Legal Online Casinos & Online Gambling

Online casinos are here to stay and only getting more popular as U.S. states consider updating laws to allow (and regulate) them within their borders.

Online casinos are legal in five states (Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia). Online casinos are just like real casinos, but on the internet. As technology has improved and people’s appetite for digital entertainment has increased, it’s no wonder that the online casino business is booming. Especially in the U.S., players turn to their laptops and mobile devices, seeking opportunities to have fun and win real money.

Many of the world’s largest brick and mortar casinos have invested in developing state-of-the-art digital casinos that mimic the experience of gambling in the real world. Logging in to one of these platforms is like walking into a real casino’s main floor. Online casinos offer the same games as their counterparts: slots, jackpots, bingo, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and more. Many even feature “live” games in which a real-life dealer is present via a video feed.

We ranked the best real money online casinos of 2021 to help you decide which one to play:

  BetMGM Casino — Best for a Live Dealer Experience

Read our BetMGM Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Bonus Offer: Use the bonus code ACTION to get $25 free. You will get a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 plus $25 on the house if you join BetMGM Casino today. 

Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

BetMGM Casino boasts a large assortment of poker, slots, and table games, making it a premier place to play. Specifically, the live dealer blackjack is highly engaging and closely simulates a real-life casino experience. BetMGM Casino's customer service was reasonable and occasional tech issues have room for improvement. The state-switcher feature of the BetMGM app is excellent for those who travel often and want to play on the go. Lastly, it’s tough to beat the $25 no-deposit bonus that BetMGM offers for new players.

BetMGM Casino Positives

  High-end and comprehensive live dealer coverage

  Fast payouts

BetMGM Casino Negatives

Messaging when a player wins

  PointsBet Casino — Best for a Fresh Take on Casino

Read our Pointsbet Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Available States: Michigan and New Jersey

After a successful launch of its sportsbook in 2019, PointsBet launched its online casino in 2020. A shared wallet with PointsBet Sportsbook makes it easy for users to bet on sports and play casino games with the same account.

Overall navigation and functionality of both desktop and app products are smooth (web and mobile even have the same layout). Evolution Gaming operates PointsBet's live casino service, which is a powerful feature for the brand. Though PointsBet does not offer any welcome bonuses for players, PointsBet may bring something to the (gaming) table soon. Users will find a mix of classic and modern games.

PointsBet Casino Positives

  New to market 

  Stylish mobile application interface

PointsBet Casino Negatives

Customers are hungry for additional promotions

  Need more games and options

 Golden Nugget Casino — Best Overall Gaming Experience

Read our Golden Nugget Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Available States: Michigan and New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Golden Nugget's site remains user-friendly even while offering over 600 games; the mobile app is sleek, though the total games drop to 460. Most games provide a Demo Play option, which is friendly for beginners. Customer support ranks high as well.

Golden Nugget Casino Positives

  VIP Program is unparalleled

  Enjoyable gaming experiences

Golden Nugget Casino Negatives

Depositing errors

SugarHouse Casino — Best for General Welcome Bonus

Read our SugarHouse Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

SugarHouse offers a generous welcome bonus, a large variety of games and an overall professional platform which has made the company a reliable option for online casino players.

SugarHouse Casino Positives

  Good welcome bonus

  Large library of games

SugarHouse Casino Negatives

  No desktop version of the app is available

Unibet Casino — Best for Realistic App Design

Read our Unibet Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Available States: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Unibet has been an industry leader in the European gaming world for over two decades. With a realistic app design and an extensive library of online games, Unibet is a trusted company for online casino players.

Unibet Casino Positives

  One of the most trusted brands in the industry

  Quality bonus offers

Unibet Casino Negatives

  The mobile casino does not offer the full library of games

Legal Online Casino States

Legislation around online casinos is rapidly evolving in the U.S. Social casinos are available to play across the U.S. except for Washington D.C. Here are the current states that have deemed online casinos legal and the latest relevant information.

  Pennsylvania Online Casinos

Read our PA Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Live PA Casinos: BetMGM, Unibet, 888, DraftKings, Fanduel, Bet365, PointsBet, WilliamHill, WynnBET, Golden Nugget, Stars, SugarHouse, Hollywood, Borgata

Lawmakers authorized several gaming categories for the Keystone state in 2017, including sports betting, poker, and online casinos. Two years later, in 2019, online casinos launched to much fanfare in Pennsylvania, the most populated state offering legal gambling right now. There are nearly a dozen regulated, online casinos in Pennsylvania.

New Jersey Online Casinos

Read our NJ Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Live NJ Casinos: BetMGM, Unibet, 888, DraftKings, Fanduel, Bet365, PointsBet, WilliamHill, WynnBET, Golden Nugget, Tropicana, Caesars, Virgin

The Garden State was the very first to enter the market in the U.S. and, as such, is the most sophisticated when it comes to gambling online. It has the most comprehensive selection of casino operators, with around 30 different brands for players to choose between. This is undoubtedly a positive for players as there are plenty of welcome offers and bonus promotions to take advantage of. The maturity of the NJ market also means the highest levels of user experience, game options and safety for users.

Michigan Online Casinos

Read our MI Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Live MI Casinos: BetMGM, Unibet, 888, DraftKings, Fanduel, Bet365, PointsBet, WilliamHill, WynnBET, Golden Nugget, Stars

Gamers in the Wolverine state finally got their wish when the Michigan Division of Gaming Enforcement passed laws in late 2019 to allow online casinos within its borders. It was the third U.S. state to legalize online gambling. A record of nine total online casinos opened on the first day possible on Jan. 22, 2021 – the largest ever simultaneous launch in the U.S. Online poker was not available that day but did become legal soon after. The state has a mix of commercial casinos and tribal casinos that are granted licenses.

West Virginia Online Casinos

Read our WV Online Casino & Bonuses Review

Live WV Casinos: BetMGM, Unibet, 888, DraftKings, Fanduel, Bet365, PointsBet, WilliamHill, WynnBET, SugarHouse, Golden Nugget

West Virginia became the fourth U.S. state to legalize online casinos when it did so in 2019. The Mountain State has allowed land-based casinos to operate legally since 2007, though, and even deemed “video lottery terminals” (aka slots) legal for longer. This background has contributed to West Virginia being one of the most progressive U.S. states when it comes to online gambling, offering all three major types: sports betting and online poker along with online casinos. Poker, however, has yet to launch.

Online Casino Games

Making your online casino choice may depend on the types of games they have. Here are some of the gaming options you might have on your preferred online casino app.

Blackjack

Of course, the most popular table game is available, and in multiple styles to suit every player.

Live Dealer

To better simulate a real-life casino experience, try this version that uses a live stream of a human dealer rather than a random number generator. 

Roulette

Named after the French word for “little wheel” — and the second most popular table game — is available for those who fancy the red and black.

Slots

Single-reel, video, progressive — they’re all here for those who want to spin and win.

Table Games

Try out any of those classic games like Blackjack or Poker for a good time.

Video Poker

Play against the machine by picking five cards, looking for a large return.

Online Casino Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Depositing and withdrawing money with online casinos is a straightforward process, regardless of which app you choose. For most online casinos, it's faster to deposit than to withdraw. Standard payment methods include:

• Bank account
• PayPal
• Debit/credit card
• eCheck

If you want to withdraw cash from your online casino account, you won't receive your earnings instantly, so expect a waiting period. This is to ensure a safe and legal process between you and the operator.

Gambling Support 

Gamblers can also visit 800 Gambler for education and information around problem gambling, as well as view programs and services offered. Michigan strives to ensure that gambling is a source of entertainment for its users.