Although gambling legislature like the Wire Act of 1961 and the UIGEA made it tricky for aspiring US players and operators to indulge in online gambling, online casino gaming has picked up in the US in recent years.
With unclear rules on what’s legal, players have been forced to entertain themselves on overseas platforms for years now. That’s because the Black Friday events of April 2011 left the country without legitimate operators to serve players from the region.
Fast forward to today, and the collection for gambling revenue as well as the global pandemic have fueled efforts in various states to legalize online casino gambling. That’s because overseas operators do not pay taxes for serving US-based players, which is a loss to the government.
But with local operators offering their services, the government would be able to monitor and collect revenue from these activities. That also means players would have more locally based operators catering to their needs.
Is Online Casino Gambling Legal in the US?
This is a question frequently asked, and the answer depends on where you reside. Online gambling law creation has been left up to individual states. Unfortunately, that makes it difficult to know what’s acceptable and what isn’t, especially because there are four forms of gambling considered whenever you mention online gambling. These are sports betting, casino gaming, poker gaming, and lotteries.
At present, more than 15 states have already legalized online sports betting activities. But most of those very same states do not recognize the other forms of online gambling. So, whenever you’d like to access these online gaming options, find out whether you’re in a state that accepts the activity. If you are, you’ll find legally recognized sites to play at. And if not, you can always visit overseas sites.
States Where Online Casino Gambling Is Legal
Whenever you’d like to play legally at US online casinos, you need to find sites in states accepting online casino gambling. At the moment, the only North American states legally accepting the practice are:
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- Nevada
- West Virginia
How to Choose Legit Casinos in The US
Since there are still very few online casinos serving US players, you need to do a lot of research to find legit platforms. That’s whether you’re looking for state-recognized sites or overseas platforms. There are different criteria you need to look at when doing your research. However, the most important to help you get to a legit platform quickly include:
- Licensing and Safety – for state accepted platforms, rely on sites with licenses from bodies like the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). For overseas sites, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is known for catering to the needs of US players. Such platforms have strict security measures in place to guarantee safe real money gambling.
- Games and involved Developers – a wide variety of releases from recognized developers is a good sign. That’s because leading developers only work with legally run casino sites.
- Payment Options – platforms accepting US players need to offer US-friendly payment solutions. These include cryptos, credit and debit options like Discover, Visa, AmEx, and Mastercard, bank transfers, eWallets like Skrill and PayPal, and checks.
Real Money Online Casino Games You Can Play
Once you find a legit online gambling site to join in the US, there are several entertainment categories you’ll find. What you come across depends on where you choose to play. So ensure you pick a platform with the gaming variety you desire. In most cases, you’ll also be able to play for free when you want to have fun or real money when you’d like to bag a few wins.
Slot Varieties
Regardless of the casino you choose, these will make up the bulk of the games you find at online casinos accepting US players. Slots come in three main categories, giving fans a variety of options for their gaming.
You can play classic slots, try video or 3D slots, or indulge in jackpot slots, which award big prizes for the right symbol combinations.
Virtual Table and Card Titles
These refer to the classic releases like Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat, and Craps that you would find on the casino floor. However, they’re virtual titles that you can play against the gaming software’s RNG. Every round gets automated, helping you play more within a shorter period since cards don’t get manually shuffled or dealt.
Video Poker
For an automated Poker gaming session that mimics slot gaming, Video Poker releases have you covered. Depending on the site you choose, you may find a wide variety or just a few releases available. So, choose the platform you become a member at well to enjoy as many titles as possible.
Specialty Titles
Not every casino features this category. However, if you prefer games like Bingo, Keno, and Scratchcards, then this is where you’ll find them. Ensure you browse the catalog well, so you have as many releases as you need to stay entertained.
Live Dealer Releases
Something that is gaining more popularity than the rest is live casino releases. These are titles you play against a real dealer. However, you’re not on the casino floor with them. Instead, you live-stream your session online with the dealer at the casino’s studio, and you joining the table from wherever you are. It offers a more social gaming session at the tables.
Live dealer titles feature classic casino table and card game varieties. So, you can expect to find several Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, Sic Bo, and Craps releases available. Besides those, you will also come across gameshows, Keno, Bingo, and even lotteries.
