Top USA Game Picks
Unfortunately, US players have a narrower choice when it comes to online casino games. Although they cannot play games from top providers such as Microgaming and Playtech, they can still choose from some of the best RTG, Top Game, Rival, and Betsoft titles. We have selected some of the best online casino games for US players and you can read comprehensive reviews of these games at Casinos Online.
An Overview of Gambling in the United States
In spite of the absence of federal and state level regulation in the US, online casino gaming is not denied to its residents. A number of reputed, licensed, and regulated offshore online casinos are willing to accept US players. These US facing online casinos cater exclusively to the gaming needs to US players.
History of Gambling in America
Gambling in the US has a long, interesting, and complex history. European and Asian immigrants brought games of chance to the US, leading to the mushrooming of gambling houses all over the US from 1849 to 1855. But anti-gambling public opinions gained prominence. This led to several US states imposing a blanket ban on gambling.
Things changed for the better in the thirties when Nevada legalized gambling. A number of other US states followed Nevada and legalized different forms of gambling. Today traditional forms of gambling are legal in all US states except Utah and Hawaii, which have banned gambling 100%.
However, when it comes to Internet gambling, the US remains a grey jurisdiction. Although a handful of states such as Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have legalized some forms of online gambling, the US federal government has not yet created a proper regulatory framework. In the absence of regulation, US residents are forced to turn to offshore online casinos.
US States That Have Licensed Gambling
The residents of the following states can legally play online casino games at any of their licensed online casinos.
- New Jersey – New Jersey legalized online gambling in 2013, enabling its land-based casinos to apply for online gambling licenses and offer online casinos and online poker rooms. As a result, Atlantic City casinos such as Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Resorts Casino Hotel, Trump Taj Mahal, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Golden Nugget, and Borgata Hotel Casino received gambling licenses.
- Today New Jersey is home to online casinos such as Golden Nugget Casino, Virgin Casino, 888 Casino, Borgata Casino, Resorts Casino, Harrah’s Casino, and Caesars Casino.
- Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania legalized online casinos in Oct 2017. A number of operators, including Mohegan Sun Pocono and Rivers Casino, applied for licenses. But online casinos have not yet gone live in the state.
- Delaware – The credit of being the first US state to legalize online gambling goes to Delaware. The state’s online gambling market went live in Nov 2013 when Delaware Park, Harrington Raceway, and Dover Downs started offering online casinos with roulette, video poker, slots, and blackjack games.
US States that Plan to License Online Casinos
The following US states are planning to legalize online gambling in the near future:
- California – The history of gambling in California is long and complex. The state is home to a number of poker rooms and casinos. It is currently mulling over the pros and cons of legalizing several forms of online gambling, including online casinos and online poker.
- New York – New York has already legalized online horse betting and may legalize other forms of online gambling in the near future.
Current Gambling Situation in the US
According to a Bloomberg news report on US online gambling, the US federal government has recently declared that the Wire Act of 1960 applies not only to online sports betting, but also other forms of online gambling. This is going to have a major impact on all online gambling activities within the country.
The US still remains a grey jurisdiction when it comes to online gambling. In the absence of proper online gambling regulations and regulatory bodies, US residents remain unprotected from unlicensed online casinos. Since there is no law to prevent residents from playing at offshore online casinos, a large number of online casino players from the US play at offshore online casinos.
Best Online Casinos for US Players
We review and rank some of the best online casinos, including new casinos, for US players. We also have the following guide for players who are determined to find the right US online casino on their own:
- State Restrictions – You have to read the online casino’s terms and conditions to find out if there are any state restrictions. Many US friendly online casinos do not accept residents of states that have legalized online casinos as well as states that have banned online casinos. However, there are a few reputed sites that accept players from all 50 US states.
- Software Platform – Ideally, an online casino must offer three gaming options—download, instant play, and mobile. The best online casinos also include live casino gaming services. Explore the online casino for these options.
- Mobile Compatibility – Avoid signing up at online casinos that are not compatible with mobile devices. While most US mobile casinos are now browser-based, a few offer native apps for Android and iOS.
- Bonus Offers – Check the bonus terms to determine if the welcome bonus is worth claiming.
- Customer Support – Does customer support include toll-free telephonic support for US players? Is the live support available round the clock? Players should always test the customer support for promptness and helpfulness before signing up.
- Payment Options – Is the list of payment options US friendly? Check for payment options that US players can easily use.
Featured Casinos
