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Welcome to BestUSCasinos.org! Before you venture any further, we’d like to tell you who we are, why we exist, and what we can do for you. Simply put, we exist as a resource for anyone who would like to know more about the casino industry in the United States – both online and offline.

Our site features over 1,500+ expert written pages to help Americans find everything they need to know about casinos across the country. Below you’ll find our current recommendations of the best sites for US players, that all offer safe & secure games and have been online for over 10 years:

Bovada Casino. As a trusted North American brand with lots of industry experience, Bovada Casino is a cornerstone of the online gambling world and never ceases to impress. Bovada offers a comprehensive and inclusive gaming experience as well as a growing collection of the web’s best slots and casino games.

The Top US Online Casinos & Gambling Sites of 2020

History of US Online Casinos

The origins of US online casinos has almost nothing to do with the United States itself. In fact, a combination of two of the most obscure nations—Antigua & Barbuda and the Isle of Man—helped created the online casino industry that we are familiar with today. In 1994, Antigua & Barbuda passed an Act that would allow for the licensing of online gambling organizations within the country’s borders. This Act was passed in direct response to Isle of Man-based software company Microgaming creating some of the first casino software.

If you flash forward a few years to 1996, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established and served the purpose of licensing and regulating online gaming the world over. The reason for the regulation was to introduce a bit of transparency into the industry, as many people found it difficult to believe that online casinos were not rigged to scam players. Nowadays, there are many regulatory bodies that all serve this same purpose.

By the end of the 20th century’s final decade, online casinos and the industry as a whole was bringing in annual revenue well over $800 million. During the 1990s, many online casinos meant to serve a US audience began popping up and becoming popular. Before long, however, certain moves on the part of the US government made online gambling incredibly more difficult and, in many ways, risky.

Legal Status of Online Casinos in the United States

When online casino first came into existence in the 1990s, they were offered in the United States just as freely as they were in most other parts of the world. After some time, however, the laws surrounding US online gambling — and more specifically the banking involved with US friendly online casinos — became more restrictive and monitored.

Thanks to some political trickery, certain laws were put into place that made it, in so many words, “illegal” to gamble online. Thanks to legislation such as UIGEA, playing real money casino games online was more difficult than it had ever been. With that being said, there are plenty of deposit and withdrawal options for US-based players. Even though there are rumors leading people to believe that playing real money casino games online is an illegal activity, the fact of the matter is that no one has ever been arrested or prosecuted.

Still, even as the number of laws grow, there is no singular piece of legislation that makes it illegal for one to gamble online in the United States. In fact, certain states have in-state online casino networks that are controlled and regulated by the state government. Some might argue that right now is the best time for online casinos accepting US players, though many people might tell you otherwise. There have been many half-truths and outright lies spread with regard to online gambling in the United States, and some of them still persist today. Regardless of these, it is important to know that there are plenty of real money online casino options for most every American.

Depositing real money to an online casino player account can be done in a number of different ways. Whether it be a credit/debit card deposit, direct bank transfer, or paper check deposit, there really are no shortage of ways by which you can fund a player account at an online casino. A few years ago the number of deposit methods offered to US players was extremely limited, but that much has opened up considerably such that executing a deposit is as easy as possible. When it comes to withdrawing your winnings, this too is something that cannot really be any easier. Most reputable online casinos have made it a standard practice to ensure that you have your winnings in-hand in less than a week’s time.

Functionality and Compatibility of USA Online Casinos

Thanks to technological advances and many other contributors, there has not only never been a better time to gamble online in the United States, there have never been more avenues by which you are able to gamble online. First and foremost, you cannot go anywhere nowadays without someone being just seconds away from playing their favorite casino game or betting on their favorite sports team by way of their smartphone or tablet. iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, and just about any other type of phone supports online casinos that provide real money games to players in the United States. Mobile gaming has taken hold of the online casino industry and is revolutionizing the way in which people play their favorite casino games.

Some sites have incredibly advanced mobile platforms while others are just getting their feet wet, but the fact of the matter is that most every online casino nowadays has some sort of mobile offering. The one thing that mobile gaming offers is convenience, and as technology advances that convenience is coupled with top-quality mobile gaming platforms in a way that make mobile gambling just as fun and exciting as playing at the best US online casinos on your computer, or even playing at an actual brick and mortar site.

Popular and well-respected software providers like NetEnt and Microgaming are employed by online casinos to ensure that your gaming experience is glitch-free and generally enjoyable. These providers are constantly updating their offering to give players the most technologically advanced games you will find on the internet. Whether you are operating a Mac, Windows, or Linux powered PC, there are plenty of online casino options. In the early days Windows dominated the online casino scene, but now we are seeing most casinos offer games across any type of operating system that exists. Mac and Linux especially have been growing in popularity since the mid-2000s. These two operating systems were once considered to be obscure, but have quickly and overtly staked their claim in the realm of mainstream operating systems. Now, you will be hard-pressed to find one reputable online site that does not offer software compatible with all 3 of the major operating systems.

Expansive Selection of Casino Games and Variations

Casino games come in many different shapes and sizes and just about any game or game type that you can think of exists at a US online casino. During the early days, casinos tended to play host to more popular games such as blackjack, roulette, and slots. As the average online gambler began to fulfill a more diverse description, however, the offering of online casinos needed to grow to be equally diverse. Now, you can find every type of casino games at online casinos in the US.

From Pai-Gow, to video horse racing, and even War, literally any and very casino game that you can think of exists online. The number of games and game variations only continues to grow too, so it will be interesting to see what the future has in store.

User Participation

We at BestUSCasinos.org value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and encourage you to voice them. Whether it be about a specific page we have or maybe even a page we are lacking, your opinion matters and will be considered. This is a site that is meant to serve the needs of the everyday player, and without your opinion that could never be a reality.

You can also learn how we rate online casinos in order to determine which US gambling sites are better or worse than others. Though this may be more subjective than anything else, our rating system can give you a nice jumping off point for picking the best US casinos for you. A lot goes into our ranking so that all you have to do is read and decide; the heavy lifting is done already.

Through our many social media outlets, we hope to hear any and all of your thoughts and opinions.

There is much confusion over whether it is legal or illegal to gamble online in the USA. This is partly due to ambiguous legislation, and also because various states have their own laws and regulations.

The first thing to state is that there is no federal law against real money casino gambling online. There are other legislative barriers in the USA and some states may have their own laws, but prosecutions are almost unheard of. The laws are intended to be applied to operators rather than individual bettors. In reality, many US states still have gambling laws stretching back to the 1800s. That doesn't help the growing population of players at online casinos. The USA is slow in catching up with the online revolution.

Apart from a few states that have gone it alone, the US still doesn't have a proper all-round law regulating gambling. Let's look a little closer at where Americans can play online and how they can stay safe.

Top Real Money Gaming Sites in the US 2020

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Top Real Money Gaming Sites in the US 2020

Gambling Laws in America

The lack of a federal framework might seem strange considering the proliferation of land-based casinos in the country, but things are quickly beginning to change.

There is no law against an individual placing a bet online, but it is against federal law for a website to accept a sports bet over the internet. This relates to the Federal Wire Act of 1961 which prohibits the use of a wire communication to place a bet on a sporting event or contest. Until recently the Department of Justice had interpreted this to include bets on “games of chance” such as casino games and poker.

The other complication for US players is that it is against federal law for banks and payment processors to handle gambling transactions. This relates to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which made it illegal for banks to process transactions associated with online gaming. This has no effect on the player making the transaction, but prohibits banks and payment services from facilitating deposits and withdrawals. Therefore, playing at USA online casinos is not illegal, but processing transactions for them is.

After Black Friday in 2011, the Department of Justice simultaneously shut down the operations of several leading online poker rooms with offices in the USA. However, later that year the DOJ publicly released a formal legal opinion stating that the law only applies to wire communications relating to a “sporting event or contest”. It effectively paved the way for individual states to regulate online gambling, poker and casinos if services were kept within state borders.

Green Shoots of Legalized Online Gambling in America

The state of New Jersey became the first state to fully legalize online casinos and poker in February 2013. Likewise, Nevada and Delaware currently offer legal poker, though as of now are yet to sanction real money casino games in the state. Geolocation has been an issue, with some residents living near the state borders denied access to legal casino sites. Some major payment providers like Visa have also been jittery about processing new legal online transactions over the web.

And in late 2017, Pennsylvania joined the growing list of states to regulate online gambling. The first regulated real money sites are expected to launch in 2018. Applications for online casino operators are already coming in, but that state’s Gaming Control Board has yet to approve any. New York is also exploring ways to regulate land-based casinos.

Eight other states are said to have bills in the pipeline, and the industry in the US is expected to grow rapidly as regulations are changed. In the meantime, there are still plenty of USA casinos online which Americans can access completely legally to play blackjack, craps, slots and every other game you'd find at your local. We’ve put together a list of the best 100% legitimate, USA-friendly sites below, as well as a list of the most popular social casinos and Facebook apps for playing online.

Outside the newly-regulated states like Nevada and New Jersey, it is technically illegal to accept real cash bets online. However, despite some major operators leaving the US market since the government crackdowns there are hundreds of sites Americans can access. Most operate overseas with licenses from jurisdictions like Curacao.

Only the Restoration of America's Wire Act (RAWA) threatens to throw a spanner in the works. Supporters of the bill, like casino giant Sheldon Adelson, want the DOJ's relaxation of laws to be reversed. They want an outright ban on all online gambling and poker in the USA, even in states that have legalized it, such as Nevada and New Jersey.

New Jersey Paves the Way

New Jersey was the first state to legalize internet gaming. The Garden State already had a long history of brick ‘n' mortar casinos, however. Nevada, with its massive land-based casino market, was next but the regulation doesn't stretch to online casinos. USA-based players in Nevada have to make do with poker only.

US States with Legal Online Gambling in 2018:

New Jersey: Casinos, poker
Nevada: Poker
Delaware: Poker, casinos
Pennsylvania: Slots, poker

Select your State

Popular Casino Games Online

By far, slot machines and table games are the most popular hits for Americans at online casinos. Most US-facing operators offer hundreds of slots and progressive jackpot games. American Roulette is available at virtually all US online casino too.

Sports betting has become massively popular in the past few years, as well as Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). Some sites are beginning to merge their casino, sportsbook and DFS offerings in one handy portal.

Individual states also run huge lotteries, even if casinos are banned there, as well as bingo, keno, and some horse racing.

Sweepstakes' Popularity in US

Sweepstakes are a popular pastime in the United States, where corporate entities often stage giveaway for their readers, viewers, or customers. However, those interested in playing these sweepstakes are never required to pay anything or make a purchase in order to enter or improve their chances of winning, as this would cause these contests to be classified as gambling.

These sweepstakes are lucked-based, with prizes typically being awarded by a random drawing. These contests can run from small local promotions that give out gift certificates or small amounts of merchandise to major, nationwide drawings with huge prizes. Some of the most famous sweepstakes in the United States include the McDonald’s Monopoly game, the Publishers Clear House Sweepstakes, and the Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes.

In recent years, “sweepstakes parlors” have also appeared in many states. These businesses usually require players to make a small purchase – for instance, buying a phone card – in exchange for some chances to win cash prizes. Because these winnings are revealed on slot machine-like games, and players typically only “buy” the products to play these machines, many states have banned these establishments, finding them to constitute illegal gambling.

Best Deposit Methods for US Players

When gambling at online casinos, USA players' biggest issue is declined payments. Some major credit card providers are reluctant to process payments if they are for online gambling. This is especially true if you live outside one of the newly-regulated states.

Bitcoin

New cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin are becoming more accepted at online casinos. USA-facing sites love the anonymity and the lack of a central bank handling payments. The fees are pretty low too. All you need is a Bitcoin wallet at a reputable exchange.

Western Union

There are thousands of Western Union outlets around the USA. Online casino players can visit their local store and send physical cash to a gambling site for a small fee. The best part about WU is that the reason for transferring cash is kept off your bank account.

Visa

Visa is one of the safest ways to fund your online gambling. At a regulated internet casino or poker site, Visa payments are quick and safe, and you only pay fees if you use a Visa credit card.

Live Betting and Casinos

Casinos and racetracks are permitted in many US states. However, laws can change hugely from one state to another. Nevada has one of the most liberal attitudes towards casinos, for example, whereas nearby Utah has virtually outlawed all casinos and gambling.

In Washington State, some gambling is outlawed and treated as a Class C felony. In California, meanwhile, poker is legal while casinos are banned outside tribal casino resorts. You will find a full breakdown of live betting and casinos on our state pages.

Find the Best Online Casinos in 2018

The USA online betting scene is healthier than ever. There are several states showing that internet casinos can turn a profit. That may attract more states and lawmakers to change their stance.

And while the Restoration of America's Wire Act isn't dead and buried just yet, Americans should still tread carefully. Only sign up and deposit at reputable gambling sites that look after your games and your USD. And trust our state-by-state guide to see where you stand in 2018.

USA at a Glance

Population: 260 million
Legal Age of Gambling: 19-21
Land-based Casinos (Y/N): Y
Online Casinos Legal (Y/N): Y
Popular Games: Slot machines, roulette, poker, sports betting, lottery, bingo, keno

Brief History of US Gambling & Casinos

1800s: Gambling, casinos, and poker are widely played but not legal.

1930s: Nevada legalizes gambling.

1930s-1960s: More states introduce legal lotteries and racetracks, as well as bingo rooms.

1976: New Jersey legalizes casinos. Atlantic City opens first legal casino two years later.

1988: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) is passed. It provides a framework that allows casinos and gambling on Indian reservations around the US. A regulatory National Indian Gaming Commission is set up to oversee licensing.

1990s: By this period, every state in the USA other than Utah and Hawaii offers some form of legal gambling.

2006: Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is passed at the last minute. It effectively outlaws all real money online transactions made to gambling sites and poker rooms.

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2009: UIGEA fully comes into effect.

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2011: Department of Justice (DOJ) opens indictments against operators of several large online poker rooms. Overnight, thousands of US players have their funds seized. Some American players are still being paid back by the government.