Most Trusted Online Casinos for USA Players 2024

While there are legal and regulated online casinos in some states, online casinos are entirely illegal in most states. And to make matters worse, unscrupulous websites look to market illegal gambling operators to US players!

Unlicensed and illegal gambling operators are very high risk, and if you play with them, there’s a very good chance you will never be paid. Let us help you find the best online casino to play with.

Legit USA Online Casinos Real Money

Below you can find a short list of some of the best online casinos for US players, where they are regulated and by whom, who their offline partner is, and some of the most popular banking methods:

Caesars Casino

Available in: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

One of the most iconic names in gambling long before the internet was a thing. Caesars has come to be a dominant player in the licensed US online casino games market as well. They are also the only casino on our list to accept players from Pennsylvania.

DraftKings Casino

Available in: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania

DraftKings are a newer breed of licensed US online casino operators who established themselves first in fantasy sports betting and have branched out into the online casino market.

You can begin playing with a $50 no deposit bonus and a bonus match up to $2,000. There are over a thousand games on DraftKings Casino, including online slots, progressives, live dealer, and Slingo.

FanDuel Casino

Available in: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania

Fanduel is another operator that made its name in fantasy sports, establishing a world-renowned brand long before ever considering the online casino market. Now the US arm of Flutter Entertainment, FanDuel is a market leader in every state it holds a license in. Thanks to it’s intuitive UI, Fanduel is a great casino for beginners.

New players who join FanDuel get a welcome bonus of up to $1,000. Its games are powered by IGT, DGC, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, and other renowned providers.

BetMGM Casino

Available in: Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia

Another goliath of the offline casino market, BetMGM has taken decades of experience running casinos and resorts all over the world and is a brand that is a household name to back its online casino games venture. Trust and credibility are built into the foundations of this venture.

You can start off with a $25 no deposit bonus and a $1,000 deposit match at BetMGM. This will give you more time to check out the thousands of games hosted.

Golden Nugget Casino

Available in: Michigan, New Jersey

A historic name in gambling circles, the Golden Nugget was one of the first major casinos built in Las Vegas. It is only fitting that they’ve been one of the first names to push into the online casino market. A long-established and trustworthy operation.

Golden Nugget Casino welcomes new users with 200 free spins and a $1,000 deposit bonus. Enjoy exclusive games, live dealer, and video slots among thousands of titles.

How to Verify the Legitimacy of a US Online Casino

There is no simple answer to this question. Of the six states that currently license online casinos, each state has their own licensing system. Some of the state regulators provide easily accessed lists of licensed websites. Others do not. Further through this article, we have provided a table with a list of the URLs our research has established that are legally licensed in each state. We recommend that if the online casino you’ve found is not on this list, consider it unlicensed.

Each of the following aspects is taken into consideration while weighing the legitimacy of an operator and whether it is a trustworthy online casino for US players.

Licenses on a State-By-State Basis

At the time of writing this, only six states license and regulate online casinos. Below you can find information on each state’s regulatory authority and which casinos they license.

Connecticut

Online casinos first became legally regulated in Connecticut on the 19th of October 2021. As with other states, Connecticut requires that any online casino is partnered with an offline operator present in the state. At the current time, there are only two casino operators in Connecticut who have partnered with online casino operators. They are both tribal but represent world-renowned brands: Foxwoods (DraftKings) and the Mohegan Sun (Fanduel).

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection licenses legal online casinos in Connecticut.

Delaware

Delaware was one of the first states to allow online casino gambling, starting in 2012. However, only three gambling operators are allowed to offer online casino games in Delaware, all run by 888 Holdings.

Currently, online operators need to be partnered with an offline casino located in the state. Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway and Delaware Park are the casinos that presently partner with an online operator.

The Delaware Lottery regulates online gambling sites in the state.

Michigan

The state of Michigan was a late entry into the regulated online casino market. They started issuing licenses in 2021 and, to date, have issued over a dozen online casino licenses, ensuring that players have plenty of options. As with other states, online operators must partner with an offline casino property within the state.

Online gambling in Michigan is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which unlike several states in this list, actually makes provisions for managing player complaints against their licensees online with the regulator. This makes playing at an online casino in Michigan a very trustworthy undertaking.

New Jersey

If any states were ever likely to regulate online casinos, surely New Jersey would be amongst the two most likely candidates? That common sense thinking, however, has not played out as New Jersey started issuing licenses in 2013 while Nevada still has no legal online casino games.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates online casino games being offered in the state. Unlike other states, offline operators partner with more than one online brand, meaning New Jersey has more online casinos available than any other state.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania started to license online casino sites in 2019. Regulatory responsibilities fall to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Unfortunately, the online documentation that the PGCB, while extensive, does not appear to include a simple list of licensed URLs to allow consumers to quickly and easily determine which sites are legally operating within the state. Nevertheless, there are several operators that we have managed to identify as licensed via the various offline casinos in the state.

West Virginia

In West Virginia, online casinos are subject to the oversight of the West Virginia Lottery Commission, the state-run lottery. Sadly there does not appear to be any easy to find information on the regulator’s site regarding which online casinos are legal and licensed in West Virginia, but we have managed to identify some of the licensed operators via their offline casino partners.

Retail Casino Partner

As detailed above, in all states that currently regulate online gambling sites, the online casino has to partner with an offline casino to obtain a state license. Below you can find a table detailing the states, the retail (offline) casino and the online casino that partners with them:

Legal Requirements

To gamble with one of the legal and licensed gambling operators discussed in this article, you need to be at least 21 years old (all six states have the same age restriction for online gambling), you need to be physically located in the state in question (they will use geolocation technology to determine where you are) and you will need to be able to provide identification documentation.

Generally, gambling operators will look for players to provide government-issued photo ID, most commonly a passport or driver’s license, and proof of address in the form of a bank statement or utility bill that has been posted to your house in the last three months.

Official Apps

While you can always access all online casino sites via mobile devices on their website, most big operators also offer an app you can download via the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).

Online casino apps give you a faster connection and sharper graphics when playing casino games than their web-based equivalent. Navigation is for the most part more straightforward and they allow you to stay logged in even when you browse away for a bit.

The only downside to casino apps is that they will often have a smaller selection of games available, and you will have to take up some memory on your mobile device.

There are apps available for all of these reputable online casinos:

• Caesars Casino
• BetMGM Casino
• DraftKings Casino
• FanDuel Casino
• Golden Nugget Casino

Responsible Gambling Features

Responsible gambling policies do vary from online casino to online casino, but generally, you will be able to find some or all of the following options:

• Deposit Limits – Set limits restricting how much you can deposit over a specific time period.
• Wagering Limits – Decide in advance how much you want to be able to wager over a selected time period. Once you’ve reached that limit, the operator will automatically disable your account from being able to wager more until the time period has concluded.
• Reality Checks – These alerts will pop up to remind you how long you’ve been playing, how much you’ve wagered or how much you are up or down. They help you keep track of your gambling.
• Self-Exclusion – A self-exclusion is a protocol put in place at the player’s request, whereby the casino will take action to prevent the player from re-accessing their services for an agreed length of time.
• Statewide Self-Exclusion Programs – Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all offer statewide self-exclusion programs. These programs allow a player to register their details with the state to be barred from all gambling services provided in the state. Ensure you check the details, though. Some of these programs only cover offline gambling or require a separate registration for online gambling.

Secure Payment Methods

Depositing and cashing out at the best online casinos can be managed through various convenient options. Some of the more common are detailed below:

• Cash at the Casino Cage: If you’re in one of the affiliated offline casinos, you can go to the casino cashier to either deposit or withdraw from your online casino account. You will need to bring a photo ID, and there may be some restrictions – for instance, certain promotions may not be available when you deposit at the casino cage – but generally, this offers a very convenient option, and approved withdrawals will result in you walking away with cash physically in your pocket.
• Play+: Another popular option is pre-paid cards like Play+. You can sign-up for these cards at any casino, but you will need a different card for each casino. Approval should be instant; once approved, you can fund your Play+ card from your bank account or credit/debit card.
• PayPal: With recent studies showing that almost 60% of Americans have a PayPal account, PayPal is a fast and easy option for both depositing and withdrawing from online casinos, and unlike the previous payment methods, PayPal can be used basically anywhere else online as well.
• Credit/Debit Card: Another quick, convenient deposit method is using your credit or debit card. Remember, though, that there may be fees associated with this type of transaction, and you may not be able to withdraw via this method, so check with the casino support beforehand.

Software Partnerships

You will find the biggest and best online casino game providers within the licensed US online casino market. And this is the key difference between the licensed and unlicensed markets: legitimate, reputable software providers are happy to work with licensed operators.

No online casino game software provider can work with both the licensed and illegal markets. They’d quickly lose their license if they were caught. So if you’re looking to play genuine IGT, NetEnt, SG Gaming, DGC, Microgaming, Play’n Go, Playtech, Novomatic or any other big-name provider, the only place you will be able to play their games is with properly licensed casinos. If you see games from these providers at any unlicensed operator, you can be confident that the games are non-genuine.

Whether you are looking to play table games, online slots or live casino games, the most trusted online casinos provide safe online casino software. Only licensed and trusted online casinos provide genuine games. Stick with genuine to stay safe.

Fair Bonus Terms

Right now, the casino bonus terms and conditions offered in real money online casinos to American customers are amongst the most generous to be found anywhere in the world. On average, the casino bonuses have wagering requirements that are far lower than those offered in other markets. This is great news for US players!

If you are going to claim casino bonuses, you should ensure that you read the terms and conditions before playing. If you don’t, it’s easy to make a mistake that may result in you not being paid a win.

USA Online Casinos That You Cannot Trust

Shocking fact: Most casinos accepting USA players cannot be trusted.

While a handful of well-known and well-regarded industry giants offer licensed and regulated online casinos, there are far more illegal gambling sites running without a license that prey on US players. If you want to stay safe and get paid if you win, you want to make sure you only play with legal gambling operators.

Legit Online Casinos vs Offshore Gambling Sites

Summary

The real money online casinos available to US players are steadily growing in number and availability, and we fully expect that more states will license them soon. For players lucky enough to live in one of the six currently regulated states, some great casinos are available that are safe and secure. Outside of those six states, we advise players against playing with illegal operators – your money will be far safer in your pocket than theirs.