of Online Casinos in the USA

Luckily for all you gamblers out there, our experts at CasinoTop10 are here to swoop in and save the day. We know the industry like the back of our hand and have dedicated many years to reviewing online casinos USA to provide you with the cream of the crop in online gambling entertainment. So leave your fear of playing at a rogue and unlicensed casino at the door and opt to play at one of the online casinos USA in our list instead that are regulated and safe.

CasinoTop10's Best Online Casino USA Sites need to:

Be approved online casinos which are regulated and approved by a reputable gambling authority in a licensed and regulated state

Run on a safe, secure and trusted casino platform;

Provide a phenomenal array of online casino games;

Have large casino bonuses and other fantastic online casino promotions for US players that are regulated for safe and easy play.

Our Selection of Desktop & Mobile Casinos USA

Our selection of online casinos USA includes ones that are compatible with both desktop and mobile. Most online casinos within the legal states have mobile versions with software for Android and iOS devices such as the iPad, different tablets, and mobile phones. However, just like when you play on desktop, the same geo-restrictions will apply on your mobile. Your location will most likely be required by most mobile casinos as you need to be confirmed as being within the legal Mobile Casino operating states. Similarly, if you are playing games online which you usually leave running, this won’t be possible on a mobile that is turned off as the geo-tracking needs to be activated in order for you to be allowed to play. Having said this, there are still many mobile casinos for you to choose from – just keep your location switched on and you’ll be accepted in no time.

The Legal Hemisphere for Online Casinos USA

Before 2006 there were no legal limits for online gambling; however in 2006, the then president George Bush enacted the SAFE Port Act which also incorporated restrictions for online gambling in the United States. The gambling law, Title VII of the SAFE Port Act is known as the ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006’ – more commonly referred to as UIGEA.

The UIGEA Law's Impact on USA Online Casinos

The UIGEA's law which,'..prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law', clearly restricts online gambling in the US and is now strictly regulated and varies from state to state. The law is indicative of the fact that it is the processing and acceptance of player’s payments to online casinos by banks and financial institutions that is illegal.

Online Casinos US State Laws Summary

Online casinos are officially legal in the states of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. You need to be within these states in order to access online and mobile gambling opportunities. Prior to signing up at casinos, CasinoTop10 recommends that you check the laws which govern where you live in order to determine whether to sign-up to a site or not, as those states which do allow online gambling are usually heavily regulated. The States of Nevada and New Jersey, for example, had declared that non-state regulated gambling is illegal, but online gambling per se is not.

The licensed casino operators will also take many measures to check the physical location of all those who wish to play online and on mobile. If you have changed your IP address for privacy reasons or to access news sites abroad this will affect your ability to play at online casinos within these states. Even if you are close to the limits of a bordering state your location may indicate that you are no longer in the legal casino playing area and you won’t be allowed to play.

Future Changes for the Real Money Online Casinos USA Industry

Despite the fact that only three states have legalized online casino gambling in the United States, more states are now in a debate in order to have the online casino world more regulated and are attempting to legalize it. You will have to follow the relevant state discussions surrounding online gambling legislation in order to keep updated on the latest attempts for legalization.

Online Casino USA Gambling Restrictions by Entity

There are different restrictions associated with playing casino games online – we have outlined the different kind of restrictions for the different entities within the online gambling industry and for different actions taken so you can be absolutely sure of the legalities and illegalities within the industry.

Restrictions for US Casinos & Other Entities that Accept Casino Game Bets

Any online casinos within the United States that are outside the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada and are accepting payments and operating are doing so illegally and at very high risk of prosecution. Online casinos within the legal states and offshore in legal countries are within the legal frameworks and may operate freely.

Restrictions for US Online Casino Companies Operating From Outside the States

Online casinos that are outside of the legal states are prohibited from accepting betting payments from customers. This has moved many online casinos to operate legally in other countries, but they cannot accept any US players as this is illegal.

Restrictions for Payment System Companies

The bulk of the law is a charter of obligations of ‘non-exempt’ participants and designated payment systems and requires such participants and systems to “identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit the processing of restricted transactions”. Assisting in the transfer of funds to online casinos inside and outside the US is how the US government has tried to stop online gambling from occurring – by attacking the source. If money can’t be sent around between players and online casinos, nobody can play the games and the online casinos can’t benefit from player’s money or transfer winnings back to players. Without money that can be freely moved, the online casino industry doesn’t work.

The United States Treasury and Federal Reserve Board have outlined five different payment systems that fall under the act as a payment participant that will have to block betting payments: card systems, ACH systems, wire transfer systems, check collection systems, and money transmitting businesses.

There are specific participants who are responsible for blocking the payments and monitoring illegal activity within each payment systems – not everyone will be prosecuted. In the case of ACH systems, it’s the financial institution that makes the deposits and any third party that receives credit or processes the debit on behalf of the commercial customer. In the case of cards such as VISA or MasterCard, it is the card company that will be in the red if the process online casino payments. For check collection systems and wire transfer system it’s not actually the system company itself but the depositary and beneficiary’s bank, respectively. And finally, in the case of money transmitting businesses, it’s the operator itself that will be charged for illegal activity. The act makes it clear that any back-office support provider to any of these payment systems and services is not considered a third party and will not be prosecuted.

However, you as an end user is always the one responsible for our action and you need to confirm your state's regulations to be on the safe side.

Sites

Within the legal states, processing payments for online casinos and their players is legal. You will find that there will always be a payment option available to you when you play online, we have only listed the best and most reputable casinos that accept payments and transfers between US citizens and the casinos.

Advertising Restrictions For Casino Online USA

Advertising Restrictions for Major Media Outlets

Accepting advertising for internet gambling in major media corporations is not allowed. Major online media conglomerates google and yahoo have prohibited the advertising of online casinos since they received a government warning. Although there is no specific legislation surrounding casino advertising, most major media outlets have now prohibited it themselves. Although some fines have been imposed, no further action has been taken.

Popular Online Casino Games Real Money USA

Similarly, to other countries, the types of online casinos games that Americans play for real money is generally a reflection of the culture and society present in the U.S and above all what players enjoy playing the most. Whilst Slots online games hold a rightful place in the hearts of many online gamblers, Americans are also fond of the virtual replicas of table games such as Blackjack online, online Roulette and in the case of many high rollers also online Baccarat. A few other popular games which are widely renowned as being casino favorites in the United States include the dice game online Craps, the machine-like game Video Poker, online Keno and Bingo.

Remember to check games offered by a legal and licensed casino in your state. Our recommendation is based on free, social and real money play.

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US Online Slots

Slots are definitely the most popular online casino games that have gained a huge fan base ever since their release. They’re not simply limited to Fruit Slots machines. There are so many different themes on the net that it’s absolutely insane. If you’re interested in learning all about Slots, we highly urge you to have a look at our Slots online guide where we delve into all the nitty-gritty details about the game.

US Online Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular table game with many US players. The classic game can be found at virtually all US regulated online gambling sites and some even have several variations of the game too. You can find out more about the digitalized version of the game in our Blackjack online guide.

US Online Roulette

The red and black wheel of chance has been played for centuries and has also been transported to the majority of regulated online casinos in the United States. The game is loved for its simple rules and easy inside and outside bets. Additionally, there have been many betting systems developed to use on the game over the years too such as the Martingale system. If you’d like to learn how to play the game, head to our online Roulette guide where we delve into all you need to know before you head off and dive into a game of Roulette online.

Online Baccarat USA

Baccarat online is one of those casino games which is renowned for its glamour, especially in Vegas. The game has simple rules and involves making very limited decisions and is available to play at the majority of regulated online casinos in the USA. Essentially, the aim of the game is to get as close as possible to the number 9. Learn all you need to know about the online casino game by reading our online Baccarat guide.

Online Craps Real Money USA

The dice game, Craps, is immensely popular at most USA regulated gambling sites. And although at first glance, the table might lot a tad bit look complicated, it’s not as hard to comprehend as you might initially think. The game basically involves placing bets on the different parts of the table. Learn all you need to know about Craps online by visiting our guide where you can get the full gist of the game.

Online Video Poker Real Money USA

A fantastic game to play at many an regulated online casino USA is none other than Video Poker. At land-based casinos, the game meshes 5-card draw poker with a Slots machine. The one you’d find online is the same game in its digitalized form. Although the most popular of the games is Jacks or Better, you’ll be able to find many other variants such as Joker Poker, Tens or Better and Deuces Wild Video Poker. Provided that you’d like to learn all about the game, we recommend heading to our online Video Poker guide to get to know exactly how to play and the strategies you can use when playing the game.

Online Bingo for money USA

At regulated online casinos in the USA, Bingo is available to play round the clock. The game is super easy to learn and can lead you to win real cash prizes as a result. And the best part is you can do so while having tons of fun in the process. If you’ve always stuck to brick-and-mortar bingo halls for most of your life and would like to learn more about how to play it, the strategy involved and so forth, head to our online Bingo guide where to get into all you need to know.

Online Keno Real Money USA

Keno online strongly resembles the game of Bingo and Lottery. Like the aforementioned games, the main premise of the casino game involves predicting which numbers will be drawn. Learn more about Keno online by reading our guide on rules and strategy.

Other Types of Online Casino Games for Real Money USA

Although the aforementioned casino games are principally the most popular games in the regulated States in US, players can also find a wonderful array of other games at US-state regulated online gambling sites too. Among the lot are casino games such as Scratch Cards, Caribbean Stud Poker, 3-Card Poker, Sic Bo, Texas Hold’em Poker and Pai Gow Poker which provide a world of fun.

Free Online Casino Games Real Money No Deposit USA

If you’re used to playing casino games for real money in Vegas or Atlantic City and you feel a bit apprehensive in regards to making the switch from a land-based casino to an online one, you can always test out the waters by playing a few free casino games. Many online gambling sites for US players have a number of American favorites you can play at. Typically, you’ll have to sign up to play the games, but this is not always required. Provided that you don’t want to go through the hassle of browsing through a mélange of different websites to find one that hosts free games, you can also play a few casino games at CasinoTop10 instead by visiting our free casino games page. All of our games can be played via browser and won’t require you to download or deposit anything. So you can simply load the site and start gambling by using your free money today.

Deposits & Withdrawals at US Online Casinos

Each US Online Casino Has its Own Array of Payment Options

Each online casino USA that are licensed has varying online casino payment options. An important thing to note about each one is that each payment method offered has its own minimum and maximum amounts that can be deposited and withdrawn. Sometimes online gambling sites will also charge fees. However, this is not always the case. And you need to check what payment options that are regulated and safe to use in your state.

Recommended Deposit Methods to Use at Casinos Online USA

You’ll be able to find an array of deposit methods at online casinos that are licensed in USA. Yet, some are definitely more common than others. Among the best ones you’ll be able to find are credit card options, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. As credit card options, the best ones to use in order to deposit your funds are Visa and Mastercard. You can learn all you need to know about using cards at online casinos via our Visa Casinos and Mastercard Casinos guides. Provided that you prefer using an e-wallet instead, you can choose to use at several casinos that have their license in place in a regulated state. Other popular options that are offered include the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, which you can learn about in our Bitcoin Casinos guide.

Recommended Withdrawal Methods at Online Casinos USA

The most popular withdrawal methods at online regulated gambling sites are Check, and Bank Transfer and the E-wallet.

What is the legal gambling age in the US?

In the United States, the legal gambling age for online gambling differs from State to State and sometimes even the types of casino games that are played. Generally speaking, the gambling age is usually either 18 or 21. We always recommend reading up on the gambling laws by visiting a government website prior to signing up at a casino.

Can you gamble online in the United States?

Gambling laws vary in different states. You are allowed to gamble in some US states and not others.

In what states can you gamble online?

Online gambling is legal and regulated in the states of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. So, provided that you’re of legal age, you can sign up and play at online.

Where is online gambling illegal in the US?

Online gambling is illegal in a number of different States currently. Currently there are fewer regulated states than allowed. So check your local state for up to date regulation information.

How can I find the best online casinos USA?

In order to find the best online casino USA to meet your needs, it’s always best to read some online casino reviews. Bear in mind that whilst all the online casinos in our list are licensed and regulated, not all of them have a variety of online casino games which might appeal to you. Thus, we definitely recommend having a look at the selection of games at the casino you’re interested in playing at prior to signing up at the online casino.

Am I eligible to get a USA casino bonus on signing up to an online casino?

Yes, on signing up at an online casino USA, you’ll be able to claim an online casino bonus on signing up and making a deposit at an online gambling site. Of course, the internet casino you’re signing up at needs to be offering an online casino bonus in the first place for you to be able to claim it.

Where can I find the best online casino bonus USA?

You’ll be able to find the best online casino bonuses in our list of ‘Best Online Casinos USA’ above. Each of the online casino bonuses are listed right beside the casino’s brand name. In order to find out more terms about each casino bonus, you’ll need to visit the review page as well as the online casino's site.

Where can I find a new online casinos USA?

You can typically find new online casinos for US players in our dedicated page for new casinos at CasinoTop10. The process we use in order to identify suitable new online casinos is the same as the one we use for other online casinos we place in our toplist above.

Which online casinos have the fastest payouts in USA?

How to make a blackjack cocktail. All the online casinos we’ve listed in our toplist have some of the fastest payouts in the USA. Payouts are typically displayed in percentage form and can be found in the information box in each online casino review.

Where can I find a live online casino USA?

Provided that you’d like to play at a live online casino USA, you’ll be able to find one by navigating to our Live Casino page where we give information about live casino games as well as the best casinos to play at.

Where can I get an online US casino no deposit bonus?

Provided that you don’t already have a bankroll to use whilst playing online casino games for real money, you can always opt to cash in on an online us casino no deposit bonus! This type of bonus will be given to you on signing up at any of the No Deposit Casinos in our toplist.

Are there any online casino real money USA PayPal gambling sites?

Sadly, as you might have already realized many online casinos in the United States don’t accept PayPal despite the fact that it’s one of the most used payment methods in the world.

Play at an Online Casino USA for Real Money

CasinoTop10 provides a concrete space for the best online casino reviews for US players. Each casino listed on the site features games such as online Roulette, Slots, Video Poker, Craps, Blackjack and many more. So what are you waiting for? The possibility of playing your favorite casino game is only a couple of clicks away! It's time to get cracking!

Read through your state laws around online gambling before you venture into a new casino. Here at CasinoTop10 we only list licensed and regulated casinos.


Skip the Headaches and Play at a Legitimate Site

You’re looking for a legitimate U.S. gambling site, but can’t decide which site to trust with your hard-earned money?

Good news! We’ve been in the online gambling industry for over a decade (several decades, really, if you add all of our experience together), and we’ve spent countless hours to bring you a list of the most legitimate sites.

Here’s what all of these sites have in common:

  • 10+ years in the business with strong reputations.
  • Attractive promotions for first-time customers.
  • Quick money withdrawals (relative to the U.S. market).

Our Top Recommended US Gambling Sites

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  • Lots of options to choose from
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  • Casino games and sports betting
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Why Bovada Is #1 in the U.S.

#1: Fastest Check Cashouts

Bovada gets 10 times as much traffic as its second best US competitor and still delivers check payouts faster than any of them. Bovada processes check withdrawals in 7 days; many of its competitors take weeks, some more than a month to do the same. (There are other fast options, like the #3-ranked BetOnline, which delivers checks in 14 days.)

#2: Service

An equally important aspect of Bovada’s operations is its customer service. If there ever was an indication of how much a company respects its customers, it’s the level of customer service the company provides. I haven’t found any US-friendly site doing this aspect of the business better (although 5Dimes is a worthy runner-up).

#3: All-In-One

Finally, all parts of Bovada’s business (sportsbook, casino, poker, racebook) are popular. Bovada is best-known for sports betting and casino games, however, even its online poker room has around four times as many players online as the second biggest US poker site. You can access all of their games with one player account.

… But You Should Know This

Bovada is recreational-friendly, perhaps more-so than any other US site. You’ll find few golden opportunities in their sportsbook (read more about their use of dual lines), they have a relatively high overall house edge (especially after recently increasing house edge in video poker games) and their online poker room only has “anonymous” tables.

Although not everyone agrees with me, the recreational-friendly part is an advantage for skilled poker players. Since Bovada appeals to recreational gamblers, you’ll be like a shark among regular fish.

Bovada charges a 4.9% fee for credit card deposits (a lot considering how most sites charge nothing). The impact of the deposit fee is slightly compensated by their welcome bonuses, which are better than average.

All online gamblers look for entertaining games, attractive promotions and aesthetically pleasing software. To have a safe experience, however, you want a site to:

  1. Serve its customers with safety and respect,
  2. Operate with a reasonable house edge, and
  3. Handle money transactions promptly.

Yes, the third point is included in the first point but it’s also such an essential part of the customer experience that it must be mentioned separately. Many online gambling websites operate without an adequate level of service so these points are worth considering. It’s rare to find a combination of all three points.

Bovada fulfills all of the above criteria better than other sites but 5Dimes does well, too. In fact, I’m confident in ranking those two as the best USA gambling websites specifically because they deliver so well in the areas related to safety and trustworthiness. A site without proper customer service and safety measures is not one you should deposit money to, regardless of its promotions and whatnot.

What Are Some Alternative Options?

For Sports Bettors

5Dimes.eu is the best betting site in the US for the following reasons: they’re professional-friendly and offer reduced juice betting lines (in other words, less house edge). Before betting on any game, I recommend taking a look at the odds 5Dimes is offering. They’ve been a reliable sportsbook for over 10+ years — you’ll find few complaints about 5Dimes online, and the ones you find have been resolved quickly.

For poker and casino games, I would go with Bovada. But for sports bettors, it makes the most sense to have an account at 5Dimes.

Another Solid Option

BetOnline.ag is my third suggestion. It’s not significantly better than the others in any area but they’re simply a solid option. Prompt cashout processing, decent poker traffic, good sports betting options and entertaining casino games. Additionally, I’ve had good experiences with their customer service.

For sports bettors, BetOnline is worth signing-up at simply to be able to compare betting lines among a few sites. For poker players, BetOnline may offer some good games every now and then (keep in mind: you can bet on sports and play casino and poker games with the same account, so plenty of gamblers will stumble on the poker games eventually). For casino gamblers, BetOnline has a basic but reliable offering.

Top Us Online Casino Sites

BetOnline charges a 6% fee for credit card deposits.

Is It Legal to Play?

The definition of ”gambling” and the laws surrounding vary depending on which state you live in.

In Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey, some forms of online gambling have been legalized and regulated (only state-licensed sites are allowed to operate legally). In other states, it’s likely (although not widely agreed upon) that playing – and certainly operating – online gambling games for real money is illegal.

On a federal level, sports betting is the only form of prohibited gambling via the Wire Act of 1961. For several years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained that the Wire Act applies to all forms of online gambling, but in December 2011, they corrected that stance by stating that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting – a result of a 13-page memorandum from the Office of Legal Counsel to the Criminal Division of the DOJ (source).

State laws, however, often indirectly prohibit gambling. Or to put it another way: it would be difficult to claim any forms of online gambling legal with absolute certainty in most states (lotteries and such aside). Most state laws indirectly prohibit gambling simply by making all forms of gambling unlawful that have not been made lawful.

Purely based on history, it’s unlikely you’ll get into legal trouble; then again, if something is illegal, you can get into trouble, and someone probably will. Gambling online may be illegal where you live. Contact a local gaming lawyer to get a better idea of your local laws.

Legal Troubles

Industry-changing events have taken place in the online gambling world – mainly concerning online poker – such as the UIGEA and Party Poker’s exit from the US market, or PokerStars’ exit from the US market in 2011.

Those crimes were committed by online poker operators, though, not players. Still, the mere fact that online poker companies were targeted was enough to cast a shadow over the legality of US online poker, and furthermore, players grew more and more worried about one of these sites getting shut down along with the money on their player accounts.

In fact, there is a legitimate reason to worry about dishonest US gambling sites taking your money. Some sites have indeed taken off with the money – a recent example is Lock Poker, which currently may owe its customers over $15 million. I created LegitGamblingSites.com mainly to give more exposure to the sites with strong track records of honest business practices.

The lawmakers, in that regard, have a point about not allowing unlicensed sites to provide online gambling games to US citizens. While that may not be the reason, it’s likely one of them. (If I had to guess, I’d say they’re more concerned about losing out on tax dollars and protecting the interests of brick & mortar casino owners such as Sheldon Adelson, although through the RAWA – Restore America’s Wire Act legislation – he tries to do that by himself.)

How to Move Money Around

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) became a law, US citizens have had a more difficult time finding a suitable deposit method.

There are only a few left, actually.

The most common deposit method for US citizens is still credit card deposits, out of which VISA is the most widely accepted brand, followed by Mastercard, with American Express being a distant third. Cards must be eligible for both international and online transfers.

The alternative method is to use a money transfer service such as Western Union. Western Union is mostly a deposit-only method. (Bovada is an exception since they only allow you to withdraw money via a check.)

Why to use a money transfer service instead of a credit card?

  • A card deposit fails to go through. This happens every now and then, and the only way to know if your card will be accepted is to try. According to various forum reports, Vanilla VISA is declined at most sites while Netspend VISA has been successful.

    Surprisingly, players have had problems with card deposits even at state-licensed sites due to banks like Bank of America outright declining all gambling transactions. Things will likely get better with the new MCC codes for VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Distant which will help casinos to identify gambling transactions more accurately. It’s unclear how much of a help this will be since banks still have the right to decline transfers marked with the new MCC codes, and due to not wanting to violate the UIGEA (according to which they’re prohibited from knowingly processing unlawful gambling transactions), banks may decide it isn’t worth it and keep cancelling transactions even if they were for state-licensed sites.

    This is expected to change once bigger states – perhaps even the biggest of them all, California – join internet gambling, since declining the transactions will then affect such a large percentage of any bank’s customer base.

  • You want a faster cashout. While money transfer services cost more (many sites, like Bovada, allow one free check cashout a month), the money is usually delivered to be picked up at a local Western Union location in five days or less.
  • You don’t want a check cashout. You need to go to a cashier to cash a check. Most people would rather avoid doing this, especially since banks aren’t allowed to knowingly process online gambling related transactions (unless in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey, but people have had problems in those states as well).

In general, you’ll have higher transaction costs with money transfer services than with a combination of credit cards and checks. BetOnline and Bovada are the only major USA sites charging for credit card deposits and most allow one free check cashout per month – some, like True Poker, allow a free check withdrawal every seven days.

How to use a credit card/check combination?

  1. Enter your credit card details online after which you have the money on your player account instantly.
  2. When done playing, order a check cashout, which will take from a week to over a month depending on which site you’re dealing with.
  3. Go to your local bank to cash the check.

How to use a money transfer service (like Western Union)?

  1. Go to their website or a live Western Union location and send money to the gambling site. (You’ll need to contact the gambling site first to get their transfer details.)
  2. When done playing, initiate the withdrawal from your player account.
  3. Go to a live location to collect the money.

State-Licensed Sites

As mentioned, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated some forms of real-money online gambling. Delaware started with online poker but has since expanded into casino games as well; Nevada offers online poker games only; New Jersey offers online poker and casino games.

As you can see, not a single one of these states offer online sports betting. In New Jersey – clearly the biggest market of the three – there’s a clause according to which sports betting may be considered to be added in the future.

Requirements

You must be physically located within a state’s boundaries to play at the licensed sites. If you’re currently located in California but live in Nevada, you’re unable to play until you return to Nevada; if you’re currently located in Nevada but live in California, you can play as long as you stay within Nevada’s state boundaries.

Licensed sites have to make sure nobody outside of the state can participate in the games. Geolocation – identifying exactly where a person is located – has been difficult, and there are still people who are unable to play even though they’re located within those states. This is one of the reasons licensed online gambling sites have done financially worse than expected.

Only existing brick & mortar casino owners within those states can apply for licenses, although they can apply together with an existing online gambling site in a software-licensing agreement, like Caesar’s Interactive and 888.com have done. If a poker site kept operating in the US after the UIGEA of 2006, it will be subjected to a ”bad actor” clause in Nevada and be prohibited from operating in the state for now.

Performance

Each state has had a rocky start, although New Jersey is doing OK. In March 2014, they did $11.87 million in revenue, which grew into $13.16 million in March 2015. A growth rate of 14.57% year-over-year is better than nothing, but still a far cry from the $1 billion within the first 7 months of operating Governor Christie expected (New Jersey gambling sites were launched in November 2013). In other words, his expectations were a little over $140 million a month on average, or about ten times the current revenue.

According to PokerScout.com, Nevada’s online poker revenue is going downhill. Year-over-year decrease in revenue of around 44% (from February 2014 to February 2015) is, no matter how you look at it, a disappointing result. Problems with card deposits and geolocation – both of which exist in other states as well – and player liquidity have undoubtedly contributed to the significant decrease. Players have to deal with fewer problems when playing at offshore sites, and as long as that continues, it will be difficult for state-licensed sites to gain major traction.

In Delaware, the state keeps all yearly revenue up to $3.75 million. Since total revenue for 2014 was around $2.1 million, gambling operators have made nothing. The main reason for such a low amount of revenue is Delaware’s population of 0.94 million (in comparison, New Jersey has a population of 8.9 million). Liquidity is important for online poker since you need lots of players to run games at various stakes, in several forms and throughout the day. Delaware is trying to improve its poker liquidity by combining player pools with Nevada but so far there hasn’t been a significant improvement to its online gaming revenue.

If all of the three states were to combine their player pools, it would create a poker economy of around 12 million people, which could add significant liquidity to the games and thus bring in more revenue to each of the states.

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Offshore Sites

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Gambling sites accepting US customers from outside of the three states are all ”offshore” sites, meaning they operate from outside of the US and have no license to operate within the US. They have obtained a license in some other jurisdictions – such as Antiqua & Barbuda or Panama – but many of those jurisdictions have less-than-stellar reputations.

The disadvantage of gambling at offshore sites is the lack of safety. For an outsider, it’s impossible to know how strict testing measures these sites go through to prove their legitimacy, and hypothetically, if one of them were to disappear from the internet tomorrow along with your money, what could you do about it?

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Lock Poker, as already mentioned, is an ongoing example. They’ve now lost their license in Curacao (weirdly, they were able to keep the license easily over a year after refusing to process customer cashouts) and there’s nothing anyone can do to make sure Lock Poker’s customers have their money returned. All we can do is spread the word to the people who are considering signing-up and depositing money to their site.

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The best thing you can do is consider the reputation of the site rather than the jurisdiction since all jurisdictions have had dishonest sites. The longer a site has been fully operational, and the fewer complaints it has generated, the better. Essentially, Bovada has been in the online gambling business since 2000 when Bodog.com was founded (the US-friendly operations of Bodog were re-branded as Bovada in 2011), and as mentioned, they’ve achieved an excellent reputation with a high level of customer service.

But there are advantages to playing at an offshore site, too, and you can legitimately argue that the advantages override the disadvantages. Offshore sites place fewer restrictions on customers, need less personal information and have to compete with lots of other sites (within US states, competition is limited) which forces them to be at their best in order to succeed. There are no geolocation issues either.

Safety and legality aside – although obviously, both are big considerations – offshore sites are the better option in almost every area. Since only three states have legalized some forms of real-money online gambling in the US, they’re the only places for internet gambling for around 96.4% of US population.

What’s Next?

US online gambling is in a transitional phase: after a long wait of legalization, three states have done it, mostly with lackluster success. Suggesting geolocation and deposit issues are resolved, revenue streams may grow. With online poker, though, most likely at least one of the bigger states has to legalize it and combine player pools with the others to create a meaningful poker economy.

A federal legalization would create much-needed competition and player pools, which in turn creates a bigger incentive for operators to participate and, in many ways, a better environment for gamblers. If internet gambling was to be legalized nationwide, every operator and their grandmother would want a license. As of now, it’s more beneficial for most operators to stay outside of the US.