What U.S. states can I legally gamble in?

It’s legal for individuals to play at online casinos in Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, although each company can vary in the U.S. states, it operates in. These are evolving rapidly as new legislation around gambling passes.

At what age can I gamble online?

In the U.S. restrictions vary state by state, but in general players must be 18 or 21 in order to play.

Is an internet connection required to play at online casinos?

Yes, a connection to the internet will be necessary to play at an online casino, whether through Wi-Fi or the data on a smartphone device. If using a data allowance, players should be mindful of the usage as network providers may charge for exceeding monthly data limits.

What are the most popular games offered by online casinos?

Common games include slots , jackpots, bingo, blackjack , roulette, baccarat, poker , slingo, keno and more. Each online casino will offer a different catalogue of games based on its licensing deals with specific gaming providers.

What promotions do online casinos offer for new players?

These are often called “welcome bonuses” and often include a no-deposit bonus from $10-25 for new players that sign up with a casino. Users may find offers for a 100% first deposit match anywhere from $200-500 as well.

What are playthrough requirements?

Playthrough (or wagering) requirements are something all players should be aware of when registering with an online casino. These terms and conditions around a bonus specify how quickly one must spend the cash along with certain deposit amounts one must make. These requirements will be unique to each casino, but are standard practices across the industry.

Is it safe to deposit money at online casinos?

Yes. Online casinos are heavily regulated by governments which enforce strict operating standards and thus can be trusted to deposit funds to gamble with. Double check that a casino is licensed before making a deposit (usually found at the bottom of a homepage).

How can I withdraw money I win from online casinos?

Most online casinos offer the most common banking options for withdrawing money, such as: debit, credit, e-wallet, bank transfers, PayPal and more, although this will vary from casino to casino. Check the available methods with the cashier prior to depositing money into your account.

Are there withdrawal limits?

Yes, almost always will online casinos enforce daily, weekly or monthly limits on the amount of money you can withdraw at one time.

What is game volatility?

Game volatility (also known as variance or dispersion) indicates how often a slot is likely to hit a winning combination and what the size of the expected winning can be. For example, a game with low volatility would award a player with small but frequent winnings, whereas a game with high volatility would award a player with large winnings but at an unreliable rate.

Legal Online Casinos & Online Gambling

Best Casino Apps & Bonus Codes for April 2022

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 2022 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 Generous 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

Borgata Casino — Best for Web Play

Read our Borgata Online Casino & Bonuses Review Page

Available State: Pennsylvania and New Jersey

The famous Atlantic City casino has been brought to life online with Borgata's online product. Their website is a top seller to players that want to join the online casino space, and their PageSpeed Insights got the top score among sites we've reviewed.

Borgata Casino Positives

One of the most trusted brands in the industry

Quality Website Speed

Borgata Casino Negatives

Restrictive Live Dealer hours

No Game Winners on display

FanDuel Casino — Best for Sports Fans

Read our FanDuel Online Casino & Bonuses Review Page

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

The sports betting and daily fantasy giant has crossed over into the online casino market to offer their loyal users an avenue to continue their gambling spirits -- this time with notable games like Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat -- from the comfort of their own homes.

FanDuel Casino Positives

Strong Transition from Sportsbook to Casino

Customer Service and Money Transactions

FanDuel Casino Negatives

Frequent Location Check-Ins

DraftKings Casino — Best for Game Winners

Read our DraftKings Online Casino & Bonuses Review Page

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

The sports industries biggest name is used to seeing big winners on their platforms, so it makes sense that they've converted their online casino into having the best Leaderboard and Game Winners section on the market. From past results to upcoming events, DraftKings has got you covered.

DraftKings Casino Positives

Sports related casino games to help the transition over from the sportsbook

Amazing Game Winners and Leaderboard section

DraftKings Casino Negatives

Questionable Website Theme

Tricky Customer Service Nav

Caesars Casino — Best for Customer Support

Read our Caesars Online Casino & Bonuses Review Page

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

Caesars has revamped their online casino with the introduction of their new sportsbook, which means an overall better product for their users. With a big name like Caesars behind it, the online casino has put in its best effort into its Customer Support Services to give players the best experience possible.

Caesars Casino Positives

Huge Initial Bonuses

Great Customer Service

Caesars Casino Negatives

Could have a better user interface on their website

Parx Casino — Best for Smaller Game Quantity

Read our Parx Online Casino & Bonuses Review Page

Available States: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Parx is one of the smaller online casinos on our list, so it makes sense that they have a smaller selection of games available to their loyal players. While to some that might not be a good thing, there are certainly players out there that prefer a smaller quantity of games to play, so that not only can they get used to them and get better at playing them, but they also wont feel pressured to play other games or overwhelmed by a huge selection.

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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, Betway

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, Betway

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, Betway

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

Read our "How to Play" Online Blackjack Page

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

Read our "How to Play" Online Slots Page

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

Read our "How to Play" Online Poker Page

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.

Steve Petrella is a senior editor for The Action Network covering college football, among other things like casinos. He’s a Penn State grad now based in Atlanta who enjoys great punting, clock-killing drives and turnovers in the red zone.