Legal Gambling in the USA
Legal gambling in the USA is available online more than anywhere else. Few states have created casinos for you to use, but online casinos can be used in every state. In addition, most states operate state lotteries as well as some bingo games, and gambling is growing at the state level. However, the majority of online gambling still takes place at online casinos, rather than at state-operated lottery websites.
This page covers the latest information about legal online gambling in the US. We’ll cover everything you need to know about online gambling, the most effective ways to wager, and the best places to place bets and play casino games.
Is it Legal to Gamble Online in the U.S.?
Yes, it is legal to gamble online in the US. This is a common question to ask, and it’s not a bad one. The ways in which gambling is regulated in the US make this question important to answer. Some states regulate online gambling internally, while most rely on federal statutes. These statutes mostly apply to online gambling providers – companies that run casinos – rather than people that use them – you. This means you can almost always use online casinos legally in the US, since the laws are about running them, not using them.
3 Main Types of Legal Online Gambling Sites
There are three major types of legal online gambling sites. The first is a fully operational legal online casino. The second is a sportsbook – these are often attached to casinos, but not necessarily. Finally, online poker sites are a major aspect of online gambling. These do tend to be part of larger casinos at this point in time – most of the independent poker sites are affiliated with casinos as well.
Legal Online Casinos
The best legal online casinos mostly operate offshore. This means that they are not located in the US, but can be accessed by US players over the internet. In turn, this makes their situations a bit abnormal – they serve US players, but are not subject to US gambling laws. This is great for players, but not so good for the Taxman.
These casinos can be used by US players with no worries. We know of nobody who has gotten in legal trouble simply for using an online casino. The casinos we recommend are regulated and trusted options, so please be safe when gambling online!
Best Online Casinos For USA Residents
Legal Sports Betting Sites
Legal sportsbooks are available all across the US. There are two main types of legal sportsbooks. The first type of legal sportsbook is a sportsbook that is located internationally, but is still accessible inside the US. The second type of legal sportsbook is state-regulated, and these legal sportsbetting sites only operate inside of approved states. We recommend using the international sportsbooks, because we cover all aspects of online gambling, and those sportsbooks are available in more states than the state-regulated books.
Best Sports Betting Sites For USA Residents
Legal Poker Sites
Poker is technically a subset of online casinos, but it’s such a popular game that it has earned its own section in terms of legal gambling breakdowns. The majority of our top poker sites are associated with top casinos. This is good – it means they’re regulated, and part of a larger organization that has oversight from a gaming commission. This means that you don’t have to worry about being cheated at these legal online poker sites.
Best Online Poker Sites For USA Residents
Other Ways to Legally Gamble Online
The other legal gambling options for USA players tend to be bingo and horse racing. Bingo has a status of varying legality in the US, with many states not caring at all, and some classifying it as online gambling. Either way, players can use online bingo sites in all states. Horse racing holds a similar split regulatory issue – many states have regulated horse racing, and the ones that don’t have access to international racebooks.
U.S. Online Gambling Laws
Online gambling laws in the US take different forms depending on whether you are in a state with harsh laws or not. Generally, the harshest laws in the US are reserved for states like Utah, but even in those states, the major laws you’ll need to worry about are federal, so let’s cover them, and see what they do and do not apply to. Spoiler alert – they shouldn’t stop you from gambling online.
Federal Online Gaming Laws
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act – This bill was passed in 2005. What it does is regulate banks and bank transfers for online gambling. In other words, this is the reason your credit card might get declined at an online casino. That’s pretty much the only thing this law does on the consumer side, since it’s aimed entirely at banks.
Federal Wire Act of 1961 – This bill prohibits several types of gambling across state lines. Notably, several Department of Justices have interpreted this differently, depending on the politics of the day. As far as we know, it does not apply to online gambling, as it was created in 1961, so of course it doesn't.
State Gambling Laws
State gambling laws can vary significantly. The major way in which they impact you is via gambling ages. All states have a legal gambling age that is at highest 21, but there are several states that let you gamble based on being 18 or 19. This will not impact your play at online gambling sites, although it could make it riskier.
