Online casino laws

Online casino sites to play on real money

So as you can see the online casino laws around the world vary. While the US has been struggling with its online casino gambling laws, its cousins from across the pond have been reveling in their online casino gambling industryвђ™s success. Online casino gambling is legal in england and many online casinos function there and offer their services to players all around the world. The UK has set up a gambling commission that regulates all commercial gambling activities in the UK. The UK is one of the few countries in the world that has such a successful online casino gambling industry. The UK is also becoming a leading online casino licensing authority as well. However there were dips in the success of the online casino in UK industry when they began to levy hefty taxes on online casino operators, several of whom opted to move to other countries that had lower tax rates. The UK had to make amendments to their tax structure in order to keep their online casino industry alive.

Online casino laws

Online casino laws vary from one country to the next. While some countries are embracing the online casino industry and are creating regulations and laws for the protection of players and online gambling operators other countries are still staunchly against the legalization of online gambling. These countries view online casino gambling as a serious social issue and are worried of the effects online casino gambling may have on players. Let us take a look at the online casino laws of some countries across the globe.

The US has been toiling with online casino laws for years now. The country is known to have a powerful and flamboyant land based casino industry, so it is only understandable that online casino gambling would also be embraced in the same way by players. However, the government and businesses with investments in land based casinos have been opposing online casino gambling for some time now. The truth is that online casino laws are still unclear in the US. There are no defining federal laws that ban online casino gambling completely. And since different states have the power to dictate the laws of the state the matter seems to be all the more confusing. When the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act was passed in 2006 it restricted banks from facilitating transactions to online casinos. This confused the players on the legal status of online gambling. Several online casino operators withdrew their services from the US while others continue to offer their services with the help of alternative banking options. Today barney frank, united states house representative for massachusetts, is working hard for the legalization and regulation of online gambling in the US. Frankвђ™s bill is making good progress and online casinos should be completely legalized in the near future.

While the US has been struggling with its online casino gambling laws, its cousins from across the pond have been reveling in their online casino gambling industryвђ™s success. Online casino gambling is legal in england and many online casinos function there and offer their services to players all around the world. The UK has set up a gambling commission that regulates all commercial gambling activities in the UK. The UK is one of the few countries in the world that has such a successful online casino gambling industry. The UK is also becoming a leading online casino licensing authority as well. However there were dips in the success of the online casino in UK industry when they began to levy hefty taxes on online casino operators, several of whom opted to move to other countries that had lower tax rates. The UK had to make amendments to their tax structure in order to keep their online casino industry alive.

Thanks to the european union that has been trying to urge member countries to legalize online casino gambling. Countries like denmark, spain have begun creating laws to legalize and regulate online casino gambling operators. France has also slowly opened its doors to the online casino gambling industry but there are major restrictions.

As for germany that has had a long standing gambling monopoly, online casino gambling may well be on its way to being properly regulated.

In australia it is illegal to provide online casino gambling services, however it is not illegal for players to participate in activities such as online poker or other online casino games.

All forms of gambling in malaysia are restricted to muslims. But non muslims can participate in a variety of online casino gambling activities.

So as you can see the online casino laws around the world vary.

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7 best online casinos for real money [2020] – top rated sites

What makes A site one of the best casino online options?

In order for a site to considered one of the best casino online options, it needs to have an inviting atmosphere and easy to use platform. Setting up an account needs to be simple. In the best casino online options, a player’s personal information is protected. The processes of depositing and withdrawing funds are smooth transactions for people on the best casino online option sites.

Customer service is number one

In any of the best online casino real money options, customer service is a top priority. The best casino sites have trained professionals to assist customers with any issues that they might have. If a customer has questions about their account or how the site works at any of the best casinos, they will get answers in a clear and quick manner. The best casinos have a mission to place their customers first at all times.

The best casinos online in the USA have great games to play

The best casino sites in the USA have a large selection of games for players to choose from. The graphics are the best in the industry, and the sounds are clear, without exception. Betting in the best online sites can be lucrative because of the great bonuses, promotions, and jackpots.

Here are the 5 top ones online

Knowing the top sites for gambling allows a player to visit them on a regular basis.
Here is the list of the top sites:

Players enjoy gambling at its finest

From the moment that they enter the gambling platform, they can choose from a vast array of slots and table games. All the while, they know if they experience any difficulties at all, they will receive the assistance that they require. As they get better at their chosen games, they will understand the betting system completely. This will allow them to bet in a better way, and it will enable them to cash in on the big winnings that are highly attainable.

Gamblers everywhere are enjoying the technology that has allowed them to play from anywhere they may go. Whether they are traveling for business or pleasure, they will be able to enjoy the games that they have become accustomed to playing. All the while, they will be comforted in knowing that these sites will protect their personal information at all times. This allows a player to trust and have confidence in the company and its mission. Striving to hit the jackpots, while enjoying every minute of it, is what keeps players coming back over and over again.

LEGAL US ONLINE GAMBLING GUIDE

Online gambling is legalized on a state-by-state basis throughout the US. This guide will walk you through what each legal gambling state has to offer, which states have the potential to launch legal gambling and finally, state that don’t have any plans to regulate.

States that offer legal online gambling

state	online casino	online poker	online sports betting
new jersey	yes	yes	yes
pennsylvania	yes	yes	yes
indiana	no	no	yes
west virginia	no	no	yes
iowa	no	no	yes
new hampshire	no	no	yes
nevada	no	yes	yes
delaware	yes	yes	no
oregon	no	no	yes
rhode island	no	no	yes

New jersey online gambling

What forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting


• Online casino


• Online poker

New jersey is currently the largest market for regulated online gambling in the US. Over a dozen legal and licensed online casino sites and poker rooms compete for an overall market that is worth more than $225 million a year.

New jersey currently stands tall as the leader in the online gambling USA space.

New jersey passed its online gambling law in 2013. The new statute allowed atlantic city casinos to apply for internet gaming permits.

Those permits authorized the casinos to host a variety of online casino sites under their licenses. As a result, there are now more online casinos in new jersey than in any other state in the union.

Almost every major casino operator owns a new jersey-based online casino site.

SITES

Each online casino site must run through a land-based casino licensee. Here is a partial list of new jersey online casinos:

• Golden nugget online: you are unlikely to find a finer online casino in the entire world. Golden nugget’s success with traditional gambling and live dealer games make it a must-see for any players who want action.


• Virgin casino: virgin casino online is the online casino wing of sir richard branson’s multimedia conglomerate. Visitors to the site will find a wide selection of games and constant promotional offers to sweeten the pot.


• Tropicana online: few names inspire classic gambling like tropicana. The trop online is the perfect place for players who want things a little more old-school, a little more cultured than a typical online experience.

The law that gave the casinos the ability to host online casinos also authorized the introduction of online poker sites. Poker-hungry residents and visitors in new jersey now have a plethora of options to quench their desire for texas hold’em, omaha, or whatever other game strikes their fancies.

Online poker sites operating in the market include:

New jersey is the most prominent state to offer sports betting right now. The garden state spearheaded the downfall of PASPA and contributed the most time and effort to argue in front of the supreme court.

Currently, there are more than a dozen online sports betting apps (a number that is still growing) and a variety of land-based sportsbooks up and running in the state. Here is a partial list of online sportsbooks in new jersey:

• Draftkings sportsbook: draftkings was the first online sportsbook to launch in new jersey when it opened its virtual doors in august 2018. Since then, the company has grown into a powerhouse in the sports betting community.


• William hill sportsbook: william hill is one of the largest sportsbook providers in the world. Its numerous retail and online locations around the globe have made it a fixture in most places with legal online sports betting.


• Fanduel sportsbook: fanduel often seems to move in tandem with its archrival, draftkings. However, fanduel has used innovation and customer service excellence to distinguish itself as a superb sportsbook operator in its own right.

Retail sportsbooks in new jersey

New jersey is also home to a wide selection of retail sportsbooks. The following are some of the options in the garden state:

• Draftkings sportsbook at resorts


• Fanduel sportsbook at the meadowlands


• Moneyline bar & book at borgata


• Monmouth park sportsbook by william hill


• The book at bally’s

The inaugural year for sports betting in new jersey, 2018, yielded bettors who placed over $1.2 billion in wagers. From that figure, the industry itself held just over $94 million in revenue for the year. That number has grown considerably in 2020, as billions will be wagered in the state.

Online sports betting has eclipsed retail wagering in new jersey by an almost 3:1 ratio. The limited accessibility of the state’s gaming areas makes betting through a device a much more palatable option for most residents and visitors.

Pennsylvania online gambling

What forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched may 2019


• Online casinos launched july 2019


• Online poker launched november 2019

Many of PA’s major casinos have rolled out online casino sites. Online sports betting is live and active with draftkings, fanduel and unibet to name a few. Players have the option of placing bets in person or online via the website and mobile app. Here’s a rundown of legal gambling options in PA.

Since pennsylvania’s gambling expansion became law in 2017, there has been incredible anticipation surrounding the launch of online casinos in the state. Both pennsylvanians and those in surrounding locations couldn’t wait to try out the keystone state’s take on mobile casino play.

They finally got their wish in july 2019. Hollywood casino online and parx online both debuted on the same day and ushered pennsylvania into the realm of online casinos.

Since then, several other casinos have joined the party. Here is a partial list of pennsylvania’s online casinos:

• Betrivers: betrivers serves as the online arm of the popular rivers casino philadelphia. Betrivers is also the online casino for pittsburgh’s rivers casino.


• Hollywood casino online: hollywood casino online is one of the original online casinos to launch in pennsylvania. The experience edge shows, and players will find a broad base of slot and table games awaiting them.


• Unibet: unibet is a recent addition to pennsylvania’s online casino landscape. However, the european gambling giant is no rookie. It brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to aid its pursuit of success on this side of the pond.

Pennsylvania became an online poker state in november 2019, four months after the launch of online casinos in the state. Pokerstars, the market leader for online poker in the world, opened its virtual doors to poker-hungry players in the keystone state.

The result was an onslaught of activity. More players joined on pokerstars PA on its first night than at any point in the history of pokerstars NJ, even though the garden state site had been active since 2013.

Pokerstars remains in a de facto monopoly status in pennsylvania. However, there are several pennsylvania casinos that have secured online poker licenses and could join the fray at any time. They are:

• Harrah’s


• Hollywood casino


• Mount airy


• Parx


• Rivers casino philadelphia


• Valley forge


• Wind creek

With so much opportunity in pennsylvania, it’s likely that at least one launch will be coming soon. Stay tuned.

Pennsylvania’s entry into the sports betting market was one of the most anticipated debuts since the fall of PASPA. The keystone state is one of the most populous states in the country, and its appeal to sportsbook operators stems from that very fact.

The first online sportsbook to launch in pennsylvania was playsugarhouse. The online arm of the philadelphia-area casino opened its virtual doors in may 2019.

Two other online sportsbooks, parx and betrivers, joined playsugarhouse the following month. There are now eight online sportsbooks active in pennsylvania, which include the following sites:

• Draftkings sportsbook: for a time, it seemed as though draftkings might be on the outside looking into pennsylvania. However, a deal with the meadows casino allowed the company in black and green to launch its operations in november 2019.


• Fanduel sportsbook: fanduel has implemented several customer-friendly initiatives since its launch in july 2019. Now, players can find seamless integration and a host of promotions anytime they log on.


• Unibet: unibet, and its partner, mohegan sun pocono, may have been a little late to the party with their november 2019 launch. However, the european giant is using its experience to make up for lost time quickly in pennsylvania.

Retail sportsbooks in pennsylvania

Some people will always prefer a more visceral and tangible experience than online sports betting can offer. Thankfully, there are several retail sportsbooks accepting wagers in pennsylvania each day. They include:

• Draftkings sportsbook at the meadows


• FOX bet at mount airy casino


• Fanduel sportsbook PA at valley forge casino


• Unibet at mohegan sun pocono


• Betrivers sportsbook at rivers casino philadelphia

So far, sports betting in pennsylvania has been big business. Monthly handle has already soared into the hundreds of millions.

*off-track betting locations that now offer wagering on sports. Both locations are owned and operated by greenwood gaming, owner of parx casino.

West virginia online gambling

What forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched december 2018


• Online casinos legalized in march 2018 (target 2020)


• Online poker legalized in march 2018 (target 2020)

West virginia already has online sports betting apps. The enactment of the west virginia lottery interactive wagering act has opened the possibility of online casinos and poker rooms in 2020.

West virginia may seem an unlikely candidate to be at the forefront of gambling expansion. However, if new jersey led the charge against PASPA, west virginia was undoubtedly second in command.

West virginia also bears the unfortunate distinction of being the only state to launch online sports betting twice. Although west virginians celebrated the december 2018 debut of betlucky, the embattled app only lasted until the following march.

That month, a disagreement with technical partners blossomed into the permanent cessation of betlucky as a viable option. Retail sportsbooks at wheeling island and mardi gras casino also ceased operations, and have yet to resume.

However, west virginia got a second chance a few months later. Here are the active online sportsbooks in the state:

• Fanduel sportsbook: thanks to some careful planning, west virginia managed to restart online sports betting with the launch of draftkings in august 2019. Players in the mountain state can now enjoy the innovative technology offering that draftkings brings to the table.


• Draftkings sportsbook: fanduel continues to mirror draftkings’ expansion into sports betting by being the second online book to open for business in west virginia. The company has actually been in west virginia longer, due to its operation of the retail sportsbook at the casino club at the greenbrier.

RETAIL SPORTSBOOKS IN WEST VIRGINIA

Otherwise, mountain state bettors can head to one of the in-state casinos to place a sports bet. They are:

• Sportsbook at hollywood casino charles town


• Fanduel sportsbook at the casino club at greenbrier resort*


• William hill sportsbook at mountaineer casino racetrack & resort

*the casino club at greenbrier resort is a private facility and not open to the public. Only members and guests at the hotel may play there.

West virginia became the fifth state to legalize online casinos in 2019. The west virginia lottery interactive wagering act authorized the state’s five casinos to pursue the development of casino and poker apps.

So, potentially, there could be five online casinos and/or poker rooms in west virginia soon. The casinos are:

• The casino club at greenbrier resort


• Hollywood casino charles town


• Mardi gras casino


• The mountaineer hotel, casino, and resort


• Wheeling island hotel-casino-racetrack

There is no specific timeframe for any of these properties to launch their sites. Regulations for online gambling are not expected before 2020, so a launch could not happen before then.

West virginia legalized online poker in march 2019. As is the case with online casinos, all five casinos in the state will be able to launch online poker apps in the near future.

So, the following properties will potentially have their own sites soon:

• The casino club at greenbrier resort


• Hollywood casino charles town


• Mardi gras casino


• The mountaineer hotel, casino, and resort


• Wheeling island hotel-casino-racetrack

Indiana online gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched october 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Indiana joined the group of states with legal sports betting, both retail and mobile, in 2019. The hoosier state now offers three online sportsbooks – draftkings, fanduel, and betrivers. Five more have indicated they will launch soon.

Indiana became a full-service sports betting state in the latter part of 2019. Retail sportsbooks opened in september, and online books launched in the following month.

As a result, indiana has become quite the destination for sports bettors in the region. Bettors from chicago, cincinnati, and louisville can place sports bets on their phones after a short trip in the car.

Indiana’s ascension into the online space is a bit surprising, given the fact that the hoosier state is one of the few to criminalize online gambling itself.

Nevertheless, there are several online sportsbooks taking bets in indiana right now. Many more are expected to launch in the near-future. Online sportsbooks in indiana include the following:

• Draftkings sportsbook: draftkings continues to expand its reach across the northeastern section of the united states. Along with betrivers, it was one of the first online sportsbooks to launch in indiana, doing so in early october 2019.


• Fanduel sportsbook: fanduel is the third sportsbook to launch online in indiana. However, the delay is unlikely to hurt the DFS titan, which distinguishes itself with innovative app features and generous bonuses.


• Betrivers sportsbook: betrivers opened its doors for business in indiana in october 2019. The site has several attractive features for customers, including an extensive loyalty program.

Retail sportsbooks in indiana

At this point, the vast majority of indiana’s land-based casinos are hosting a sports betting operation. The only major exception is the majestic star, which is likely foregoing massive expenditures in preparation for a move inland.

The rest of the properties are open and will take a bet. They include:

• Sportsbook at ameristar east chicago


• Fanduel sportsbook at blue chip casino hotel spa


• The book at horseshoe hammond


• Sportsbook at french lick casino


• William hill sportsbook at tropicana evansville

In just a few short months, indiana has seen its handle skyrocket over $100 million. As was the case in new jersey, much of the activity has occurred online, underlining mobile sports betting’s importance to the new market.

Although illinois, ohio, and kentucky will have sports betting relatively soon, indiana should continue to enjoy excellent returns in its sports wagering departments.

Due to indiana’s legal structure, online casinos are not permitted in the state. Furthermore, playing on an online casino is a criminal act. So, unless new legislation comes to indiana, there can be no legal online casinos for residents and visitors there.

However, indiana is home to thirteen casinos that offer slots, table games, and all the great casino action players love. Visit one of these facilities for the best gambling options in indiana.

Indiana law does not permit any kind of online poker play whatsoever. In fact, indiana is one of the few states to criminalize online poker play. It will take a change in the law before online poker rooms can come to the state.

There are, in fact, ten live poker rooms spread throughout indiana’s casinos. There are opportunities to play no matter what part of the state you’re in, so don’t miss out.

Iowa online gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched in august 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Iowa has quickly joined the party when it comes to online sports betting. In less than six months’ time, the hawkeye state has moved from zero sportsbooks to five. Iowa is a bit different in that you need to download and register first, then complete your registration in person at the partnered casino. Even with registration required to be in-person, the sky’s the limit.

Iowa became a sports betting state in 2019. Both retail and online sportsbooks began flooding into the hawkeye state in august 2019, and the number of operators continues to rise.

Truthfully, iowa’s arrival to sports betting happened in a radically-short period of time, in comparison to the other states. While many locations need six months or longer to launch, the first sportsbook in iowa opened its doors three months after the passage of iowa house bill 617.

Another curious aspect of iowa’s entry is the fact that it is one of the few states that is not permitting its inhabitants to register for a sportsbook account electronically. Instead, players must visit the land-based partner of their sportsbook of choice to establish their mobile identity there.

Thankfully, this requirement will expire after 2020. However, the extra step hasn’t slowed down online sportsbook operators from getting underway. Here are a few of the online sportsbooks active in the state:

• Draftkings: draftkings sportsbook went live in iowa in february 2020. The DFS giant has become a sports betting powerhouse in the past few years, and has introduced the US to several app features that have revolutionized sports betting. Those features include the cash out option and the betting carousel.


• Pointsbet: pointsbet launched its operations in iowa in november 2019. The australian sportsbook distinguishes itself with its signature product, points betting, which allows players to enhance both their wins and losses based upon the accuracy of a point spread prediction.


• William hill: william hill sportsbook was the first to launch online operations in iowa. The venerable sports betting operator has working relationships with four different casino properties in the hawkeye state.

Retail sportsbooks in iowa

Here is a partial list of iowa locations with sportsbooks:

• Pointsbet sportsbook at catfish bend casino


• Fanduel sportsbook at diamond jo worth casino


• The book at horseshoe council bluffs


• Q sportsbook at Q casino hotel


• Elite sportsbook at rhythm city casino resort

Iowa is already seeing millions of dollars in wagers flowing through its sportsbooks. Handle in the state has nearly reached $60 million monthly, and should continue to grow.

Despite the in-person registration requirement, online sports betting is shining as the star in the iowa sports betting constellation. The traffic is growing by double-digit percentages each month.

Iowa is not home to any legal online casinos at this time. A change in the law will be necessary to bring online casinos to the state.

For now, the best online options for iowans who want online casino action are the sweepstakes sites. These opportunities can reasonably simulate the experience for most people.

Iowa poker players are out of luck for any legal online poker rooms. The state does not have a law on the books or on the way to bring online poker to the hawkeye state.

The best solution is to visit a sweepstakes site. There is still some good gameplay to be found for the determined poker player.

New hampshire online gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched in december 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Residents of new hampshire received a late christmas present in 2019. Draftkings sportsbook began the era of online sports betting in the granite state on december 30. Draftkings will be the only online sportsbook. Retail sportsbooks are sure to follow in the coming months.

New hampshire is a recent addition to the community of sports betting states. Its first sportsbook launched in january 2020.

Unusually, new hampshire welcomed an online sportsbook prior to the debut of any retail locations. Retail sportsbooks will begin popping up in the granite state sometime in mid-2020.

The debut of draftkings in new hampshire came as a response to a gauntlet thrown down by new hampshire gov. Chris sununu. Sununu pushed regulators and operators to get going so that he could place a wager on the new england patriots.

Unfortunately for sununu, the patriots’ season ended sooner than he would’ve liked. However, kudos to the industry for giving him the opportunity to bet on schedule, anyway.

Here are the online sportsbooks in new hampshire:

• Draftkings sportsbook: draftkings is the only online sportsbook in operation in new hampshire right now. Its de facto monopoly won’t last forever, but the company in black and green will likely use the opportunity to build brand loyalty and market share.

Retail sportsbooks in new hampshire

There are no retail sportsbooks available in new hampshire just yet. The first ones should begin opening sometime in mid-2020. New hampshire law allows the placement of up to 10.

However, the results from a vote in november 2019 made clear where the new sportsbooks will be popping up. According to new hampshire law, sports betting can only be hosted in towns that have approved their introduction.

The towns that have approved sports betting in new hampshire are:

• Berlin


• Claremont


• Laconia


• Manchester


• Somersworth

New hampshire’s geographic location may limit the granite state’s ability to generate gobs of new revenue. However, new hampshire’s commitment to maximizing its citizens’ personal freedoms means that sports betting, in whatever form it comes, makes sense.

New hampshire does not have any plans to bring online poker to the state soon. For now, players should visit one of the sweepstakes site options that are available to them.

However, in an unusual quirk, charity establishments can offer gambling action through various table games at selected taverns and restaurants in the state. There are roughly a dozen locations where players can find roulette, blackjack, and other table game variants.

New hampshire is relatively hostile to the notion of online poker at this time. New hampshire players who wish to experience online poker action should seek out sweepstakes sites that are active in the state.

In the meantime, they can also visit one of the cardrooms located in the state. These options, which usually happen in sports bars, can provide an outlet for those needing a poker fix.

Nevada online gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched in august 2010


• Online poker launched in april 2013


• No plans for online casinos

Nevada enjoyed a virtual monopoly on sports betting for nearly two decades. So, it’s no surprise that the silver state was the first to launch an online sportsbook, doing so in 2010.

Aside from a few limited exceptions in places like montana and oregon, nevada was the only state that could offer legal sports betting for nearly two decades. The prohibition granted by PASPA was a boon for the silver state’s sports betting interests.

Although other states are now able to offer competition for nevada’s sportsbooks, the western state remains the home of sports betting for most americans. Most lines, estimates, and spreads flow from those published in las vegas sportsbooks.

With that said, nevada’s entry into the online sports betting market is surprisingly antiquated. State law requires that players establish and initially fund their account in-person at the home casino of their chosen sportsbook app.

This requirement is an inconvenience in comparison to the procedures in other states. Most of the new sports betting states are allowing their inhabitants to register and fund from the comfort of their homes. Even those that do require in-person registration – like iowa – have set a sunset date on that requirement into their law.

Regardless, nevada is home to a plethora of sports betting apps. Here is a sample of some of the apps available in the silver state:

• B-connected: the B-connected app serves customers that play through boyd gaming properties. It launched in september 2014 and is the sportsbook app for nine las vegas-area properties.


• Westgate superbook: the westgate superbook app deserves mention not for its features, but for its home casino. The westgate las vegas is the most famous sportsbook in the world and is often the gold standard for setting lines around the world. The app opened its virtual doors in june 2016 and offers the exact same odds that can be found in its physical location.


• William hill: the william hill app serves a variety of casinos throughout nevada. However, the in-person requirement may be the least aggravating for william hill customers due to william hill’s extensive network of standalone shops in the state. There are more than 100 locations where players can sign up for the app, which william hill acquired back in 2011.

Retail sportsbooks in nevada

Nearly every nevada casino has a sportsbook of some kind. Here are some of the better known companies or facilities that offer wagering on sporting events:

• Caesars entertainment – 8 casinos


• MGM resorts international – 10 casinos


• Station casinos – 9 casinos


• South point


• Westgate superbook

One might think that the land-based casino capital of the US would be the online casino leader. However, there are no online casino sites active in nevada at this time.

So, players in nevada who wish to play in an online casino are best served by finding one of the various sweepstakes sites. Other than that, simply walk outside and throw a stone – it’s likely that you’ll hit a casino.

Online poker is the only licensed and regulated form of online gambling in the state of nevada. Online poker action has been available in the state since april 2013.

Although ultimate bet led the initial charge back then, the launch of WSOP.Com nevada quickly brought about a new market leader.

Naturally, WSOP.Com heavily cross-promotes its online offering through the world series of poker. These efforts include online satellites to WSOP bracelet events and online WSOP bracelet events themselves.

In march 2015, nevada and delaware entered into a poker liquidity sharing agreement. This agreement, which combined the two player pools, runs through WSOP.Com in nevada. New jersey’s player pool joined the agreement in april 2018.

As of right now, here are the online poker sites in nevada:

However, there are rumors that more sites could be on the way. Remember to check back with playusa periodically to see what’s going on.

Delaware online gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched in june 2018


• Online casinos launched in november 2013


• Online poker launched in november 2013

Delaware may seem a strange location to find a stalwart of online gambling. However, that’s exactly what the first state is. Delaware was the first state to launch online sports betting post-PASPA and was one of the first to launch online gambling and poker.

Delaware, fittingly, was the first state to debut sports betting in the wake of PASPA’s dismissal. The first state launched retail sports betting in june 2018, a couple of weeks before new jersey’s triumphant opening at monmouth park.

Delaware is a small state, and is home to only three casinos. However, all three venues have a sportsbook onsite. Unusually, the three casinos operate through a joint license with the state lottery.

Online sports betting is legal, at least according to regulators in the state. None of the three facilities has seen fit to debut an app yet, though.

So, for now, sports betting is confined to three places in the first state. Given that its area is only 1982 square miles, it’s probably not too much of a problem to find a casino nearby.

Retail sportsbooks in delaware

• Delaware park casino


• Dover downs hotel & casino


• Harrington raceway & casino

View more information about delaware here.

Delaware became the first state to legalize online gambling in 2012. The market opened up in november 2013 with sites operated through the state’s three racinos. So, gamblers can find online casinos at the sites for:

These sites offer a variety of blackjack, roulette, slots and video poker games. Of the three, delaware park is the busiest site.

Delaware’s three horse-track based online gambling sites offer peer-to-peer online poker with software provided by 888 holdings. So, there are online poker sites for the following casinos:

Through a joint agreement with WSOP.Com, delaware and nevada began sharing online poker traffic in march 2015. However, like the state itself, the delaware online poker market remains small.

Needless to say, an infusion of players from one of the larger states could serve as a much-needed shot in the arm for the market.

Rhode island gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in march 2019, expected launch in 2020


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

The state should see the launch an online sportsbook sometime this year. The book will no doubt be under the twin rivers brand, which operates both casinos in the state.

We first learned that rhode island would be introducing sports betting in a very low-key way. Rather than putting the news at a press conference or through some sort of release, rhode island simply chose to include sports betting into its 2018 state budget.

True to predictions, the first sports bet took place in the ocean state in november 2018. Although the wagering ultimately fell short of the budget’s projections, rhode island became the eighth bona fide location to place wagers on sporting events in the US.

After a few months of retail service, rhode island lawmakers expanded the existing law to allow for mobile wagering throughout the state. Though there have been no launches yet, their debut is fairly imminent.

Rhode island’s approach to sports betting is quite unique. Unlike other states, the majority (51%) of the revenue from in-state sportsbooks goes directly to the state.

In fact, the state’s casinos only receive 17% of the revenue that they generate from sports betting as profit. Another major chunk goes to technology provider IGT, which has an unusually-close relationship with the state government and the two casinos in the state.

Nevertheless, sports betting is proceeding in the ocean state. Mobile apps are fighting a legal battle right now, but should come along at some point in the near future.

Retail sportsbooks in rhode island

View more information about rhode island here.

Rhode island does not appear to be making any moves toward legalizing online casinos soon. The state’s focus is on ensuring a successful launch of its sports betting products.

For now, rhode islanders who wish to play online casino games can use one of the sweepstakes sites available to them. These sites can offer online casino action while staying in compliance with the law.

Like the situation with online casinos, there is no indication that rhode island is considering a move towards legalizing online poker in the state. With so much riding on the success of sports betting, online poker is decidedly on the back burner.

So, rhode island poker players can find action through a sweepstakes site, if they like. These sites use a unique business model to stay legal and offer poker games throughout the US.

Oregon gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting launched in october 2019


• No plans for online casino


• No plans for online poker

Oregon occupies an unusual spot in US sports betting history, in that it was one of the few states outside of nevada to offer a sports betting product. So, it makes sense that the beaver state is now one of the first to offer online sports betting

Oregon became the first state in the pacific northwest to launch sports betting post-PASPA. The chinook winds casino, a tribal facility, played host to the first legal sports wager in the beaver state in september 2019.

Online sports betting came to oregon the following month. The oregon lottery debuted its scoreboard app in conjunction with software company sbtech.

Lottery officials moved forward without passage of any new legislation in the state. Because of the state’s prior exemption under PASPA, the lottery claimed that it had the authority to launch sports betting without needing any further authorization.

So far, the legislature has yet to challenge that claim in any meaningful way. A new revenue stream has a way of tamping down on dissent.

Meanwhile, oregon’s numerous tribal casinos can assert the same freedom to offer sports betting that chinook winds did. They just haven’t done so yet.

Finally, there could potentially be hundreds of sports betting locations to launch in oregon. Since the state lottery has such exercised such unfettered authority, it is entirely likely that sports betting could become part of the menu at any of the lottery’s terminals spread throughout the state.

If that happens, taverns, bars, and even convenience stores throughout oregon could become sports betting states. In the meantime, oregonians will have to console themselves with the few sports betting opportunities they have.

It is, indeed, better than nothing. Here is the lone online sportsbook in oregon:

• Oregon lottery scoreboard: the oregon lottery’s scoreboard launched its operations in october 2019. The app offers numerous live betting options and an extensive library of different types of betting.

Retail sportsbooks in oregon

Generally speaking, oregon is not terribly friendly to the idea of online casinos. It’s possible that the state’s outdoorsy ethos leads lawmakers to believe that gamblers should be outside a bit more.

Regardless, there are no online casino laws on the horizon in oregon. Players who wish to take part should use one of the sweepstakes sites available throughout the country.

Although oregon is home to several poker clubs, oregon’s government is not comfortable with the idea of allowing this particular game of chance to reign. Certainly, there are no movements to bring online poker to the beaver state.

So, like their online casino brethren, online poker players in oregon will need to use sweepstakes sites in order to play from home. For right now, the focus is on sports betting.

States with the potential to regulate / launch in 2020

state	online casino	online poker	online sports betting
michigan	yes	yes	yes
colorado	yes	yes	yes
illinois	no	no	yes
montana	yes	no	yes
north carolina	no	no	yes
tennessee	no	no	yes

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in december 2019


• Online casinos legalized in december 2019


• Online poker legalized in december 2019

On dec. 20, 2019, gov. Gretchen whitmer signed legislation to legalize online gambling in michigan.

Operators will be limited to one online skin. The bill does not permit multi-state games.

Each of the three commercial and 23 tribal casinos will be permitted to apply for licensing, which will cost $50,000 for application, $100,000 for actual licensing and $50,000 for annual renewal.

Colorado gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in november 2019


• Potential for online casinos to launch


• Potential for online poker to launch

Colorado legalized sports betting through a voter referendum in november 2019. The new law, which will allow the state’s casinos to open both online and retail books, passed by a narrow margin. Launches are not expected until may 2020 at the earliest.

Colorado is home to 33 casinos, which are mostly clustered into three mountain towns. Most of the casinos are likely to apply for licenses, which only cost a paltry $2,000.

Montana gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in may 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Montana gov. Steve bullock affixed his signature to H 725 in may 2019, and thus, ushered full sports betting into montana. The law allows for both mobile and retail sports betting in the state. Betting will also occur through taverns and lottery kiosks.

Montana’s foray into sports betting will be a far more governmental affair than in other states. Lottery giant intralot will handle the state’s sports betting activities for at least the next seven years.

Tennessee gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in april 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Tennessee approved a sports betting law in april 2019. Curiously enough, since there are no gambling venues in the state, the law allows for online sports betting only – there is no retail sports betting on the horizon. Sites should launch sometime in 2020.

Operators will have to pay $750,000 annually to renew their licenses. While that’s steep, big names like draftkings and fanduel are unlikely to be deterred from applying.

Illinois gambling

Forms of legal online gambling

• Online sports betting legalized in june 2019


• No plans for online casinos


• No plans for online poker

Sports betting became legal in illinois in june 2019. The bill provides for both retail and online sports wagering, although the online version requires in-person registration for the first 18 months. A launch seems likely in 2020.

Licenses to offer sports betting in illinois are a whopping $10 million. However, given that all casinos, all racetracks, and even some sports venues can apply, it seems likely that there will be plenty of takers, even at that price.

Legal retail or onsite US sports betting

Some states are moving more tentatively into the sports betting world than others. The following are the states that have launched retail sports betting only. They have either severely limited online betting or prohibited it outright.

New york – new york legalized sports betting back in 2013, but had to wait for PASPA to fall. Now, there are seven retail sportsbooks (four commercial, three tribal) spread throughout the state. Lawmakers are continuing to work for online sports betting.

Arkansas – arkansas launched its first sportsbook in july 2019 when the oaklawn racing casino resort opened its doors. It is arkansas’ only sportsbook. The law allows for the placement of three more facilities, but no mobile wagering is permitted.

Mississippi – mississippi was one of the first states to launch sports betting after the fall of PASPA. The first book opened its doors in august 2018, and dozens more have joined since then. However, state law only allows online play while onsite at a gambling facility.

New mexico – new mexico is the only state with legal sportsbooks and no state law allowing sports betting. Five tribal casinos have opened books since october 2018, claiming the right under their state compact. None have offered a mobile app yet.

North carolina – north carolina gave its two tribal casinos the power to offer sports betting in july 2019. There’s still no definite timeline for a launch, as lawmakers are continuing to study the issue. The bill did not allow either casino to offer online sports betting.

Washington, D.C. – the washington D.C. City council passed a bill in december 2018 to allow retail and online sports betting throughout the nation’s capital. Unfortunately, a judge has blocked that move for the time being. There is no timeframe for launch in D.C. Now.

After you select where you’ll be wagering, read about the basics of sports betting. It’s a handy guide for both novices and those who want to brush up on their skills.

States that are considering legalizing sports betting

While some states are intent on bringing sports betting to their residents, others are more hesitant. In some cases, the states are larger and have more stakeholders to satisfy. Regardless, here are the states that are considering legal sports betting.

California: two california lawmakers filed companion bills to legalize sports betting in 2019. However, california’s size and complexity means that there is a long road ahead before sports betting will come to the golden state.

Florida: A florida state senator has filed a trio of bills to legalize sports betting in the state and put the state lottery in charge. What remains to be seen is how the powerful seminole tribe, which operates multiple florida casinos, will fit into the plan.

Maine: maine’s legislature sent a completed sports bill to the desk of gov. Janet mills in june 2019. Unfortunately, after a months-long delay, mills chose to veto the bill in january 2020. So, it remains to be seen where maine goes from here.

Massachusetts: there’s no denying that there is conversation in massachusetts about sports betting. There are several bills under the scrutiny of state sen. Eric lesser right now, and according to the boston globe , sports betting is a matter of when, not if, in massachusetts.

Kentucky: after an attempt to legalize sports betting died in committee in 2019, all seemed lost for sports betting in kentucky. However, state rep. Adam koenig has refiled a version of his previous bill already, so there will be another bite at the apple in 2020.

Maryland: state sen. Chris west has prefiled a senate bill that would bring retail sports betting to maryland’s casinos and racetracks. While the bill does not permit online sports betting, its passage would pave the way for expansion in the future.

Missouri: missouri has two prefiled sports betting bills on tap for the 2020 legislative year right now. Unfortunately, both bills call for an integrity fee to go to the sports leagues. This requirement is unnecessary and will artificially increase the proposed tax rate there.

Kansas: at one point in 2019, it seemed as though kansas was well on its way to legalizing sports betting. Then, arguments over where a gambler would be able to bet helped to derail the momentum. However, all signs point to a renewed effort in 2020.

US ONLINE LOTTERY

Georgia: the georgia lottery corporation allows residents to play online from anywhere in georgia. Players can buy tickets for draw games, including fantasy 5, mega millions, powerball. There are also keno games available and the georgia lottery’s exclusive interactive diggi games. Online lottery sale went live in the state in november 2012. The launch coincided with the release of a lottery debit card players can use online called the ihope. It allows players to preload funds, buy tickets and download winnings.

Illinois: illinois launched a pilot program offering online sales of lotto and mega millions tickets in march 2012. This made illinois the first state to offer online lottery ticket sales. By december 2012, the illinois lottery’s website was also offering tickets for the popular multi-state powerball lottery. It has since expanded to include daily lottery games and instant games, the online equivalent of instant ticket scratch-offs. In april 2014, illinois lottery officials announced online tickets sales had reached $36.9 million in the program’s first two years.

Michigan: the michigan lottery officially launched online lottery sales in the fall of 2014. Michigan residents were then allowed to buy tickets for instant keno and electronic scratch-off game equivalents from a computer, smartphone, or tablet device.

In january 2016, the michigan lottery began draw game ticket sales online. This allowed michigan residents to buy tickets online for the most popular draw games, including powerball, mega millions, lotto 47, and fantasy 5. Players have to be michigan residents over the age of 18. Plus, they must sign up for an account on the michigan lottery website to make purchases.

Kentucky: kentucky became the latest state to offer online lottery ticket sales in 2016. The state offers online sales of jackpot and daily draw games as well as instant play games. Online ticket sales were actually approved in 2013. However, it took the state three years to develop its complex online ticketing and security system. Players have to set up an account and deposit money to buy tickets. Deposits cannot be withdrawn in accordance with money-laundering laws.

New hampshire: in june of 2017, new hampshire became the fifth state to pass laws allowing for online lottery sales. On sept. 20, 2018, the state officially launched its online lottery offering.

Pennsylvania: as part of a large gambling expansion bill that passed in october 2017, pennsylvania is the latest state to legalize the online lottery. The PA ilottery soft-launched on may 29, 2018. Currently, it only features instant win online scratch-off games. There is room for the game selection to expand in the future though.

DAILY FANTASY SPORTS IN THE US

Daily fantasy sports sites operate in numerous states. Some have authored legislation regulating and taxing operators, while others do not.

New york was really the first state to take on DFS operators after the game’s popularity began to rise. New york attorney general eric schneiderman issued a cease-and-desist order to top DFS operators draftkings and fanduel in november 2015. At the time, schneiderman claimed DFS was illegal gambling under state law and really just a re-branded version of sports betting.

A protracted legal battle and negotiated went on until august 2016 when NY governor andrew cuomo signed a bill allowing DFS sites to serve new yorkers. The sites now pay a licensing fee and 15% tax on gross revenues to the state.

In the meantime, massachusetts lawmakers went a different route. They chose to legalize DFS operations and set a number of regulations. However, there are no taxes and fees associated.

In nevada, DFS operators are being treated just like casinos. They are required to apply for a gambling operators license. So far, no major DFS operators have sought to operate in nevada.

Other states, like california, have considered legislation regulating and taxing DFS operators, but have yet to pass any laws. California remains the largest market for DFS sites.

THE HISTORY OF ONLINE GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES

The first online casinos started opening up on the internet back in 1994. The operators of these sites were mostly based in places like antigua and the isle of man, but they happily accepted customers from the united states.

By 1996, a first nations group near montreal, quebec, canada set up a gaming commission and started issuing licenses to online poker and casino sites on north american soil. This group was the mohawk territory of kahnawake and the commission was known as the kahnawake gaming commission.

The number of online gambling websites around the world suddenly ballooned from a handful to hundreds.

By 1998, reports suggested online gambling revenues were upwards of $800 million.

US LAWMAKERS START LOOKING

A year later, the US senate made its first attempt to ban online gambling, introducing the internet gambling prohibition act. The bill did not pass.

In 2002, the united states court of appeals for the fifth circuit ruled the federal wire act prohibits sports betting, but not necessarily online gambling. However, the US department of justice disagreed, claiming all online gambling is illegal in the US, and that advertising online gambling is akin to aiding and abetting a crime. In 2004, search engines google and yahoo! Pulled all online gambling advertising.

THE UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT ACT

In september 2006, the US congress passed the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act (UIGEA) as a part of the SAFE port act. The act made it illegal for US banks to process transactions for online gambling sites. President george W. Bush signed the bill into law in october and a number of online gambling operators immediately pulled out of the US market.

However, the online gambling industry kept growing and many operators continued to accept US customers. The offshore operations skirted around the new banking laws in a variety of creative ways. By 2008, market data and intelligence firm H2 gambling capital estimated worldwide online gambling revenues had hit $21 billion.

ONLINE POKER’S BLACK FRIDAY

On april 15, 2011, three of the largest online poker operators in the world were indicted on various charges including violating the UIGEA. These sites included pokerstars, full tilt, and absolute poker. Access to the sites from the US was shut down and the massive US online poker market was effectively closed. The day became known as black friday in the online poker community.

It was ultimately exposed that full tilt had failed to segregate player funds and paid out millions in to its owners. A settlement was reached that included pokerstars buying full tilt and paying back US players who were left out of pocket.

WEIGHING IN ON THE WIRE ACT

In december 2011, the DOJ released a legal opinion that federal wire act only applies to sports bets. This paved the way for individual states to begin to consider online lottery sales, and ultimately online poker and online casino games.

THE NEW LEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING MARKET

In the summer of 2012, delaware became the first state to legalize online gambling, passing the delaware gaming competitiveness act.

In february 2013, nevada became the second state to legalize online gambling, authorizing the issue of online poker licenses. Within a week, new jersey became the third state to legalize online gambling, authorizing the issue of both online poker and online casino licenses to casinos in atlantic city.

In april 2013, the first legal online gambling site in the united states went live in nevada. It was an online poker room called ultimate poker. By november, online poker and online casinos went live in delaware and new jersey.

In 2017, pennsylvania became the fourth and largest state to pass legislation regulating online gambling. Both online casinos and an online poker room launched in 2019.

In 2018, the supreme court overturned PASPA, which ignited a wave of interest across several states in authorizing sports betting, including online sports betting.

In early 2019, the DOJ released a revised wire act opinion. The impacts of that new opinion on legal online gambling remain unclear.

Online casino betting legalities & legislation

In order to understand australian online casino betting laws, we need to talk about the australian internet gambling wagering regulations introduced by the john howard government in 2001 – the interactive gambling act (IGA).

Best friendly online casinos for your country

The online gambling landscape has changed significantly since its introduction in the 1990s, while australian laws surrounding the practice largely remained the same until march 2017, when certain amendments were made to the interactive gambling act of 2001. The development in technology has allowed for the progression of multiple different forms of interactive gambling, and internet betting regulations are now tailored differently across these diverse fields of online gambling:

• Online casino betting


• Online sports wagering


• Online lottery gaming


• Online poker rooms


• Online bingo gaming

These forms of gambling have also been adapted to the mobile, tablet and smart TV platforms, which come with their own sets of rules, too. So big has the betting landscape grown, that according to the UK gambling commission, the gambling industry achieved a turnover of $163,879,419,961 AUD in 2007 (that’s 163 billion dollars).

Online casino betting laws

The IGA of 2001 was developed to specifically target online gambling operators, as opposed to those who accessed online betting websites. It made it illegal for such operators to offer and advertise ‘real money’ online interactive gambling services to australian residents. The law applies to all interactive gambling operators, both australian-based and internationally-based.

Included in the category of ‘interactive real money gambling services’ is:

• Online casino games such as roulette, blackjack, pokies and baccarat.


• Internet poker games such as texas hold’em, omaha, 7 card stud, razz, HORSE and other poker variants in cash game and tournament format (played against other players as opposed to the casino).


• Instant scratch card games available on the internet.


• Live (in-play) online sports betting.

The act however, does not make it illegal for australian operators to offer their services to residents living outside of australia, where online interactive gaming is a permitted practice.

But most importantly, the act does not target individuals who wish to access igambling services – australian residents cannot be punished for gambling on the internet. Considering how engrained gambling is in australian culture, that’s a good thing.

Additionally, because almost all real money gaming operators are based outside of australian borders as offshore casino websites, these companies are happy to offer their regulated services to the australian public, without fear of being prosecuted, even though the are inƒ violation of the IGA. Never has there been an attempt by the australian government to thwart these companies from marketing and providing their gambling services to australian citizens (largely because such companies remain outside of the australian government’s jurisdiction).

As long as these licensed and trustworthy offshore companies continue to provide high quality real money casino games in AUD currency, australian gamblers need not have any qualms about accessing them.

Online bingo rooms

Interactive community bingo has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so, and dedicated australian sites such as bingo australia and aussie dollar bingo do a great job in providing some entertaining and involved real money games to hundreds of thousands of players who enjoy the great aussie pastime that we call housie. Other sites such as true blue bingo, kitty bingo and lucky pants bingo also offer their housie games to australians, along with other mini-titles such as pokies, blackjack and video poker. Again, this form of internet gaming is considered ‘interactive’, yet is also not policed at all.

Online sports and lottery regulations

As most australians would be aware, betting on sports over the internet has remained a legal and highly-advertised practice. So why has the internet sports betting industry largely remained untouched in regards to laws? You could certainly mount an argument that this is the case due to the amount of revenue sports betting agencies make for the government (in tax).

Offering online sports betting services to the australian public is allowed, so long as the sports bookmaker is licensed to operate a land-based business (in a state or territory), and wagering takes place prior to the start of the sport event. In-play betting (considered interactive) cannot be conducted over the internet, only via telephone.

And how about selling tickets online for state and national lotteries? So long as the company (such as ozlotteries) is regulated, this practice is also fine.

Licensed and legal internet and mobile casinos

The world of igambling has also made its way to the mobile, tablet and smart TV industries, and real money online gaming technology is in the process of being developed for wearable devices such as oculus rift and apple iglass. The online and mobile casinos listed in the geo-targeted table at the top of the page are all legal for australians to access and enjoy their games.

The same set of australian online gambling laws apply within the mobile industry, in terms of advertising and offering real money services, and there are also regulations imposed by specific companies such as apple and google (android) which do not allow real money applications to be advertised through their respective app distributing stores.

Having said that, offshore online casinos have tailored their software to suit the mobile and tablet mediums, with full-fledged mobile sites offering high quality games and interfaces, along with secure banking methods and transactions for deposits and withdrawals, and a host of brilliant player promotions and and bonuses. As australians residents, it is again completely legal to access these mobile casino sites and enjoy AUD gambling on the go.

2017 and beyond for australian interactive gambling

March 20th, 2017 saw significant changes to the existing interactive gambling act 2001, implementing several key amendments of the interactive gambling amendment bill 2016. Essentially, the law now “will prohibit a person providing regulated interactive gambling services to australians unless the person holds a licence under the law of an australian state or territory.” read our more in-depth break-down of the amendments in our current aussie casino laws guide.

As of the time of writing, offshore online casino sites cannot currently offer their services to australian residents as they once did before. Whereas these offshore casino venues could offer services to aussies while being licensed and regulated by advanced gaming jurisdictions also based overseas, the new amendment imposes the requirement of obtaining a valid license from the australian government to operate and let australians play and bet real money at their site. This is despite many of the best offshore online casinos adhering to international law from trusted organisations, such as the malta gaming authority and united kingdom gambling commission.

It is our opinion many licensed offshore online casino sites will continue to offer their services to australian real money players despite the new amendments. Australian residents are not penalised or targeted by the revised IGA legislation.

If you do play at offshore casino websites, ensure they are licensed by known jurisdictions overseas such as the ones mentioned above, and that you always use a VPN service (virtual private network) to safeguard your online casino activities with additional privacy and security, and to get around potential region-locking of games.

Stick with the online casinos recommended on our site and you can rest assured you’re playing at a licensed, reputable venue that legally accepts players from switzerland. We recommend jackpot city for licensed, real money casino games.

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Legal online casinos & online gambling

Online casinos are legal in most parts of the world. Many world governments have written laws specifically addressing the legalities of online gambling; others like the united states depend heavily on state law and an existing legal vacuum to keep online gambling in check. The legality of an online casino has something to do with that casino’s proper operations and something to do with the legality of online gambling where you live. Finding legal online casinos isn’t hard, you just have to know what you’re looking for and shop around a little.

Comparing legal online casinos is a matter of first finding out if casino gambling online is legal where you live, then doing a little bit of work browsing online casino sites and comparing their features.

Our list of licensed and legal casinos for 2020

How to find legal online casinos

If you’re shopping around for a legal online casino, a place to play online slots or casino table games, there are a few things to consider. Your first concern should be finding a legitimate casino that operates legally and pays out winnings fairly. Once you’ve found a few legal online casinos, other factors become important. Here are two questions that should help you find a good legal online casino.

Does this casino have a good reputation?

You don’t have to ask yourself this question with some of the bigger names in the online gaming industry. A big casino gambling site like bet365 or betsson that has been accepting wagers since long before they launched a website, is obviously a legitimate business, sometimes even a household name.

If an online casino is operated by a publicly-traded company, displays valid gaming licenses prominently on their website, and does not bring up a ton of red flags when you google the name, it is probably a site with a good reputation.

Not all casino sites have the same experience in the casino business, and you’ll need to test their reputation on your own. Again, browsing around the website and reading online reviews should tell you enough to know if the site is legit or not. You want to see gaming licenses and auditing certificates posted prominently on the site along with an active customer service department. Online casino gambling forums are also good sources for information about fraudulent or illegal online casinos.

Does this casino accept wagers from citizens of my country?

Remember that online gaming laws vary from country to country and region to region. The result is that not every online casino is able to do business with people from all over the planet. Depending on the gambling laws in the country where you live, you may find a number of sites that simply don’t offer gambling to people from your country.

The best example of this comes to us from north america; people living in the USA and canada have had the doors of many online casinos shut in their faces, thanks to tighter regulation of online gambling and rumors of future legislation against online casinos operating in the US or canada. To find out if players from your country are restricted, check the site’s FAQ page or contact customer service.

Are all online casinos legal?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question. Federal and local laws exist all over the world that restrict online casino gambling, while other governments explicitly state that online casino gambling is legal; some even tax and regulate online casino play to raise revenue. The worldwide legal status of online gambling is too much to take all at once, so concentrate instead on gambling laws where you live.

To figure out if there are laws against online gambling in your country, state, or region, you’ll need to spend a little time researching. It doesn’t matter where you get information about the legality of gambling online, just that the information is accurate. A few websites have popped up directly addressing the legality of online gambling in different parts of the world, and the best of these provide sources for their information.

Sometimes you’ll luck out and find out about the legal status of gambling where you live through a gambling website. Try to access an online casino site from a restricted country and you’re likely to see a pop-up explaining that citizens of your country aren’t allowed to gamble for real money at that particular site. Restricted access to online casinos is not always due to laws against online gambling; american gamblers are shut out of many online casinos because the casino chose to avoid future legal problems, fearing new laws in america to make online gambling illegal. It’s confusing, but any industry that does business with hundreds of different countries and legal traditions is bound to be confusing. If you live in the united states, you might be interested in our laws section, which reviews the current legal status of gambling within each state. This includes colorado, hawaii, new jersey, delaware, nebraska, and new hampshire – among others.

If all else fails and you’re still not sure if online casino gambling is legal in your area, your best bet is to consult a legal professional. If you can’t figure out from other sources if there are laws against playing at online casino sites, it’s best to avoid potential legal troubles by talking to a lawyer.

A final tip when hunting down legal online casinos: contact a casino’s customer service department and ask them all your legal questions. Online casinos make customer service available for a reason: they want to answer your questions about the casino’s website site, help you with banking or gameplay problems, and assist potential customers in figuring out if their casino is a good fit. Any decent online casino site will post contact information clearly, usually under a tab like “contact us.”

If the online casino you’re researching has a live chat program, where you use something similar to an instant messenger service to talk to customer support staff, you’re in luck. Talking to customer service about the legality of the site for people in your country using live chat is the fastest and easiest way to get an answer to your question. Talking to a casino site’s customer service team gives you the chance to find out if your country is restricted and to ask any other questions you have. Use this opportunity to test the services offered, including how long you have to wait for an answer and the amount of knowledge the support staff has. A good customer service staff at your online casino is invaluable.

Legal US online casinos

This article is a comprehensive guide of the best US legal online casinos and includes online casino ratings and reviews, as well as the legislation surrounding online gambling in the country. You will also find a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding the legality of online gambling in the US.

US online casinos overview

US legal online casinos 2020

Several online casinos offer legal gambling online experiences, some of which have millions of active players and stellar mobile applications for those on the go. Some stand out for their in-house developed slots and countless slots tournaments while others allow players to challenge their facebook friends and earn rewards.

Apart from the many daily promos and generous welcome bonuses, free online casinos that have received their licence to operate in the US (where the state law allows it) also surprise players with thousands, even millions, of free coins (i.E., if they connect their facebook account with the legal online casinos), daily multi-table blackjack tournaments, amazing progressive jackpot on the internet, and many more. The online casino list keeps adding new members daily, though.

Legal online casinos in NJ

In order to confirm the accuracy of all account registration details you provide to them, the company reserves the right to carry out verification checks on their own or through third-party service providers. When these checks are unable to verify that you are twenty one (21) years of age or over, or are unable to verify any other detail provided by you, they reserve the right to ask for additional proof.

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Is it legal to play in online casinos in the US?

Below is a list of the states where online gambling is legalized and regulated:

• New jersey: it passed an online gambling law in 2013, allowing atlantic city online casino and poker sites to apply for internet gaming permits. Sports betting is also allowed.


• Pennsylvania: pennsylvania can offer legalized and regulated casinos per law, as of october 2017, which is part of a larger act that legalized online lottery, online poker, online poker, daily fantasy sports, sports betting, satellite casinos, and video gaming terminals in truck stops. So far,


• Delaware: online gambling is legal since 2012 and now has several online casinos offering a variety roulette, blackjack, video poker, online poker, and video slots games. Delaware was also the first state to offer online sports betting.


• West virginia: it has legalized online sports betting on august 2018 but not online casinos.


• Mississippi: online sports betting is allowed since august 2018, but its gaming laws have no provision to allow mobile online wagering at the moment (only mobile betting onsite).


• Rhode island: online or mobile sports betting is not legal yet, despite the fact that a law signed in june 2018 allows sports betting inside the state’s borders.


• Nevada: online casinos are legal in the state but they can only offer online poker. When it comes to online sports betting, the casinos can create mobile apps for online sports betting, but there are no websites offering sports betting-only services.

For daily fantasy sports enthusiasts, the states of new york, massachusetts, nevada, and california will please them greatly as they have passed laws that legalize DFS sites.

US online gambling laws

Some US states have declared online gambling completely illegal while others have legalized it. Somewhere in the middle are the states that are in the process of legalizing online gambling with legislation currently pending.

Also, as shown in the list above, not every single type of online gambling is entirely legal in states that have regulated industries (e.G. In nevada, only online poker is legal). As for sports betting, the US supreme court has recently lifted the ban (may 2018), allowing states to decide whether they wish to permit sports betting or not.

The state-by-state status of online gambling is as follows:

• Alabama: some alabama laws make online gambling illegal, one making it a class C misdemeanor and another prohibiting the possession of a gambling device (class A misdemeanor). However, the statute defines a gambling device as illegal if it is used with the intention to advance an unlawful gambling activity, so there is a bit of a confusion there. On the other hand, there is no reference in the state code that makes online gambling patently illegal, so nothing actually places online gambling under the purview of “unlawful gambling activity”. What is clear about online gambling in the state of alabama is that no company or individual can operate online gambling within the state.


• Alaska: online gambling is probably illegal in the state. According to state law, if an individual engages in “unlawful gambling” (any gambling activity not allowed by law), they commit the offense of gambling. However, internet gambling has not yet been explicitly legalized. The first offense is considered a violation while subsequent violations result in class B misdemeanor.


• Arizona: online gambling is illegal in the state and is regarded as a class I misdemeanor.


• Arkansas: state laws clearly define online gambling as patently illegal.


• California: the four bills that legalized online gambling are no longer in effect due to inaction. It is possible, though, to be re-introduced in the future. A proposal to legalize and regulate sports betting was made last june but was pushed for the 2020 election. As of now, there is no california state law that explicitly prohibits players from online gambling but does not allow operators to have their websites within the state’s borders. Locally, though, online gambling could be illegal.


• Colorado: online gambling is patently illegal in the state. However, it is a class 1 petty offense that may lead to a penalty.


• Connecticut: the law is straightforward here – online gambling is a crime (class B misdemeanor).


• Delaware: according to state law, regulated online gambling is legal. However, owning a gambling device is illegal (class A misdemeanor), which is confusing, especially if the gambling device is a computer (the sites are regulated – hence, legal – but playing at them is not).


• Florida: engaging in any form of unregulated gambling is a class B misdemeanor.


• Georgia: online gambling is patently illegal in the state.


• Hawaii: any engagement in any form of gambling in the state is patently illegal under state law. The only exceptions are home games and social gambling.


• Idaho: everything about gambling is prohibited in the state. Gambling is a misdemeanor, except for the gambling activities allowed by the state.


• Illinois: besides the state-regulated forms of gambling, everything else is patently illegal and classified as a misdemeanor. The 2013 chicago casino development act (provision SB1739) made online gambling legal; however, it was eventually removed from the bill. Another attempt to regulate online poker in 2017 is still in pending mode (not yet been approved by the illinois house of representatives).


• Indiana: illegal gambling in the state is a class B misdemeanor, and any device used for online gambling is illegal under state law.


• Iowa: making any bets is illegal in iowa and comes with a penalty that may range up to a felony, based on the sums involved.


• Kansas: online gambling is illegal (class B misdemeanor) unless it is a gambling form allowed by the state.


• Kentucky: it is illegal to advance gambling activities in kentucky, which appeals mainly to operators. Gambling as a player, though, does not seem to be penalized.


• Louisiana: the law is clear about online gambling as it explicitly states that “whoever commits the crime of gambling by computer shall be fined…[…]”.


• Maine: although illegal gambling is criminal activity, being a player engaging in online gambling is not associated with any penalty.


• Maryland: the possession or use of a gambling device is a crime that can lead to fines and even imprisonment.


• Massachusetts: there are lots of laws preventing online gambling for operators while gambling is a public place is strictly prohibited. As for individuals winning $5 and more via any form of gambling (exceptions include the gambling under chapter 23K) could be fined twice the sum they earned from gambling.


• Michigan: under michigan law, online gambling could fall under the purview of illegal gambling if you win over $50 from online gambling activities. Imprisonment and a $1,000 fine are also possible.


• Minnesota: making a bet is a misdemeanor that carries no penalties whatsoever so online gambling is probably legal.


• Mississippi: any engagement in any form of gambling not authorized by the state is illegal and penalized with a fine of up to $500 and up to 90 days incarceration.


• Missouri: any form of gambling not permitted by the state is a misdemeanor.


• Montana: updated in 2015, the montana gambling law defines online gambling a crime (misdemeanor penalty is $500 for a first offense and up to 6 months in prison and/or $1,000 for a second offense within 5 years).


• Nebraska: according to state laws gambling is defined as risking something of value on any game that comes with an element of chance. Therefore, online gambling is illegal and calls for class IV misdemeanor for players that win less than $500 in a single day.


• Nevada: playing online poker at operators that have received a license to operate within the state s legal. However, other forms of online betting are considered a misdemeanor.


• New hampshire: gambling in any form is illegal per 647:2 law and is a misdemeanor. Exceptions include gambling modes specifically authorized by the state.


• New jersey: the state has fully legal online casinos and any crimes outlined by the state code mainly focus on operators; not players.


• New mexico: online gambling (where gambling is defined as making a bet) is illegal and a misdemeanor unless specifically authorized by state.


• New york: it is legal to engage in online gambling activities and any laws related to illegal gambling focus on online gambling operators rather than players. Some poker games may also be allowed in the near future.


• North carolina: an individual participating in any game of chance(the state’s gambling definition) is conducting a class II misdemeanor (other than the gambling specifically permitted by the state).


• North dakota: gambling is conditionally illegal in the state (except for state-sanctioned gambling) given that only those who bet more than $25 per event are considered to be conducting class A misdemeanor.


• Ohio: playing games publicly is outlawed in the state unless otherwise allowed by law. Other than that, though, no penalties related to online gambling seem to be applied. Betting with a bookmaker and engaging in illegal gambling (i.E., a substantial source of income) are a few notable exceptions, though.


• Oklahoma: any individual engaging in any gambling form that is not specifically authorized by the state faces 1-30 days of jail time or a fine between $25-$100 (or both).


• Oregon: unlawful gambling is a class A misdemeanor (except for the gambling specifically permitted by the state).


• Pennsylvania: operators face penalties for unauthorized forms of gambling (not players).


• Rhode island: operators and participants of social games face serious penalties. There is no penalty related to players gambling online, though.


• South carolina: individuals engaged in home games are strictly punished that may lead to up to 30 days imprisonment.


• South dakota: the state law considers the engagement in any form of gambling illegal (class 2 misdemeanor) – except for those specifically legalized by the state.


• Tennessee: the same as with south dakota with the difference that online gambling is a class C misdemeanor.


• Texas: it is illegal to participate in any gambling game (except for those sanctioned by the state) and is a class C misdemeanor.


• Utah: the same as texas; only the act of gambling in utah is a class B misdemeanor.


• Vermont: any form of gambling except for the state-sanctioned ones are punishable by a fine up to $200.


• Virginia: the same as texas.


• Washington: any not state-sanctioned form of gambling is illegal and transmitting or receiving gambling information is a class C felony.


• West virginia: casinos and slot parlors are legalized but, on the other hand, home games and all other forms of gambling are illegal. According to the code, if an individual executes an illegal bet in the state, they will pay a fine up to $300 or face up to 3 days in prison if they fail to pay the fine.


• Wisconsin: online gambling is a class B misdemeanor unless a player engages in state-allowed forms of gambling.


• Wyoming: social gambling and many other forms of gambling is allowed in the state. However, the statute makes no reference to online gambling, which makes it illegal (fined with up to $750 and up to 6 months in prison).

US online casino licensing: what is the status?

At the moment of this writing, online gambling is legalized in the states of nevada, new jersey, and delaware. Pennsylvania and california are considering legalizing internet gambling.

Nevada

Nevada has always been a popular casino destination while las vegas is a gambling mecca for millions of people. No wonder the state has already legalized and successfully regulated online gambling operations within its borders (passed relevant legislation in 2013). The monitoring and regulation of casino operations are overlooked by the nevada gaming control board and the nevada gaming commission.

New jersey

In 2012, the state senate passed the new jersey casino control act, which legalized NJ online casinos and poker rooms. Right now, there are several regulated casino operators that accept local players and provide them with a wealth of poker and casino game over the net.

Delaware

Some forms of casino and gambling operations are already legalized in the state of delaware. In 2012, the state senate passed the delaware gaming competitiveness act, which was the first step towards the legalization and regulation of online gambling. The three local casinos have applied for acquiring online licenses so they can operate gaming and casino websites.

Which online casino sites are legal?

The list with the legal online casinos is quite large at the moment, with many operators still waiting to get their license. Among the top-rated legal online casinos are caesars, betfair, virgin, and tropicana.

• Caesars casino (new jersey)


• Betfair casino (new jersey)


• Sugarhouse casino (pennsylvania and new jersey)


• Virgin casino (new jersey)


• Borgata casino (new jersey)


• Tropicana casino (new jersey)


• Mohegan sun casino (new jersey)


• Parx casino (pennsylvania)


• Hollywood casino (pennsylvania)


• 888 casino (new jersey)


• Betamerica casino (new jersey)


• Ocean casino (new jersey)


• Hard rock casino (new jersey)


• Party casino (new jersey)


• Resorts casino (new jersey)


• Unibet casino (new jersey)


• Draftkings casino (new jersey)


• Pala casino (new jersey)


• Golden nugget casino (new jersey)

Online casino bonus codes in the US

Legal online casinos usually offer special bonus codes to a new customer that signs up with them. These promo codes unlock welcome offers and other promotions available on the operator’s website. Depending on the promo available that the time of your registration, you may also use the online casino promo code to receive free bets, free spins, a matched deposit, reload bonus, a games-specific offer, and many more.

Frequently asked questions

Below is a list of the most faqs related to legal online casinos, best deposit-free online casinos,

Is online gambling legal in the USA?

The USA gambling laws are quite confusing while many of them are also out of date and don’t address the online aspect of it. To stay on the safe side, check your state’s legislation about online gambling. However, there is certainly no law that makes online gambling explicitly illegal for a US player.

Is online gambling safe?

Depends on which websites you use. Sticking to the ones that are properly licensed and have a good track record and solid reputation will help towards enjoying a safe online gambling experience. Also, check out the online casino ratings, and how each legal online casino scores against key metrics.

How do I choose the best legal online casinos?

Besides licensing and registration, other factors to consider may include site security, customer service, payouts, banking options, and reliability, you also need to consider the available promotion; there are deposit-free online casinos, matched deposit welcome offers, free bets promos and more.

How do I know if I’m eligible to get an online casino bonus?

Every new player registering with one of the legal online casinos in the US can claim the casino bonus provided they are over 21 years of age and reside in a state that allows online gambling, which are two of the most fundamental qualifying criteria.

Online gambling laws in japan

Nowadays the casino industry and especially the online casino industry has developed into a lucrative business. The fact that this business brings annually large revenue in the state budget, made many governments reconsider their attitude and amend the state gambling laws and regulations.

Many countries have been amending their state gambling laws and regulations with the aim to ensure more benefits and bigger responsibility in gambling for their citizens

Until recently japanese government has taken rather negative stance on land-based and online casino gambling. The land of rising sun – the other popular name of japan has a population of over 127 million. Many citizens like gambling as a form of entertainment. In this article we will try to describe the recent gambling regulations in japan.

Historical review of gambling in japan

Japan is a constitutional monarchy – the power of the emperor is mainly ceremonial and very limited. Laws regarding gambling have existed in japan since 1900s. From the early years of gambling, japanese citizens were allowed to participate only in legal forms of gambling which were recommended by the leading party.

Events such as bicycle racing and horse racing were only permitted to bet on at the very beginning. Later on boat races and motorbike races were also added. Lottery has appeared in japan since the middle of 17 th century. After the world war II the income from the lottery was used to recover the damages caused by the nuclear bombs.

Apart from the sports events betting and pachinko, toto – the other popular name of the national lottery is the only legal licensed form of gambling. For a long period of time the government in japan did not allow land based and online gambling to become legal and get a legalization.

A big number of gamblers in japan use different foreign gambling sites as gambling entertainment.

New gambling rules

The party in power has been forced to amend the regulations on gambling under the pressure of japanese citizens who were looking for more versatile land based options and online gambling sites. Nowadays japan is in the process of legalizing different forms of gambling. After 15 years of political arguments, in 2016 the japanese parliament passed a law to legalize gambling.

Gambling regulations have been changed partly for safety and because of the financial profit legal gambling could bring. The statistic inquiry shows that only 3 casinos could generate as much as $10 billion in net profit a year.

Many international gaming companies that were planning to invest in japan got very excited by the current change in legalization. Actually it will take some time to finally get things in motion. And when it comes to online gambling there are restrictions as well.

Nowadays players can legally only wager online for national lottery, public sport events and soccer toto. The penalties are big for any unlawful betting activities. Fines and even imprisonment offenders can face if they are caught and prosecuted.

Are gambling winnings taxable?

The taxation of gambling funds have been discussed a lot. The available legal gambling forms are already paying a percentage of tax. There are talks that the new legal casinos tax could be a total of 22%. The winners in the lottery are not required to pay tax. If citizens bet on sports events they have to report their winnings in the income tax return.

As there is no legalized system to regulate online gambling, winnings online will not be taxed. Users of any foreign online gambling site are free to keep their winnings.

Online gambling legalization in japan

With the new amended laws connected with japanese casinos people could think that online gambling will be legal soon. The truth is, that the procedure of legalization will take some time.

Problems like money laundering as well as the increasing gambling addiction are probably the reasons for a lot of citizens to vote against the legalization of gambling.

Actually there are no online casinos in japan itself but various large foreign online casinos welcome players from japan. As hundreds of online casinos are available, players meet real difficulties to choose the right and safe casino, offering their favorite games and attractive bonus packages. In japan a cuatomer cannot be protected against any fraudulent activity at any of the online sites.

When you decide to play at an online casino, for your safety, follow our recommendation to check out the list of top international casinos. We guarantee that these sites have been licensed and approved as safe, secure, and rewarding.

Gambling laws – state by state online gambling law analysis

Not only are there complex federal laws relating to the various forms of gambling – but there are state laws as well, varying hugely from state to state, and covering a great deal of ground, from the status of commercial and tribal casinos, to the status of activities such as charity gaming, poker games in clubs or homes, pari-mutuel wagering on the horses or the dogs and more. Then there’s the current status of online gambling as regards each individual state’s laws – and the general backdrop of gambling’s place (or lack thereof) in each state. There’s sure plenty to think about.

While we make every effort to research our information scrupulously, this is merely that – information, most of it gleaned from a thousand other information portals on the web. We make no warranty for the accuracy of our information, and it certainly doesn’t constitute legal advice. Legal advice can only be given by a qualified lawyer, and there is no substitute for it. If you’re ever considering doing something which you’re unsure of the legality of – stop and consult a lawyer first, whether it relates to gambling or anything else.

Clicking on any of the links below will take you to a guide to that state’s gambling history, current trends and legal status for different activities, as well as providing a guide to the existing legal forms of gambling in that state, be they casino, racetrack or smaller scale affairs. For a comprehensive review of the poker laws in each state, we recommend you see this site.

Page list

Alabama: this state is pretty seriously strict on gambling, with existing options being the tribal casinos, horse and dog tracks, charity bingo and unraked social home games.

Alaska: this northern wilderness offers small tribal casinos which run bingo, freeroll or home game poker, and games of guess the salmon in the catch. Oh and pull-tab games.

Arizona: there are a fair few options here including tribal casinos, horse and dog tracks, liquor venue poker games, charity gambling and social home games.

Arkansas: birthplace of amarillo slim, this state is pretty tight on gambling. There’s some wagering on the horses and the dogs, and a couple of “racinos” which offer electronic tables games. There’s no allowance for social gambling.

California: with a long history of licensed gambling, options abound. Bingo, raffles, horse-racing, and social unraked home games are all fine. Almost a hundred card rooms and over fifty tribal casinos make this a real gambling hotspot. There’s even a little online horse-racing going on.

Colorado: home games without a rake are allowed, and horse and dog racing exist. The state is home to over forty casinos, mostly tribal, hosting slots, table games and poker.

Connecticut: famed for its horse-racing, there’s little else besides a lottery, duck and frog races, some dog tracks and two enormous casinos, some of the biggest in the world.

Delaware: with charity games including poker, an allowance for unraked social home games, horse-racing and three casinos, there’s a fair spread of options for a gamble in delaware. Online casinos are on the way too.

Florida: with horse-racing, charity and social gaming within strict betting limits, pari-mutuel card rooms adjoining racetracks, cruise and riverboat gambling and a chain of tribal casinos, there’s a good bit going on.

Georgia: pretty limited options here. You can play charity games, the state lottery and freeroll poker games. Other than that it’s a single casino cruise ship, the emerald princess.

Hawaii: very sparse pickings in this paradise. Unraked home games are tolerated, and a strange form of “skill-based” amusement machine is allowed apparently. Otherwise there’s nada, not even a lottery.

Idaho: there are racetracks here, and charity bingo / raffles as well. There are actually casinos as well, half a dozen tribal ones, running electronic gaming only.

Illinois: A state lottery selling tickets online, horse-racing and bingo games abound here. Charity gaming does pretty well here too, and poker games are allowed in that context. There’s also a bunch of machine gambling, and ten fully fledged riverboat casinos.

Indiana: the state has horse-racing and licensed charity gaming including table games. There are also a full dozen riverboat casinos in indiana, running 21 approved games including poker, blackjack, craps and roulette.

Iowa: with horse and dog racing, charity and social home games allowed, and both land-based and riverboat casinos, there’s a lot of gambling going on in iowa. The laws on limits are very strict, so check it out carefully.

Kansas: the law allows for charity bingo, a state lottery, and wagers on horse and dog races. There are also both tribal and commercial casinos in kansas. Social gambling does not enjoy a specific exemption.

Kentucky: famed for its horseraces, kentucky also plays host to a state lottery with online purchase options, charity bingo and raffles. No casinos except over state borders.

Louisiana: horse-racing, home poker games, charity bingo, keno and raffles, and a wide and varied selection of casinos including commercial, tribal and riverboat make for a good gaming selection in louisiana.

Maine: with a couple of casinos featuring table games and slots, a high stakes bingo club, and a smattering of horseracing, there are gambling options here. There’s also charity gaming and social home games are allowed.

Maryland: maryland has recently seen a degree of gambling expansion, with table games and slots now allowed across five casinos in the state. A couple of them even have poker rooms. There’s also horseracing and charity bingo.

Massachusetts: this state has horse and dog races, charity gaming including bingo and keno as well as poker, and a casino cruise ship sailing daily out of lynn which features a full range of table games. A major gambling expansion is underway with casinos on the horizon for late 2014.

Michigan: there’s a lot of charity gaming going on, and horseracing. But michigan also has a lot of commercial and tribal casinos, the commercial variety being concentrated in detroit.

Minnesota: plenty going on here, with racinos adjoined by poker rooms, an active charity gambling scene including venues where you can wager on your ipad, online lottery tickets and a bunch of tribal casinos.

Mississippi: this state has no allowance for social home gaming, and no horseracing. There are plenty of casinos however, both commercial and tribal in nature.

Missouri: with charity bingo and raffles, but no allowance for social home gaming, your other options include a cluster of casinos in kansas and st. Louis complete with card rooms. There are riverboat and land-based casinos here.

Montana: no commercial casinos but a few tribal ones, generally offering bingo, slots and keno. There’s the odd charity casino night, and a little bit of horseracing, and some card games and video gaming allowed in licensed liquor venues.

Nebraska: you can’t play omaha in omaha. Poker is illegal, except for freerolls. Charity keno and bingo exist, and there are three tribal casinos offering mostly electronic gaming. There are also horse racecourses.

Nevada: what can’t you do? Sin city is obviously teeming with gambling options, and the big news of course is that it has recently allowed for online intra-state poker games. Some suspect that online casinos may not be too far away either.

New hampshire: the state with the oldest lottery in the USA, new hampshire is no stranger to gambling. With licensed card rooms, horseracing and racinos. No social home gaming is permitted.

New jersey: this is the state making headlines in the gambling world, with online casinos run by every single land-based new jersey casino since 2014. All systems are go on the biggest online casino boom seen yet in the USA.

New mexico: with five racinos, charity bingo and twenty-five casinos no less, there’s a lot of wagering going on here.

New york: with nine racinos and a bunch of charity gaming, you’ve got options in new york. Bars are now allowed gambling terminals, and there are almost a dozen tribal casinos across the state. There’s a decent spread of at least half a dozen poker rooms across these venues.

North carolina: there are racetracks but no wagering allowed in them, and tribal casinos exist but only one is licensed to run table games, harrah’s cherokee which runs the only poker games in the state. Home games are not allowed.

North dakota: there are horse and dog tracks here, as well as tribal casinos offering table games and poker. Charity gaming includes bingo, raffles and poker. Home games are allowed within wagering limits.

Ohio: ohio has horseracing, charity gaming and four commercial casinos (but no tribal ones). The casinos offer poker as well as other table games. Social home gaming is tolerated as well.

Oklahoma: there are racinos aplenty, charity gaming and almost one hundred (!) tribal casinos in this state, running tables games including poker. Over seventy poker tournaments run weekly in the state.

Oregon: with charity gaming including bingo and “monte carlo” nights, horseracing and about a dozen tribal casinos, there’s stuff going on here in oregon. There are even poker rooms. Social gaming is down to the ruling of each county.

Pennsylvania: the largest state for gambling revenue, pennsylvania has allowed casinos since 2004 and table games since 2010. With eleven commercial casinos, and poker games running, you can hit the tables at will.

Rhode island: pickings are on the slim side here. There’s no tribal gaming, no horseracing and really no poker. Home games are not exempted under the law. The state offers a lottery and keno games, and there’s some charity bingo. Otherwise there is one option in town, the twin rivers casino which runs plenty of table games and slots.

South carolina: options are very restricted here. There’s a state lottery, and some charitable bingo. You may not play home games, even without money involved! There are however two casino cruise ships running daily out into international waters.

South dakota: this state has video lottery terminals, horseracing and charity bingo. Home games are not allowed for under the law, but there are plenty of tribal casinos, as well as a commercial casino and card room industry in the legendary wild west town of deadwood.

Tennessee: there’s very little gambling going on here. There’s a state lottery, and charity raffles. There are poker freerolls, but no allowance for social home games. That’s your lot.

Texas: there’s only one public venue for a legal game of texas holdem in texas, the kickapoo lucky eagle casino, which also runs bingo and slots. Otherwise the state has horseracing and charity bingo. Social home games are also tolerated.

Utah: so we arrive at the most restrictive of all states regarding gambling. There’s no state lottery, no charity gaming and no social home gambling allowed. Either play for free, or head out of state.

Vermont: charities may run bingo, raffles and poker every so often. Social home gaming has no specific exemption in law, and there are no casinos. There is a state lottery, and that’s about it.

Virginia: there’s one racetrack, some charity bingo and raffles, and a lottery. Social home games are permitted provided they are unraked and irregular. No casinos as of yet.

Washington: with racetracks, charitable “vegas nights” and social home games, there are ways to play here in washington. There are also plenty of card rooms as well as commercial and tribal casinos across the state.

Washington DC: the federal district doesn’t have a huge spread of options for a gamble. There are charity events including “monte carlo” nights, and a lottery, but no casinos or horse-racing wagers allowed. Social home games don’t enjoy any special dispensation either.

West virginia: there is a lot going on. West virginia has racecourses for horses and dogs, racinos with table games, and poker rooms. Table games have been allowed since 2008. No social home gaming however.

Wisconsin: the home of phil hellmuth has horseracing, charity bingo and almost twenty tribal casinos including several with poker rooms. Over a dozen poker tournaments run each week across the state.

Wyoming: having recently introduced horseracing wagering, that’s been an option since 2011. Charity bingo exists, as does social home gaming. There’s a scattering of tribal casinos, some of which offer table games. The latest news is that wyoming has authorized a lottery, to start in 2014.

Is it legal to gamble online in the USA?

The state of the states

One topic of interest to the millions of individual united states citizens out there is whether or not online gambling is legal in their respective states. For example, roulette players may wonder - is online roulette legal? Online gambling is treated differently throughout the country with several states having declared it completely illegal, some have actually legalized it, and others have legislation in the works. Not all types of online gambling are fully legal even in states that do have more or less regulated industries.

The first myth that should immediately be dispelled is that online gambling (by the gambler himself/herself) is in any way prohibited by federal law. That myth is absolutely untrue and stems from a poor understanding of the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act of 2006. One of the provisions of this act has to do with wire transfers, and it essentially states that no person or entity may knowingly accept any funds associated with a person participating in illegal online gambling. The key component of the wording is that they may not, "accept," your money, it has no bearing on your ability to send the money.

Furthermore, the fact that this law can even exist is patently ridiculous because it was nothing more than an add-on piece of legislation to the SAFE port act the SAFE port act was a necessary piece of legislation for various reasons, and it passed the senate unanimously and passed the house of representatives almost unanimously (two nays). Unfortunately, this act was tacked on by a group of republicans who, I am guessing, do not identify as libertarian. While the SAFE port act was essential, the UIGEA was not, but many legislators complained that they did not even have the opportunity to read it. With that said, it is highly unlikely that, if they had, the SAFE port act would have failed.

It is for this reason that payment processing companies are often used to facilitate money transfers from the players to online gambling sites. Many of these operators (and virtually all of the key players for the gambling sites) live and operate outside of the U.S. Due to this law. Furthermore, it also creates a need for the payment processing companies themselves as opposed to a player being able to simply put his credit card information in on any online gambling website the player chooses and transferring funds.

This language is often misinterpreted as making it illegal for players to knowingly transfer funds to online casinos located outside of the united states, to use their own credit cards in order to do so or to knowingly send money through a payment processor for the purpose of gambling online. At the federal level, none of these statements could possibly be less true. The UIGEA has no provisions in it whatsoever that would call for the penalization of individual players who choose to gamble online or transfer funds for this reason.

The first thing that one should do, if one feels uncomfortable with online gambling and is not in a state in which it is expressly legal, is to research your municipal or county rules and see if there is a prohibition against it. Beyond that, you might try to determine whether or not anyone in your state has faced charges for gambling online. It might technically be illegal, but essentially unenforced. Many of these laws were also written prior to the existence of the internet and have not been updated, likely because the lawmakers do not consider this a high priority, and also, many of the laws are puritanical in nature.

With that said, however, there are many states that have laws and provisions that either allow or disallow online gambling, so let's take a look at some of those:

In nevada, only poker is available for legal consumption; new jersey offers poker rooms and other types of casino games at its state-licensed online casinos. As for sports betting - a form of gambling that was illegal under federal law - it has received a chance to be legalized in may 2018, when the US supreme court lifted the ban and allowed each individual state to decide whether or not legislation will take place. Without further ado, let's go by each state and see what the status of online gambling actually is:

Online casinos that accept US players

Here is a list of online casinos that are currently accepting US players, we advise you select one that has a wizards seal to ensure they are a trusted brand, more info:

The blog

Online casino laws in new zealand 2020

New zealand’s gambling industry is worth an estimated $2 billion each year. With business booming and such a large number of active gamblers, regulation is an undeniable necessity.

The gambling act of 2003

There are many components of the gambling act of 2003, but one of the most important is the age of participation. Under new zealand gaming law, players must be 20 or older to gamble inside a casino. Anyone wanting to place a sports bet, play the lottery, or buy a scratch card must be 18 or older.

In addition to setting regulations on age, the eight main goals of the 2003 act include:

• Control the growth of gambling


• Minimize problems with gambling addiction and the damage done to families as well as society as a result


• Make it easier to gamble responsibly


• Maintain fairness and integrity, both in online gaming and in person


• Make sure the required portion of proceeds from the games are given back to the community


• Make sure gaming machines are only placed in locations where they are allowed


• Reduce the chance for crime and dishonesty


• Verify that the groups running the machines are accountable, responsible, and qualify as societies

Online gambling and the new zealand gambling act of 2003

The new zealand gambling act of 2003 generally applies to land-based casinos and bookmakers, but ever since online gambling hit the scene, it has been amended so that it now refers to all live activities, as well as “remote” betting. This includes:

• Online casinos


• Online poker


• Online bingo


• Online lotteries


• All forms of mobile betting

Understandably, many people get confused when it comes to deciphering how that pertains to an online casino that NZ citizens want to play in. This law only applies to remote gambling within new zealand. Players in new zealand are allowed to gamble for real money in the case of overseas betting.

To clarify, this means that players can’t place online bets with an operator that is based in new zealand. Instead, they must place bets with operators based outside of new zealand. Essentially, players in new zealand aren’t prevented from betting online. Instead, offshore companies aren’t allowed to advertise their services within new zealand. You can find more information on this as well as online casino NZ sites where new zealand players can legally play for real money by following the link.

Who controls online gambling in new zealand?

All gaming is controlled and licensed by the department of internal affairs. This department maintains strict guidelines for each legal gambling class. These classes of gambling are determined by the prize values and methods of gaming.

Class 1 gambling is restricted from prize or turnover greater than $500. All proceeds from the gambling, interest included, if done by a single person, must be applied to the winners. Class 1 gambling is the only class that can be conducted by individuals.

Class 2 gambling is required to have prizes with a total value between $500 and $5,000. The potential turnover must exceed $500 but can’t exceed $25,000. Class 2 gambling doesn’t require a license, but it has to be conducted by societies as defined in the gambling act mentioned earlier.

Class 3 gambling has to have prizes that value a total of more than $5,000. Class 4 gambling usually refers to gambling that uses gaming machines. Classes 3 and 4 have to be conducted with a license.

Governmental agencies that regulate gambling

There are four governmental agencies that regulate gambling in new zealand. Below are details of each of the agencies and their responsibilities.

The department of internal affairs

• Writes legislation pertaining to gambling


• In charge of licensing gambling activities, except casinos


• Prosecutes violators of the law


• Educates the public about the law

The ministry of health

• Provides services for problems gamblers


• Funds services for problem gamblers


• Published the three-year plan for preventing and minimizing gambling harm in 2011-2013, in addition to a six-year strategic plan for 2011-2016

The gambling commission

• Manages all licensing for casinos, including new licenses and license renewals


• Reviews agreements between casino operators and the casino license holders, including any adjustments to the agreements


• Manages all complaints pertaining to the way the department of internal affairs handles complaints related to class 4 gambling


• Specifies and revokes conditions for casino licenses


• Advises ministers of the current situation related to problem gambling


• Receives and makes decisions on appeals to the department of internal affairs’ regulatory and licensing decisions

The new zealand lotteries commission

• Regulates all lotteries in new zealand


• Passes profits on to the new zealand lottery grants board

Recent updates to online casino laws in new zealand

As recently as august 2019, the new zealand government has expressed an interest in keeping its laws and regulations up to date. New zealand’s department of internal affairs released a survey regarding an expansion of the current laws pertaining to online gambling activities.

The DIA felt the need to address the fact that new zealand is reported to have “grey laws” which means there isn’t any legislation banning offshore online casinos or bookmakers from targeting their citizens.

A NZ DIA official was quoted saying, “we need to update our laws for today’s digital world and future-proof them as much as possible.”

Considering how much has changed in the last decade alone, it is entirely accurate to say that new zealand’s gambling laws can be considered out of date since there haven’t been any major changes to the gambling act of 2003.

The goal of the DIA is to regulate the industry and while simultaneously earning the government tax. A reported $3 million are spent in offshore casinos and betting sites each year. The DIA claims, as it always has, that they are motivated by the safety of its country’s citizens. By regulating online gambling, not only would the DIA gain better control of its citizens’ gambling habits, but the country as a whole would benefit financially from having locally-operated online casinos. It will be nothing short of interesting to see how things play out.

So, let's see, what we have: online casino laws online casino laws vary from one country to the next. While some countries are embracing the online casino industry and are creating regulations and laws for the protection of at online casino laws