Legal Online Gambling Sites For U.S. Residents
As with any industry, legal online gambling is in a constant state of flux. While laws are always changing and businesses are constantly rising and falling, one thing remains the same - players are fully able to begin gambling without any trouble. Even if common belief dictates that online gambling is illegal, it is not actually illegal for you to play. We can tell you that there are actually no problems you will encounter when you decide to partake in this enjoyable and potentially profitable industry. It is absolutely legal for U.S. residents to gamble online and there is a ton of legal online gambling sites that accept U.S. residents.
On LegalOnlineGamblingSites.com, you will find a large number of legal online gambling sites that allow USA residents to come enjoy their games. All types of gambling sites (casinos, sports + horseracing, poker, bingo) are included with our pages to help you gamble online. A rule of thumb, if you see an online gambling website listed here, chances are that you will be allowed to join because each one is open to majority, if not all, United States residents. If you do not see a particular site listed but you know for a fact that they accept U.S. residents, there is a good chance it is not a website that we'd trust with our own money. We do our due diligence when researching and testing all the legal online gambling sites we have available here - only the best and most-trusted make the cut!
So, if you're on board with the movement towards legalized online gambling and are ready to take the plunge, we're going to use our years of expertise to help you understand what is legal and what is not. Because we are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice, we focus on the gambling sites that are safe to use, the ones where U.S. players will not get into any trouble when using them. All of our info is presented in a manner that is easy to understand for users with all levels of experience with gambling online. From the noobs to the vets, anyone can benefit by using LegalOnlineGamblingSites.com.
Facts About Legal Online Gambling Sites In The U.S.A.
- Nevada Residents Can Now Play Online Poker Legally! Other Forms Of Gambling To Follow
- Delaware + New Jersey Have Approved For The Legalization + Regulation Of Web-Based Gaming
- No One Goes To Jail For Simply Gambling Online In States Where Internet Gaming Is Not Legal
- It Is Estimated That More Than 5 Million Americans Gamble Online... Most Living In Un-Regulated States
- Of Those Who Gamble Online, Those Who Bet On Sports Bet More On The Web Than In Vegas Annually
- Offshore Gambling Sites Continue To Accept USA Players Depsite Federal Laws + And They Are Safe!
- Many U.S. States Are Considering Online Gambling Bills + Potential To Partner w/ Nevada For Regulation
Types Of Legal Online Gambling Sites That Accept USA Players
Some people don't know it, but there are several different ways to legally gamble online, and if you count fantasy sports games that number really jumps up. Residents of the U.S. can play online poker, casinos, bingo, sports betting, and horse betting. Overall, there is more then 30 trusted online gambling sites available that accept U.S. residents, some of which offer all types of legal online gambling.
Regardless of which type of gambling you are into, it is important to know that you are in fact using a safe and reliable site that is known for taking good care of U.S. players. Starting with online casinos, we're going to work down through all the options and provide our top recommendations for each.
Legal Sports Betting Sites
One thing that all players want to know about is legal sports betting in the United States. Right now there is no laws that directly make it illegal to bet on sports online in The United States. However, it is not regulated either. This means that the legal sports betting sites that you do find are not governed by any U.S. authority and there is alot bigger chance of being ripped off. This makes it that much more important to stick with trusted betting sites that have reputations that are good amongst U.S. residents.
There is only a small number of legal sports betting sites accepting US players that can be trusted. Although there is more then 50 sportsooks that accept U.S. players, less then 5 of them are recommended for U.S. residents. The problem is that some sports betting sites have gone rogue and sullied the reputation of the industry. We have years in the business and know for a fact that the legal sports betting sites that we list are good choices for American players.
We also want to point out why we think these are the best type of legal gambling sites that you can sign up at. The main reason that we like the sportsbooks the best is that they all have a full casino and poker room that are as good as any other ones you will find online. Their casino runs on the same software that all the other US online casinos do and the poker rooms are all connected to one another through the merge network. Why sign up at a place that just offers a casino or just poker when you can have it all under one account with sportsbooks.
Below is a short review of our top legal sports betting sites as well as a list of all the ones that we trust and reccommend. Read more about legal sports betting here.
Bovada Sportsbook - 50% Matching Deposit Bonus Good To $250 On First Deposit
One of the best online sports betting sites for those living in the U.S.,
Bovada is the one sportsbook you can always count on to have fair lines. Their gaming center comes packed full of different features, including a mobile betting site, live in game betting and more than a handful of different extra features.
Bovada gives their players a little something extra when making their first deposit, a 50% to $250 match bonus. This will benefit your deposit regardless of how much you choose to add into your account as long as it is at least $20.
Bovada's best feature is their live in game betting, as it will let you wager on games all around the clock. No matter what you choose to wager on, be it team or individual, professional or amateur, you will find it through Bovada's impressive service.
Deposits are limited for Bovada users in the U.S. but many have success just with trying their VISA branded debit and credit cards. If by chance a user does not have a VISA card or their transaction gets declined, Bovada offers wire transfer deposits by way of popular services whose name you already know.
Banned States At Bovada: DE, MD, NJ, NV
Legal Sports Betting Sites |
Other Features |
Visit Sportsbook |
| Bovada Sportsbook Review | Full Casino - Full Poker Room | Go To Bovada |
| BetOnline Sportsbook Review | Full Casino - Full Poker Room | Go To BetOnline |
| Sportsbetting.ag Review | Full Casino - Full Poker Room | Go To Sportsbetting |
Legal Online Casinos - Way Better Than Sitting In A Smokey Casino
As it turns out, many prefer to do their casino gaming from their laptop and desktop computers than shelling out thousands to take a trip to Las Vegas, or another gambling destination. Fact is, online casinos have been around for the better part of two decades and the technology is only getting better as each year passes. And, this will be especially true as online casino games become legalized in more and more states.
Several online casinos that accept USA players give Americans the chance to play all of their favorite casino games from the comfort of their own couch. Players will find all of the popular casino games that are found in Vegas like blackjack, craps, video poker, keno, and of course slots. Pretty much if Vegas or Macau has it, online casinos also have it plus variations of it to make it better.
The online casinos shown here are regulated by independent sources, and they are licensed within the countries where they are located. They often go through audits as well as other things to ensure that players are being treated fairly. Overall, the risk you take when playing at online casinos is the same as land-based casinos as all the results are random.
Are Online Casinos Legal For USA Players?
With the changes in the gaming laws, states like Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada now have provisions that would allow them to implement online casino games. For instance, in New Jersey the laws specifically grant the 12 casinos licensed in Atlantic City permission to apply for online licensure. Once those casinos get their software straight, and the state is comfortable with the regulations they've put in place then online casino gaming will be open for residents of the state. Of the three states we mentioned, Nevada will probably lead the way in getting their casinos online first.
So, what about the other 46 U.S. States?
As each state differs in its characteristics, so does the answer to whether it is legal to play online casino games in your state. We've devoted an entire section of the website to answering this question for all 50 states and encourage you to look up your state on our site here because the laws can be deceiving. Furthermore, the enforcement of those laws are the only thing that matters. In the other 46 states, any potential anti-online gaming laws only apply to illegal operators within those states... key word being "within." This is why we recommend online casinos located internationally to those living in non-regulated states. This is the safest course of action until lawmakers approve legislation to regulate online casinos in your state.
On a side note, Nevada's online gambling legislation does allow for other U.S. states to enter into an agreement to regulate gaming in their states. As examples are set and revenue numbers begin to trickle in, more states will start looking to regulate and turning to Nevada will be the easiest option. Please feel free to browse our page about legal online casinos for more information.
How Old Do I Need To Be To Play At An Online Casino?
This answer really depends on the casino which you are considering. As a rule of thumb, any state-regulated online casino will dictate that you need to meet the minimum age to gamble. This age is clearly defined in states which have already legalized online gaming and casinos. Furthermore, you will need to prove your age BEFORE you are allowed to play any games, especially when it comes to real money.
The other answer comes into play when using offshore casinos that operate online. While these websites are licensed to operate in the countries where they are based out of, they do not strictly adhere to U.S. online gaming laws when it comes to age. In some cases, the casino will state that the user be at least 18 years old, but it could be a case of the casino saying that the user must be 18 years old + meet the age requirements where they live. The last part of that means the age could be higher than eighteen and in which case the user would need to meet that age in order to gamble there.
Lucky Red Casino - Best Legal Online Casino for U.S. Players, $4K Slots Bonus!!!
Lucky Red Casino has long been our "go to guy" for casino gaming. They are in the business for one reason - to make winners. And, they haven't been in business for as long as they have by screwing people over, so you can rest easy knowing that they keep their players happy.
It really all starts when you sign up as gamers are given huge deposit bonuses that are unique to LegalOnlineGamblingSites.com. The bonus code 4000FREE will activate a $4,000 bonus, which is good for slot gaming.
Lucky Red has brought their users a handful of different games, with more than 100 on the roster. The RTG software has realistic sounds and graphics, making for a true-to-life casino experience. Everything is well laid out and all the controls are self-explanatory which only makes this casino more inviting.
VISA and MasterCard are both viable deposit methods, with prepaid, credit and debit cards offering easy access to this service. Almost as a method of last resort, Lucky Red does allow players to send fund through the mail with a check, money order or a cashier's check plus they even allow players to wire money through wire transfer services.
WinPalace Accepts All U.S. Residents And International Players Too
Reviews Of Legal Online Casinos |
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Legal Online Poker
Online poker used to be the most popular form of legal online gambling in The United States. But since black Friday, it is almost impossible to find legal online poker sites that have good traffic and are worth playing at. In fact, no online poker rooms that accept U.S. players have more than 20,000 players online at any one time. Players are stuck with poker rooms at online sportsbooks, which are limited and do not have much traffic. The reason all this has ended up this way is because the government shut down the big poker rooms for illegal financial activities, not for scamming players or anything like that.
If you want to play legal online poker for money, then the only choices you have are to play at the online sportsbooks that also have a poker room. The action in these rooms is very limited and you will not find any tournaments worth playing. Overall, you can thank the U.S. government for ruining the best legal online poker rooms that we did have. Below is a list of the best websites to play legal online poker for real money.
Bovada Online Poker - Largest Guaranteed Poker Tourneys On The Internet
Still accepting players from the U.S. even after "Black Friday", Bovada is home to a poker room, and they have done exceptionally well in bringing a high quality poker experience. As one of the best online gambling sites available, Bovada is a great place to play poker and here's why:
Bovada offers their new depositors a 100% match to $1,000, which is one of the larger bonuses around when new users make their first deposit. Bonus carries a low rollover and turns into real cash as you play games. They also run frequent promotions to boost your bankroll, offering new ways for you to win every step of the way.
Players will be able to sit at cash ring games, tournaments, and sit and go events which means there is always a table waiting for you plus you can count on finding a game at the stakes you want to play at because of their large player pool and selection of tables. Omaha, Hold'Em, Stud and all the other games played in the World Series of Poker are played at Bovada in limit, no-limit and pot-limit varieties.
Players From Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada Can Not Join Bovada - All Others Welcome
Legal US Poker Sites |
Deposit Bonuses |
Biggest Tourney |
Play Poker Now |
| Bovada Poker - 46 States | $1,000 Max - 100% Match | $100K Guaranteed | Go To Bovada |
| BetOnline Poker - 50 States | $1,000 Max - 50% Match | $15K Guaranteed | Go To BetOnline |
| Sportsbetting.ag - 50 States | $1,000 Max - 50% Match | $15K Guaranteed | Go To Sportsbetting |
Daily Fantasy Sports Betting Sites
The newest form of legal gambling sites are daily fantasy sports sites like Fanduel and Draftkings. These are unique because they are the only form of gambling sites that are regulated in the USA. That is why you see commercials about them all over the place and on every single TV network. The fact is that this is the fastest type of online gambling in the world and it is here to stay.
We have a couple of pages and review that will tell you everything you need to know about fantasy sports. You can start on our daily fantasy sports sites page and then go from there. We are huge fans of daily fantasy games and we highly suggest you check it out.
We have a section that is dedicated to keeping our readers current on all the latest online gambling news. It's a very hot topic these days as more states are moving towards legalization and the regulation of online gambling sites within their states.
On this page you will find the latest headlines that relate to land-based + online gambling specifically in the arena of online gaming laws, but we do branch into other areas as well. We encourage readers to keep coming back in order to stay current on all the latest developments that might affect them + their state.
Latest Story: Daily Fantasy Sites Have Record Breaking Contests For Week 1 NFL
More About Legal Online Gambling In The United States
Below, we have answered many popular questions about legal online gambling in the United States. Use these Q&A to help clarify the U.S. government's stance on the activity and maybe set to rest any reservations you may have about gambling on the Internet.
Additionally, we have devised a series of help articles which will answer many of the same questions in further depth plus address other issues related to the legality and legalization of online gambling in the United States. We are coming up with new articles all the time so please keep checking back.
Online Gambling Help Articles
- Is Gambling / Online Gambling Legal?
- Will I Go To Jail For Online Gambling?
- Why Online Gambling Should Be Legalized In The U.S.
Although we are not lawyers, as players we do have more than 15 years of experience with online gambling, and that gives us alot of knowledge that visitors may find useful. We stay on top of the latest news coming from the world of Internet gambling and there has been quite a bit of it lately.
With all that said, none of this information should be considered legal counsel. The info and help articles we provide are merely for reference and to give readers an idea of what it's really like to gamble online... not just what a book full of legal jargon says. If you want true legal advice, please consult a paid professional in the state where you live.
Is It Safe To Gamble Online In The U.S.?
The online gambling industry has faced many legal challenges in the United States, both from federal & state governments, but to date there has been very little progress in actually stopping the industry.
Whether it is the UIGEA or the PASPA, a state law or the Wire Act, there is currently nothing that makes it so you cannot simply jump into the games and do what you wish. This alone makes it safe enough and then the fact that no one has ever been prosecuted for making a deposit and gambling some money on whatever should tell you all that you need to know.
Is It Against The Law To Gamble Online?
Federally speaking, you, as a player, are not liable under any law related to gambling. The UIGEA does nothing but limit how U.S. citizens can fund offshore gaming accounts, while the Wire Act is only out to punish businesses operating in the U.S. that take sports wager via wire communication.
As of now, there are no laws that make it illegal to gamble online in The United States. Players are legally allowed to play at any of the real money gambling sites that accept U.S. residents whether it bet sports betting, casino games, playing online poker or even betting on horse races.
You do need to be at least 18 to gamble online, so please see our legal gambling age page to make ensure that you are not underage to gamble online in which case you may be breaking the law.
What About The Gambling Laws In My State?
There are various states that have written laws pertaining to online gambling, but less than 10% of all states covering laws that have actually done anything to make it a crime to gamble on the Internet.
Even then, most do little else than make it a crime to operate a gambling site, not play at one. The states with legal online gambling are changing all of the time nowadays and it is just a matter of time before each state has laws that either allow or prevent online gambling.
Which States Have Laws Specifically Related To Online Gambling?
Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, & Wisconsin have online gambling laws on the books that forbid online gambling, however, there is no record of any single citizen of these states being prosectued for gambling online. In fact, no resident has even been arrested for simply gambling online and that is very unlikely to change any time soon.
The government is interested in stopping the sites themselves, not prosecute a citizen for playing a $5 game of blackjack or poker. With that said, you are asking for big trouble if you think you are going to fire up your own website and take wagers or whatever. You will get busted if you are on U.S. soil and providing online gambling. Find out which states have legal online gambling here in our state guide that breaks down the laws in each state.
How We Find Legal Online Gambling Sites
We have been in the online gambling business for more than 10 years now, and we know more than our share about legal online gambling sites. We make sure that we check every aspect of the gambling sites we promote including bonuses, deposit options, withdrawal methods, customer support, and more.
We make sure that the sites we list cater to U.S. residents so that they will not have any issues if they decide to make a deposit there. We are certain that players that choose the sites we list will be treated fairly and they should have an enjoyable experience.
At the end of the day, these gambling sites are all for your entertainment. If you aren't going to get in trouble and gambling entertains you, what is the harm in at least giving it a try? None of the legal gambling sites we recommend require any money until you are actually ready to step up and play for real cash.
In fact, some have no-deposit bonuses which give new users a small amount of free money to sample their wares but those are generally found at online casinos. With or without a no-deposit bonus, sites where it is possible to play for free like casinos and poker rooms will allow you to "practice" playing their games before stepping up to play for money. Sportsbooks and racebooks can't exactly offer that but you can look at the odds, decide which side you want to bet and then track your wagers on paper.
