States with Online Casinos in the US
States with online casinos provide gaming platforms for players to enjoy secure gaming experiences. However, in states where online casinos remain unregulated, players can still access offshore platforms that cater to US residents.
These options offer a variety of games, but it’s essential to choose trusted sites for a safe experience.
Whether you’re in a state with online casinos or exploring alternatives, finding secure and reputable platforms guarantees you can enjoy gaming conveniently and responsibly.
Keep reading to learn more about the legal landscape and discover reliable online casinos available to players nationwide.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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| 5 |
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States with Online Casinos: Where Are Regulated and Unregulated?
Understanding the regulatory status of online casinos across the US is important for players seeking secure and reliable gaming options.
While six states currently regulate online casinos, the remaining 44 states do not offer legalized platforms. Instead, players in these unregulated states rely on offshore casinos, which operate outside of state oversight.
The table below outlines each state, indicating whether online casinos are regulated or if you must turn to offshore platforms for access.
| US State | Online Casino Availability | Overview |
|---|---|---|
 Alabama | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Alabama. The state constitution prohibits gambling, and any progress toward legalization would require a constitutional amendment. |
 Alaska | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Alaska, which maintains one of the strictest stances on gambling in the U.S. Limited gaming is available only on international cruise ships. |
 Arizona | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Arizona. Current agreements with tribal entities focus on regulated land-based operations, with no immediate plans to address online casinos. |
 Arkansas | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Arkansas. The state’s gaming framework is focused on land-based operations, and there has been no progress toward legalizing online platforms. |
 California | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in California. Tribal lands host the state’s primary gaming options, and online regulation has seen little legislative progress. |
 Colorado | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Colorado. While there is interest in expanding online gaming, no legislation has been proposed to legalize them. |
 Connecticut | Legal | Online casinos are regulated in Connecticut. Platforms like Mohegan Sun and DraftKings provide extensive options for players, including table games and slots. |
 Delaware | Legal | Delaware has a regulated online casino market. As one of the first states to legalize online gaming, it offers poker, slots, and table games through licensed platforms. |
 Florida | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Florida. The state has explored expanding its gaming framework, but regulatory conflicts with tribal entities have delayed progress. |
 Georgia | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Georgia. Social casinos offering free-play games are the only legal online option for residents. |
 Hawaii | Offshore Only | Online casinos are explicitly banned in Hawaii, which maintains some of the strictest gaming laws in the nation. |
 Idaho | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Idaho. The state has not introduced any legislation to change its current stance. |
 Illinois | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Illinois. Legislative efforts to regulate the industry have repeatedly failed to gain traction. |
 Indiana | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Indiana. Proposed bills to establish a framework for regulation have failed to advance. |
 Iowa | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Iowa. Recent legislative attempts have faced resistance from various stakeholders. |
 Kansas | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Kansas. The state prioritizes land-based operations and has no clear pathway toward online regulation. |
 Kentucky | Not Legal | Online casinos are unregulated in Kentucky. The state has shown little interest in moving forward with online gaming legislation. |
 Louisiana | Not Legal | Online casinos are unregulated in Louisiana. Sweepstakes platforms and offshore options are currently the only online alternatives available to residents. |
 Maine | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Maine. Legislative discussions on online gaming are ongoing, but no immediate changes are expected. |
 Maryland | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Maryland. While the state has explored expanding its gaming laws, no specific plans for online casino regulation have been introduced. |
 Massachusetts | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Massachusetts. Sweepstakes and social platforms provide the only legal online options for casino gaming. |
 Michigan | Legal | Michigan has a fully regulated online casino market. Licensed platforms include BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, offering extensive game options. |
 Minnesota | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Minnesota. Legislative efforts to legalize online gaming have consistently stalled. |
 Mississippi | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Mississippi. Recent attempts to regulate online gaming have failed in the state legislature. |
 Missouri | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Missouri. Social gaming platforms remain the only legal online options for residents. |
 Montana | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Montana. The state maintains a restrictive approach to online gaming, with no legislative progress. |
 Nebraska | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Nebraska. The state’s gaming framework is still in its infancy, and online expansion is not being actively pursued. |
 Nevada | Offshore Only | Online casinos are explicitly banned in Nevada. Online poker and limited mobile gaming options are the only exceptions in the state. |
 New Hampshire | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in New Hampshire. Legislative attempts to legalize online gaming have so far been unsuccessful. |
 New Jersey | Legal | New Jersey has a regulated online casino market, with over two dozen platforms offering slots, table games, and live dealer options. |
 New Mexico | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in New Mexico. The state’s gaming activities are primarily limited to tribal casinos. |
 New York | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in New York. The state has significant potential for online casino expansion but has yet to pursue regulation. |
 North Carolina | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in North Carolina. The state has a conservative approach to expanding its gaming options. |
 North Dakota | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in North Dakota. Legislative interest in online gaming is minimal. |
 Ohio | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Ohio. Legislative efforts to expand into online gaming have yet to gain traction. |
 Oklahoma | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Oklahoma. Tribal gaming compacts dominate the state’s gambling landscape. |
 Oregon | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in Oregon. Tribal gaming agreements limit the expansion of private casino operations. |
 Pennsylvania | Legal | Pennsylvania has a regulated online casino market, with licensed platforms offering slots, table games, and poker. |
 Rhode Island | Legal | Online casinos in Rhode Island are legal but not yet operational. Governor Daniel McKee signed Senate Bill 948 into law on June 22, 2023, authorizing online casino gaming in the state. |
 South Carolina | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in South Carolina. Legislative progress on online gaming has been slow. |
 South Dakota | Offshore Only | Online casinos remain unregulated in South Dakota. The state limits online gaming activities to specific land-based venues. |
 Tennessee | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Tennessee. Legislative focus has remained on other forms of gaming. |
 Texas | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Texas. The state has shown interest in expanding its gaming laws but has made no significant progress. |
 Utah | Not Legal | Online casinos are explicitly banned in Utah. The state maintains one of the most restrictive stances on gaming in the U.S. |
 Vermont | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Vermont. Discussions around legalizing online gaming are limited. |
 Virginia | Legal | Online casinos remain unregulated in Virginia. The state has focused on regulating other gaming forms instead. |
 Washington | Not Legal | Online casinos are explicitly banned in Washington. The state has shown no interest in changing this policy. |
 Washington D.C. | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Washington, D.C., with most gaming activities limited to specific venues. |
 West Virginia | Legal | West Virginia has a regulated online casino market, featuring platforms like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel. |
 Wisconsin | Offshore Only | Online casinos are unregulated in Wisconsin. The state has made no significant moves toward regulating online platforms. |
 Wyoming | Not Legal | Online casinos remain unregulated in Wyoming. The state focuses on other forms of online gaming but has yet to address casinos. |
States Where Online Casinos are Legal
Online casinos are regulated by the state in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
However, online gaming regulation is a work in progress in the US. While online casinos are legal at a federal level, it’s currently up to the states to legalize or prohibit them.
The US is a vast country with laws, beliefs, and politics varying from state to state. While some are adamant about keeping casino sites out of their borders, others are more welcoming.
But the most common scenario is that the state’s laws don’t address online casinos at all, leaving it in a legal grey area. Such is the case for 39 states currently.
Online Casinos Legal States
Here’s a brief summary of the legal status of online casinos in the US.
| Legal Status | Number of US States | State List |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | 7 | Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. |
| Legal, not yet operational | 1 | Rhode Island |
| Gray Area | 39 | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Illegal | 5 | Louisiana, Hawaii, Washington, Wyoming, Utah |
What Does Gray Area Mean?
Not everything is black and white, even casino laws. Owning and operating an online casino in most states is illegal, but there is a loophole for those looking to gamble online.
Sites that operate outside of the US can accept players.
How is that possible? Simply put, many state laws don’t address using online casinos licensed outside of the country, making it a legal grey area.
Are Offshore Casinos Safe?
An offshore online casino is licensed in another country other than the US.
Just because they operate somewhere else doesn’t make them untrustworthy. Many offshore sites are perfectly safe and adhere to strict standards and fair practices.
Of course, there can be a few bad eggs. It’s essential to look for the telltale signs of a legitimate online casino before playing there, but it can be tricky to the untrained eye.
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Federal Gambling Laws
There were a few pivotal federal gambling laws in the history of the US. Let’s take a look at three that shaped the way we play today.
Federal Wire Act
The Federal Wire Act of 1961 prohibits knowingly using wire communication to transmit wagers or betting information on any sporting event or contest across state or international lines.
Since then, the courts have determined that includes the Internet.
This act is the reason why US sportsbooks must ensure they only accept bets from states they’re licensed in.
PASPA
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 restricted almost all states from legalizing sports betting.
In 2018, the Supreme Court declared the act unconstitutional, giving states the power to decide whether to permit sports betting.
UIGEA
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments for wagers over the Internet.
It doesn’t ban online casinos but rather targets banks and credit card companies, making it illegal to process payments to unlawful casino sites.
It has impacted the payment methods available at some offshore casinos, but many still operate without problem.
US Gambling History
The US has a long history of gambling, from the first colonial settlers to modern online casinos. The timeline below contains some influential moments in America’s past that brought us to our current state.
1638
The Puritans of Massachusetts passed the first law against gambling in America, banning cards, dice, and gambling devices.
1776
Continental Congress organized a 5 million dollar lottery that helped finance the Revolutionary War.
1800
Craps gained popularity in America with riverboat workers and farmers.
1827
The Crescent City House opened in New Orleans, making it the first American casino.
1895
The first slot machine, called the Liberty Bell, was invented by Charles Fey.
1931
Commercial gaming was legalized in Nevada, paving the way for the development of Las Vegas.
1961
Congress passed the Federal Wire Act, making it illegal to share betting information across state lines.
1988
Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, allowing Native American tribes to open casinos in states with legal casinos.
1994
Microgaming introduced the world to iGaming with the launch of the first online casino software.
1996
Kahnawake Gaming Commission is founded and begins licensing online casinos worldwide.
1998
The online casino industry was growing, with over 700 casino sites in operation worldwide.
2006
Despite the passage of the UIGEA, online casinos are booming, and there are over 2,300 sites around the globe generating $12 billion in revenue.
2012
Delaware became the first state in the US to make online casinos legal within its borders.
2018
The Supreme Court gave states the right to legalize sports betting.
The Future of Online Casinos in the US – What to Expect?
Casino gaming in the US has been a journey with many ups and downs. Prohibitive laws were passed, then reversed, then passed again. But the winding path has, for the most part, led to an acceptance of gambling, with most states now having some form of legalized wagering.
Sports betting is booming nationwide, and more states are opening up to the idea every day. Some have even launched regulated online casinos.
It’s easy to deduce the future is headed towards widespread embracement of online casinos. However, it’s hard to say how long it will take to get there.
In the meantime, offshore sites offer a way for US players to gamble online. By operating outside of the country, these sites can provide the casino experience to those who don’t have access to state-run casinos yet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Casino Laws
If you have more questions, check out the US online gambling FAQs below.
Do you pay taxes on casino winnings outside the us?
Any casino winnings, including those won outside of the US, are subject to taxes.
What was the first state to legalize online gambling?
In 2013, Delaware, Nevada (poker only), and New Jersey became the first states to legalize online gambling.
Can online casinos be trusted?
Yes, online casinos can be trusted as long as they are legitimate sites. It’s important to look for some crucial signs like a license, RNG technology, and reliable banking methods.
