Legal Online Casinos For U.S. Players
Though legal casinos that accept American players have existed for nearly two decades, there are still many misconceptions about the legality of online gambling and the way Internet casinos run their business. This site exists to educate you, to guide you to the best legal online casinos accepting wagers from US citizens.
If you want to find legal online casinos, learn more by reading below as we have reviews of some of the best casinos as well as a very helpful FAQ section dedicated to answering questions about legal gambling in the U.S.
INFO ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF ONLINE POKER IN THE U.S.
Legal Age to Play at Legal Online Casinos
In the United States, the legal gambling age is 18 in most states. However, because some states require a person be 21 years old or older to gamble, you should check your state's gambling statutes or consult our easy to read gambling age guide to check the legal gambling age at the online casino site you are interested in doing business with.
Reality of Laws About Legal Online Casinos
You may be aware that some states have laws on the books expressly forbidding citizens from placing online wagers. States like Louisiana, Montana, and Oregon have state laws that appear to threaten online gamblers with misdemeanor or even felony arrest for gambling at legal online casinos. The reality is that no individual gambler will be targeted by a state government. All online gaming laws, be they at the state or federal level, are aimed at the operators of online casinos, not their customers. In most cases, states don't have the resources to track Internet casino play by individuals; instead, state governments that ban online casinos for USA players target the casino gaming providers.
What the Law Says About Legal Online Casinos
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, better known as the UIGEA, was an attempt on behalf of a handful of anti-gambling Congressmen to prevent Americans from playing at online gaming sites by restricting banks and other financial institutions from doing business with known online casino pages. A very short list of American states expressly forbid Internet wagering, but none of them have yet to make a single arrest at the consumer level for the simple act of placing an online bet.
List of states with laws restricting Internet wagering is below:
Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin
ARE ONLINE CASINOS RIGGED?
As with any business, there are a handful of disreputable companies in the online casino industry. Thankfully, online gamblers are a tight-knit group, and when a casino refuses payment or operates a game that isn't programmed fairly, the site tends to be blacklisted online within days. That's why it's important to read online reviews of any gaming site you're considering doing business with.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY MONEY IF MY CASINO GETS SHUT DOWN?
Legal online casinos that accept US wagers have been shut down in the past, and for the most part, the casinos in question have paid back their customer's winnings, though in some cases it can take a few months for the financial details to be sorted out. However, if you do business with a legit online casino site, you shouldn't worry about it being shut down.
HOW DO I TRANSFER FUNDS TO MY ONLINE GAMING ACCOUNT?
In the United States, the UIGEA bill was designed to prevent Americans from using their bank account or credit and debit cards to directly fund online casino cashier accounts. However, some casinos still do business with certain financial institutions, and even if you are unable to use your bank card to add cash to your account, you can usually find a third party payment processor to act as a go-between for your bank account and your online gaming site.
HOW DO I TRANSFER FUNDS TO MY ONLINE GAMING ACCOUNT?
In the United States, the UIGEA bill was designed to prevent Americans from using their bank account or credit and debit cards to directly fund online casino cashier accounts. However, some casinos still do business with certain financial institutions, and even if you are unable to use your bank card to add cash to your account, you can usually find a third party payment processor to act as a go-between for your bank account and your online gaming site.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A LEGAL ONLINE CASINO SITE IS LEGIT?
You have to do your homework. Read online reviews, participate in online gaming forums, and look for certification on a casino site's homepage. Contacting a legal online casino's customer service department is another way to test their legitimacy; if customer support is unavailable or unwilling to discuss their auditing and regulation programs, don't make a deposit.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS THAT ACCEPT USA PLAYERS
Every online gambling customer will have a different ideal online casino. Legal online casinos that accept US wagers are becoming more common, and you should look for a site that is tested for fairness by an independent auditor such as Technical Systems Testing, a site that offers games you enjoy playing, and a casino with promotions that promise to add cash to your bankroll.
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We believe Las Vegas USA is the best legal online casino for American players. They accept wagers from US citizens, and have done so since the site opened its doors some years ago. The site runs on Realtime Gaming's popular online casino gaming platform, and offers a welcome bonus good for up to $100 at a 125% match rate. We have a special deal with Las Vegas USA Casino that gives slot gamblers and even better deposit match bonus: a 200% match worth up to $1,000, good for bets placed on all of the site's slot games. Simply enter the bonus code USA1000 at registration for access to our exclusive slot gambler bonus at Las Vegas USA Casino.