The lucrative casino sector in the US is still a project in development while continuing to attract some of the best real-money online casinos in the world. This beginner's guide's central focus will be on the top online casinos operating in the US and various aspects related to those online real money casinos.
Best Online Casino Sites - Our Recommendation
Name | Score | Play Now | Welcome Bonus | Total Games | Payment Methods | Payout Speed | Disclaimer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9.8 | Claim Offer | 100% up to $1,000 + $25 on the House | 2200+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Skrill, Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Apple Pay | 0 - 4 business days depending on method | Gambling problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21+ and present in the state you're wagering in. T&C Apply. | ||
9.5 | Claim OfferBetRivers.com | Use code CASINOBACK for 24 hours Losses back up to $500 | 350+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Trustly, Bank Transfer | 0 - 5 business days | |||
9.2 | Claim Offerplaystar.com | 100% Deposit match up to $500 + 500 free spins | 330+ | PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Debit Card, Trustly, Bank Transfer | 0 - 3 business days | |||
9.2 | Claim Offerbet365.com | New Player bonus: Get a bonus of up to $1,000, see T&C's | 1000+ | PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Paysafecard, Bank Transfer | 0 - 5 business days | |||
7.0 | Claim Offerballycasino.com | $100 Money back guarantee on your first deposit | 1000+ | PayPal, Credit Card, Skrill, Debit Card, Bank Transfer | Instant - 5 business days | |||
8.8 | Claim Offercaesarspalaceonline.com | Get a $10 sign-up bonus + 100% deposit match up to $1K + 2500 Reward Credits® when you wager $25+. Use code: WELCOME | 500+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Apple Pay | 0 - 2 business days | |||
8.8 | Claim Offerfanduel.com | See site for more details | 1000+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Trustly, Bank Transfer, Apple Pay | 0 - 5 business days | |||
7.8 | Claim Offerbetway.com | Receive a 50% First Deposit Match up to $1,000 as Casino Bonus | 150+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Neteller, Skrill, Debit Card, Paysafecard, Trustly, Bank Transfer | 0 - 3 business days | |||
8.3 | Claim Offer | New Players play $5 and get $100 Casino Credits INSTANTLY or a 100% deposit match up to $250 Casino Credits | 900+ | Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Online Banking | 0 - 5 business days | |||
8.2 | Claim OfferVirginCasino.com | Up to $100 real cash back | 700+ | PayPal, Credit Card, Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer | 0 - 3 workings days | |||
8.0 | Claim Offer | GET $20 FREE BONUS NO DEPOSIT NEEDED | 1400+ | PayPal, Credit Card, Neteller, Debit Card, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Apple Pay | 2 - 6 business days |
Discover the Best Casino Sites in the US
Virgin Casino - Best mobile casino
BetRivers - Best for playing slot tournaments
BetMGM - Best for playing online poker
FanDuel - Best for online blackjack
WynnBet - Best casino loyalty rewards
888 Casino - Best for online slots
SugarHouse Casino - Best for playing mobile slots
Unibet - Best choice of jackpot games
Betway - Best for playing RNG table games
Caesars - Best for exploring new games
Best Online Casino Sites Reviewed
In the following sections, you can read mini-reviews of some of the casinos we selected for this guide. You can see our generic evaluation of each and what that specific casino site is recognized for.
Virgin Casino Overview
Founded in 2004, Virgin Casino is one of the earlier internet gambling platforms and has acquired legal status (in certain states) in recent years. The site is suitable for online table games, slots, and online bingo fans, while there are no live dealer games on it.
Though the range of its services is broad, Virgin Casino is best suited for mobile play. The brand offers two separate mobile applications for iOS and Android users. Note that you will need to ensure your device is compatible before downloading either app.
BetRivers
BetRivers is a brand managed by Rush Street Interactive, a company with more than a decade of experience in the online gaming industry. BetRivers is RSI's flagship brand, and although primarily known as an online sportsbook, it offers a wide variety of casino gaming services too.
The BetRivers online casino is a dynamic platform that covers an extensive range of products, including RNG table games, live games, slots, video poker, Slingo, etc. However, the reason we selected a sports-oriented platform as a top casino site is its special casino tournaments.
Click the 'Tourney' tab to explore all active and upcoming tournaments. The page details each event, including the top prizes, qualifying games, and other tournament rules.
BetMGM Casino
MGM is a powerhouse entertainment conglomerate with wide-ranging interests in the US gaming industry. BetMGM is an online gambling brand managed by MGM Resorts International. The platform provides both online betting and safe casino gambling services.
The brand's web-based casino offers a variety of products, from live and automated table games to multiple types of slots. While many of our selected casinos offer poker tables, none do it better than BetMGM.
The casino has a separate section for poker enthusiasts and beginners, where you can find poker tables, tournaments, special poker promotions, and helpful guides on how to play online poker. Moreover, BetMGM offers a native poker app for desktop users that enables instant access to its poker lobby.
FanDuel Casino Overview
FanDuel is an online gaming brand familiar even to the most uninitiated Americans. Fantasy players know it as one of two leading fantasy betting sites (the other being DraftKings), but did you know the operator also runs an all-inclusive online casino?
The FanDuel internet casino has all major game categories, including roulette, live games, poker, baccarat, and craps, but the choice of blackjack tables is where it excels. You can explore more than two dozen online blackjack variants, including FanDuel's exclusive blackjack tables with in-house dealers. Every blackjack card has an information ('i') symbol in the upper right corner, which shows detailed information about each blackjack variant.
WynnBet Casino
WynnBet is another primarily sports-focused online gaming operator with an online casino available only in Michigan and New Jersey. It offers a range of products, including hundreds of online slots and table games.
Wynnbet enhances the casino experience with its various bonuses and player rewards programs. You will join the Wynnbet loyalty program by simply registering (and verifying) a casino account. With the Wynnbet loyalty program, you earn credits to unlock new loyalty tiers and earn exclusive benefits and rewards by betting on sports or playing casino games.
Additionally, you can earn Free Credits and Comp Dollars by playing select casino titles. Once you have enough of them, you can redeem them for different benefits and amenities.
888 Casino
888 Casino is a brand well-known in the UK, but its versatile online casino and first-rate services have made it popular in some online gaming circles in the US. Many of the listed casinos have a narrow choice of online slot games, which pale in comparison to the choice of video slots you'll find at 888 Casino.
888 Casino's slots supply includes more than 1,100 games from industry-leading providers, such NetEnt, but it also develops 'exclusive' in-house slots. Many of its slots have a 'demo' function that you can access even as an unregistered player to see how well the game works and explore its features.
SugarHouse Casino
SugarHouse is a sister site to BetRivers, meaning it is managed by the same company (Rush Street Interactive), so you can expect top-level services all around. SugarHouse features a player-friendly user interface and is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Of the 800+ casino games, more than 600 are video slots, and nearly all slots are available on mobile. The number of mobile slots beats almost any competitor in this guide, except, perhaps, 888 Casino. But compared to 888 Casino, SugarHouse is much better adapted for mobile play due to its compact layout and seamless navigation system, alongside the different slot-related promotions you can claim via mobile.
Unibet Casino
Unibet Casino is characterized by its simple UI (user interface) and, like many of the operators we've covered, is a brand most familiar among sports bettors. Over time, Unibet has branched out into the online casino gambling sector and currently offers hundreds of casino gaming products, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker, which are also available as RNG games and live dealer games.
There are also more than 600 slots, nearly 70 of which have a jackpot prize. But the praiseworthy quality is that they all have a demo option that allows you to sample the slot to see if it's to your liking.
Betway Casino
Betway has an enviable reputation as an online sportsbook, but it also operates a wide-ranging online casino with hundreds of games. There are over 50 jackpot slots, with the largest progressive jackpot prizes reaching anywhere from over $500K to more than $20,000.000.
But while there is an excellent choice of video slots, jackpot slots, and live games, the RNG, i.e., the automated table games section, is its strong suit. There are more than 70 items listed in the 'Table Games' category, including video poker, roulette, and blackjack, as well as special titles such as 9 Pots of Gold Roulette and Mega Moolah Roulette, among others.
Caesars Casino Overview
Caesars is another gaming powerhouse that has expanded to the online gaming ecosystem with a miscellaneous online casino. Hundreds of casino games are tied to the Caesars Rewards scheme, meaning you can collect exclusive bonuses to earn benefits and rewards by playing regularly.
What we especially like about the Caesars Casino is that it's available to explore almost entirely without creating an account. All slots and RNG table games have a demo feature, as do all of the 'High-Roller' games. The live games don't have this option, but beginners can tap the 'i' button and watch the instructive video to learn how that specific game works.
How We Rate Top US Online Casino Sites
Licensing - We check the casino's license before anything else to ensure it operates legally. Having a licensing certificate from the relevant local regulator is the basis of every US casino we review.
Responsible gaming policy - One of the principal criteria we review in each operator is its responsible gaming policy. This ensures the operator has the required tools that allow players to either manually control their gambling habits or be able to seek professional assistance.
Customer support - The customer service department is what we focus on next after ensuring the platform is licensed and has adequate responsible gaming tools. It is essential to you, as a user of the casino's services, to be able to communicate with a reliable and attentive support service via email and live chat, or even phone.
Choice of online slots, live dealer tables, and other games - The gameplay experience is, after all, the fun bit and the actual reason, alongside bonuses, for registering at a casino site. This is why, in our overall rating of the operator, we pay close attention to the game selection and various aspects that relate to it, including betting limits, game categories, game providers, etc.
What are Online Gambling Sites & How Do They Work?
Online casinos are internet-based platforms where you can play real money online casino games against a computer, live dealers, or other players. Online casino sites operate either independently or are managed by a parent company.
To be legally allowed to operate within a particular country, that company or casino site undergoes rigorous evaluation and screenings to ascertain its credibility and eligibility for a specific license.
In European markets, online casinos can provide real money gambling services on table games like poker, roulette, blackjack, and craps; live casino games; live game shows, lottery and bingo, and online slot games using a single remote gaming license. However, each state is responsible for its gambling laws in the US.
Subsequently, every gambling site catering to the US market must acquire a license from each state separately to operate legally. Even then, depending on local laws and regulations, some types of games may be restricted.
It's also worth noting that due to the nature of most legal frameworks concerning online gaming, online casinos are more restricted compared to sports betting options. While online sports betting is legal in more than 20 states, casino gambling online is available only in a few states.
Pros & Cons of Online Casinos
Online gambling has enabled millions of players to access a range of real-money gaming products. The benefits of playing real money casino games online are plenty, but there are also various drawbacks and risks related to such practices.
- You can win real money by investing no more than $10 or $20
- Play live dealer games or slots on your phone or computer
- Claim attractive welcome bonus offers and promotions
- Online casinos offer exclusive games and player benefits
- Top casino sites have special VIP and loyalty schemes
- You can stumble on online casinos rigged with fraudulent games
- Online gambling can increase the risk of gambling addiction
- Criminal organizations can use gambling sites to launder money
US Online Casinos by State
As mentioned, no federal law bans online casinos and sports betting sites outright on a national level. Each state separately decides the status of internet gaming and sports betting.
Online betting - on traditional sports, fantasy betting, or eSports - is legal in more than 20 states, but online casino gambling hasn't yet acquired that status and success. Presently, there are only 6 states where online casinos are legal.
Connecticut
Apart from retail and internet sports betting, Connecticut has also legalized online casinos, although the choice is narrow. Currently, only two operators offer online casino gambling services in Connecticut: DraftKings and Mohegan Sun Online Casino. The two operators launched their internet gaming platforms on October 19, 2021. Every player aged 21, or older, based or residing in Connecticut, can play online roulette, blackjack, and online slots on the site or dedicated casino apps.
Delaware
Delaware was among the first states to legalize online casino gambling almost a decade ago in 2012. Interestingly, web-based casinos preceded sports betting sites after, in late 2013, a few local gambling venues launched gambling websites. It was only in 2018, after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 was rescinded, that online betting arrived. Internet gambling sites in Delaware offer a range of gaming products where you can win real money, including traditional table games, live dealer games, online poker, slot games, etc.
Michigan
After PASPA was repealed in 2018, Michigan legislators passed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act the following year, effectively legalizing online gambling. The act legalized various real-money casino games, including poker, slots, roulette, and blackjack, among other options. The first gambling platforms launched in 2021 and introduced to the state some of the best online casinos today, including BetRivers, FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings, among others. The Great Lakes State's legal gambling age is 18.
New Jersey
New Jersey state lawmakers were strong proponents of overturning PASPA to legalize online sports betting and casinos. In fact, it was the Garden State that first legally opposed PASPA back in 2009. Alongside Delaware, New Jersey was among the first to introduce internet casinos in 2013. As of early 2023, there are more than 20 gambling sites in New Jersey. Twenty-one years is the state's legal gambling age.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is yet another state that took advantage of the rescinded PASPA. By mid-2019, the state had legalized both online betting and online casinos. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is the state's top regulator and licensor of online casinos, including mobile casino gambling through apps. Table/card games, online poker, and slots are on the list of legal gambling products. The legal gambling age in Pennsylvania is 21, and you must be physically present in the state to gamble at a certain casino online.
West Virginia
Like several other states, West Virginia was quick to implement laws that would legalize and regulate online casino gambling practices in 2019. Led by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, the effort has led to top online casinos entering the West Virginia iGaming sector, including DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, among others. To gamble online in West Virginia, you must be 18 or older and located within state boundaries.
How to Sign Up for an Online Casino
Step 1: Download the DraftKings app or open a browser you use daily on your computer so the registration data can be automatically saved for later use.
Step 2: Tap the 'Sign Me Up' button on the home page to launch the registration form.
Step 3: Fill out the required fields and select the checkboxes to confirm your compliance with the house rules.
Step 4: Contact customer support to verify your account or manually initiate the process by uploading the required identification documents.
How to Deposit Money To An Online Casino
Step 1: Registration.
Step 2: Verification
Step 3: Choosing a payment method
Step 4: Enter your deposit amount and decide if you want to claim a welcome or a deposit bonus.
Step 5. Complete the deposit form with accurate and relevant information and confirm the transfer of the funds
How to Withdraw Money From an Online Casino Site
Step 1: Immediately after registering your account, ensure you provide the necessary account verification documents and complete the KYC (know your customer) procedure.
Step 2: Open the withdrawals/cash-out section, select your method of withdrawing, and type/select the amount you want to withdraw.
Step 3: Complete the digital withdrawal form and submit the cash-out request for processing
Deposit & Withdrawal Limits
US online casino players can handle payments and payouts with credit and debit cards, e-wallets, digital prepaid payment services, and even proprietary payment options. The withdrawal time, deposit/cashout limits, and fee policy is determined by the casino. Below you can see banking-related details at individual casinos and compare them to see which is the most convenient for you.
Best Online Casino Sites by Category
With over two dozen online casinos operating in the US market, players have a difficult choice when selecting the best casino site. However, each operator excels in a different area - bonuses, blackjack tables, choice of slots, etc. - and if you know your preference, it would be much easier to choose the best online casinos based on the selection of games it offers.
Best Online Casino for Blackjack
PartyCasino is among the top online casinos in the US for playing blackjack. There are dozens of tables of automated (RNG) blackjack and live dealer blackjack titles with convenient betting limits that can be as low as $0.10.
Best Online Casino for Roulette
Nearly every casino with a 'Live Dealer' or 'Table Games' section offers roulette, but PlayStar casino seems like the best choice. The operator gives you a decent choice of classic RNG (random number generator) and innovative live versions of roulette, such as Lightning Roulette, Immersive Roulette, and American Roulette.
Best Gambling Site to Play Live Dealer Games
Although you'll find live games on many US online casinos, Bally Casino might just be the best-suited platform for those who want to experience live gambling online. Alongside different variants of live baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, Bally Casino offers a good choice of live game shows, as well as live poker tables.
Best Online Casino for Slots
888 Casino's slots portfolio is furnished with more than 1,000 titles from market-leading providers like NetEnt, Playtech, Red Tiger Gaming, and Pragmatic Play, among others. But we selected this as our choice for the best casino for slots because it also provides exclusive slots developed in-house. Additionally, the minimum deposit is small, and the slot betting limits are adequate for newcomers.
Best Casino Site for Free Spins Bonuses
Almost any gambling site that offers slots is bound to promote free spins bonuses for slot players. Hurrah's online casino, a subsidiary of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, LLC, is recommended if you want to claim various free spin offers. The type of free spin bonuses can range from deposit bonus spins to no deposit registration spins.
Best Payout Casinos
BetMGM is top of our best payout casino list for its higher than average payouts on slots. Whilst there is no guarantee of success, we found on average that the site paid out a higher rate.
Explore More Casinos
Online Gambling Sites Bonuses & Promotions
Every online gambling platform you'll visit will provide at least one promotion related to its casino games. While promos seem attractive, they come with various terms and requirements you must satisfy before you can claim the bonus money. In the sections below, you can read more about the key aspects of online casino bonuses.
Qualifying deposits
Most bonuses require a minimum deposit. The qualifying deposit is usually no more than $10, though some promotions may require bigger deposits. You should also be careful not to exceed the allowed maximum deposit, as stated in the bonus terms. Some deposit options may be restricted for certain deals, such as PayPal, so make sure to review the bonus terms before making the payment.
Bonus wagering requirements
Wagering requirements refer to the total number of times you must play over your bonus amount to be able to withdraw. If a deposit bonus has 35x wagering on the deposit + bonus amount, you must wager the combined value of your deposit and bonus 35 times before requesting a payout.
Expiration period
Whether it's a cash bonus or free spins, every promotion expires within a specified period after you activate it. The expiration period can vary and may range from 7 to 30, 60, or even 90 days. You will find the exact time the bonus expires in the description. The relation between the validity period and the wagering requirements of the offer determines the bonus's overall value for the player.
Betting limits
As a rule, all promotions have a cap on maximum bets. The limit is different for every bonus, so make sure you open the promotional terms and conditions to see the maximum you can bet per hand. Note that depending on the rules, if you exceed the maximum bet, the casino may either invalidate your bonus or simply not count that wager towards reducing the wagering requirements.
Qualifying/excluded games
You meet the wagering requirements by playing qualifying games and avoiding excluded games. The operator usually provides a list of qualifying games and their respective game weighting value either in the bonus' specific terms or on the general bonus policy page. Slots games are usually eligible for most offers and count the most towards the wagering requirements.
Available Online Casino Payment Methods
The choice for deposits/withdrawals is likely to vary between operators. However, a few options are common for almost all online casinos.
Credit/Debit cards
Credit and debit cards are accepted on almost all sites as it is the most widely used method for paying for online services. Visa, MasterCard, and Maestro transactions can be easily handled even by the most inexperienced players, making them one of the most convenient methods for depositing and withdrawing. Most of the casinos in our guide don't charge credit/debit card fees, though the service itself may charge processing fees.
Credit/debit cards are likely the easiest methods for managing your transactions considering there are almost always no transaction fees and are also highly secure.
Digital Wallets
Instead of using credit/debit cards, you can also create an online wallet to serve as an intermediate platform that handles payments between your bank and any online merchant. Players prefer e-wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, and PayNearMe as they require only basic details to set up and don't require sharing sensitive bank/card details. Also, chances are high that you won't have to pay any processing fees by using digital wallets.
Many casino players who want fast withdrawals and don't want to use their bank cards choose digital wallets. Besides their convenience, e-wallets are also preferred to allow players to retain their online anonymity.
Online Banking
Online banking methods establish a direct line between the casino and your bank account. However, while bank-based methods are hassle-free to use, they often take days to approve withdrawals, even after the casino has finished processing your cash-out request. Unlike using credit/debit cards and e-wallets, you may have to pay a fee if you use online banking to withdraw your winning.
Players usually turn to online banking when they have no other way to withdraw their funds. While highly secure, e-banking payment services are often seen as a last resort, as they can take days to process and approve payments for fast payouts.
Best Casinos by Popular Payment Methods
How to Choose the Best Online Casino in 2024?
When you set out to choose an internet gambling brand, dozens of factors can come into play. But US players need to mind a few basic things that will allow them to easily choose the operator that is just right for them. To make an informed decision when choosing your platform, ask yourself some of the following questions.
Does the casino have a license?
What types of games will you be playing?
Can you use your preferred payment method?
Is the Casino Licensed in Your State?
First and foremost, see if the brand you're interested in is legal in your state. Not all online casinos listed in this guide are licensed in each of the 6 states that allow legal online casino gambling. You need to find another casino if the operator is not licensed in your state. There is no easy way to get this information, so you may have to do manual research to see if a particular casino you're interested in holds a license from your state's regulator.
What Types of Games Do You Want to Play?
See if the casino you're browsing has your favorite types of games. You can explore the operator's game portfolio even without registering. However, if you want to test the games' mobile compatibility and see the betting limits, you'd likely need to create an account. It is also a big benefit if you can play any of the games for free. As an unofficial rule, live games don't have a demo option. However, as fully automated games, slots often have a demo feature that lets players test the gameplay at no cost.
Does the Operator Have Your Preferred Payment Method?
Right off the bat, open the casino's terms and conditions or the relevant link to see the choice of payment methods. If you don't see the method you want to use, try contacting customer support to see if alternative options will be convenient for you. Note that in some cases, you won't have access to the payment methods on the site available for your state until you register.
How to Play Real Money Casino Games Responsibly
Even though banking options, game selection, and licensing credentials are important elements to consider before you create an account, it is paramount to ensure that your operator has an adequate policy related to responsible gaming. Here are a few things you should consider.
Setting Deposit Limits
Setting deposit limits can go a long way in controlling your spending. Open the operator's 'Responsible Gaming' page and read the policy to see if you can limit your daily, weekly, or monthly deposits.
Setting Session Limits
Session limits allow you to control how much time you spend playing by either notifying you or preventing you from playing after a session limit elapses. It is a useful tool if you're in the habit of losing track of time when you play.
Ability to Take a Break/Self-Exclude
Many operators allow users to initiate a break period of several hours or days. If you think your gambling activity is getting out of hand, you can contact customer support about self-excluding for a minimum period of one month to a year.
Contact line to Support Organizations
If your operator is fully licensed, then, as per license terms, it is required to offer a direct contact line between players and organizations that provide professional help to gambling addicts. Check the bottom of the site for affiliate links or contact customer support for more information.