Gambling Industry Overview in USA
The following approaches will be presented
- Gambling legislation in USA
- Gambling authorities in USA
- Online casinos in USA
- and more
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Online gambling legislation in the United States has been the subject of numerous debates, especially since interactive casinos have been enjoying increasing popularity among the country's players. Before the boom of online gambling, the only way for people to enjoy the exciting ambiance of the casino floor was to hop in their cars and travel to the nearest land-based gambling venue. Today, virtual casinos have made it possible for betting fans to make a few stakes on their preferred games from their homes.
Despite the growing popularity of online casinos around the world, there are those in most jurisdictions who oppose them and the USA is hardly an exception.
Gambling is legal under U.S. federal law in all but two states, Hawaii and Utah. The activity is subject to both state and federal legislation, and regulation of the types and means of gambling still (2020) varies depending on what state you reside in.
However, there are still considerable restrictions regarding interstate and online gambling, and the laws that govern them have been scrutinized for decades.
In this article, we offer you an overview of the history of online gambling legislation in the US along with a quick glance at the country's current legal landscape. We'll begin by introducing US players to the deposit methods they can use to fund their online casino accounts and close with a brief overview of some of the most popular gambling operators that accept players from the states.
Popular Online Casinos
There are hundreds of online casinos out there, so players might struggle with finding the operator that best corresponds to their needs. If you reside in the United States and are looking for a good virtual casino to play at, we advise you to continue reading as we have scoured the web to find 20 of the best US-friendly operators. Check the brief overviews below as these can help you make a better-informed decision when selecting a US casino.
CasinoMax is one of the newer online casinos, being established in 2017, but this by no means should discourage you. The casino has already cemented an immaculate reputation among players from around the world who frequent it because of its transparency, fast payouts, and gaming versatility. View More
If slots are your cup of tea and you reside in the United States, Slots.lv may be the right online casino for you. With a collection of hundreds of online slots to choose from, fans of this type of game are sure to their experience on this website. The venue is also quite well-structured so you can easily find your way around. View More
Cherry Jackpot is a reputable US-friendly online casino that takes registered customers on an exciting gaming adventure that is tough to beat. The casino’s website instantly grabs the attention with its great design. It is not only easy on the eye but also enhances quick and easy navigation. View More
Ignition Casino was launched in 2016 by the same company that is behind Slots lv, with one sole purpose in mind, to provide players, including those residing in the USA, with an adrenaline-filled gaming experience they will not soon forget. Indeed, this is an achievable goal since Ignition is home to a huge library of quality games from RealTime Gaming and Rival. View More
Bovada is a brand many US players utter with veneration as it stands for a gambling operator that has carved out a solid niche for itself in this market. The great thing about Bovada is that they accept US players from most of the country’s states, with only a few exceptions including New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Delaware, and Maryland.View More
Sloto’Cash is another reliable gambling operator that accepts US customers and has been running under the ownership and management of Deckmedia since 2007. The casino is well-regarded by its patrons thanks to its versatile selection of games, easy-to-navigate website, and fair payments.View More
Owned and managed by Deckmedia, Miami Club has been providing a world-class gambling experience to US customers since 2012 and shows no signs of slowing down. The operator has partnered with software developer WGS (formerly Vegas Technology) for its gaming portfolio. Miami Club is a fully legit online casino as evident by its Curacao licensing.View More
Uptown Aces is a relatively new online casino considering it has been in operation since 2014. Still, the operator has managed to cement an excellent reputation for itself and has become a top online gambling destination for US players. It is highly acclaimed for its fair and quick payments, a great library of games, and generous promotional incentives.View More
Casino Extreme went online in 2000 and is powered by the platform of software developer RealTime Gaming, which also goes to show it accepts play from the United States. Becoming part of the operator’s player community comes with a number of perks.View More
Grande Vegas went online in 2009 and quickly gained traction among gambling enthusiasts, especially those residing in the United States. The website can be loaded in two languages, French and English. Hundreds of games are already part of Grande Vegas’ library but the operator’s management makes sure to add new titles on a monthly basis to maintain a high level of interest from players.View More
BetOnline has adopted a maxim which states that a good reputation takes a long time to build but can be shattered within minutes. This approach pays off since players who have registered with this US-friendly operator enjoy nothing but transparent and fair treatment. BetOnline is a legit gambling destination since it holds a license granted by the government of Panama.View More
Built by a team of experienced gambling experts, Superior Casino has plenty of advantages to offer to international players and the best part of all is that Americans are not excluded from the fun since the operator is US-friendly. The casino utilizes software by the relatively new provider Rival, but this is not to say its games lack in quality and features.View More
US players looking for gaming variety can also drop by Drake Casino where they will be able to choose from over 160 premium titles, developed by software suppliers Betsoft and Arrow’s Edge. The selection of video slots enjoys great popularity among customers, with a variety of classic and advanced titles to cover a wide spectrum of preferences.View More
Borrowing its name from the eponymous Scorsese drama, Raging Bull promises its customers nothing but a dramatic experience on its website, but in the best way possible. Players are provided with a diverse catalog that spans over 200 high-quality games, running on the powerful platform of RealTime Gaming.View More
History of Gambling Legislation in the US
Usually, three waves of legal gambling regulation are recognized in the history of the US. The first started during the country's colonial period and lasted until the middle of the 1800s. The second started with the end of the Civil War and lasted until the early 20th century. Lastly, the third wave of gambling legislation in the US commenced over the period of the Great Depression and still continues.
The First Wave – from the 1600s to the mid-1800s
Gambling was seen differently by the early colonies in the region. Historically, the colonies were established in correspondence to the guidelines and beliefs of certain groups of people. As a result, different attitudes toward gambling were also adopted. Some activities related to gambling were proclaimed illegal by Puritan-led colonies.
On the other hand, there were some colonies where English attitudes towards gambling and regulation prevailed, and gambling was actually considered an activity suitable for gentlemen.
Over the period, lotteries were viewed as a legitimate way to raise funds for a variety of causes. They continued to be popular until the beginning of the 19th century.
Throughout the 1830s, the professional player's actions were strictly monitored and some southern settlers expressed their disapproval with gambling. The attack against gambling became more fierce than ever, with professional players being blamed for interfering with business and limiting the economic growth of the country, not to mention the moral issues.
An end was put to the First Wave of gambling legislation in the US, with the prohibition of gambling activities due to lottery scandals during the early part of the 20th century.
The Second Wave – from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s
Thanks to the Gold Rush, a gambling boom was set off on the territory of California. Gambling tended to be integrated over the period and managed to spread beyond the state of California.
However, the massive public opinion quickly turned against gambling once more, which led to the implementation of laws against gamblers and gambling in California. Gambling activities were also put under some limitations in the rest of the US.
Because of the weakness of the state laws, the prohibition had little actual effect on gambling. Certain games were proclaimed illegal, and after a while, the laws gradually became stronger. All of this led to gambling being driven underground, as prohibition did not manage to eliminate it.
In 1869, certain forms of gambling were finally decriminalized by the Nevada State Legislature and the state's gaming laws did not see many changes until February 24, 1909, when the anti-gambling bill passed banning nearly all games of chance in the Western state. By the end of 1910, the majority of gambling is outlawed in the US. Prohibition, the 18th Amendment, is submitted to the states by Congress and it becomes law in 1919 when ratified by Nevada.
The Third Wave – from the early 1930s to present days
The period of the Great Depression made gambling increasingly legalized, as betting activities were viewed as a way to stimulate the country’s economy in times of great financial distress. And in 1931, Nevada re-legalized casinos via Assembly Bill 98, making it the only state where casino gambling was legal, as gaming became increasingly supported by organized crime syndicates, which also invested heavily in the sector.
Prohibition is repealed in 1933, and following Nevada's lead, in the 1940s and 50s, nearly every state amends their laws to allow low stakes charity gambling and parimutuel betting on horses.
The desert city of Las Vegas quickly established itself as the hub of all US gambling activities in the 1960s after acknowledged investors like Howard Hughes changed the landscape of the Strip with corporately-owned casinos (Desert Inn, Sands & Frontier), thus minimizing the connection of the town to organized crime.
A total of eleven states legalized bingo by the middle of the 20th century and in 1964, the first legal lottery drawing was held in New Hampshire.
The late 1970s saw the introduction of regulated gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the first casino opening in the resort town, making The Garden State the second state with casinos. The iconic Boardwalk city quickly became a favorite destination for professional and recreational gamblers alike.
By the end of the decade, the beginning of yet another trend emerged as the Seminole Tribe in 1979 opened one of the nation's first high-stakes bingo parlors on its reservation near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other Native-American tribes followed in its footsteps soon after. And while gambling was prohibited in most states save for Nevada and New Jersey until the late 20th century, a new piece of legislation allowed for the introduction of the so-called “riverboat casinos” in Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Mississippi.
Overview
As a whole, gambling in the US is currently legal under federal law. However, each of the country’s states is free to implement the legislation, and in this sense, regulate or restrict certain activities in their respective state. This is why there are still two states in the US where all forms of gambling are illegal, whereas some states do not ban any type of betting activities.
When it comes to online gambling, the situation is even more complex, because there are certain states in the US that have passed legislation at a state level in order to legalize and regulate gambling on the Internet. There are also some states, which are currently taking steps to do the same.
The truth is that citizens of most states are still pretty much confused about what exactly is legal and what is not. This is primarily due to the fact that there was legislation officially introduced in 2006, called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (pdf). This Act did not make online gambling illegal, but transactions made over the Internet, which were related to gambling activities, were prohibited.
In other words, players may be able to register at a US-friendly online casino but there is a good chance that their deposits would not go through because US banking institutions are for the large part prohibited from processing payments to and from offshore online casinos. This is one of the reasons why as many as 72% of the interactive gambling operators in the world have stopped accepting US-based players.
Currently, each state of the US determines what kind of gambling activities are to be allowed within its borders. That is exactly why there is a different law enacted in each state that regulates gambling. The minimum age at which gambling is permitted in the separate states also varies in correspondence to local legislation.
Still, gambling establishments have found a way of circumventing the more aggressive laws that ban, constrain, or impose large taxes on gambling activities. They are often located near state borders or even on cruise ships that sail outside territorial waters. In addition, gambling activities have become increasingly popular in Native American territories over the past few years.
Internet Gambling
Thanks to the rapidly increasing popularity of the World Wide Web throughout the 1990s, the US Department of Justice and Congress tried to explore deeply the way the current law was to be applied.
According to the Department of Justice, under the Wire Act, all Internet Gambling in the country is illegal. Then, in 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed by Congress in order to help it make the intentional acceptance of payments related to unlawful online gambling illegal.
In addition, multiple bills were introduced by some members of the House of Representatives in an attempt to make federal Internet gambling law less strict. The introduction of these pieces of legislation aimed at regulating, licensing and taxing online gambling operations instead of prohibiting operators from accepting wagers coming from US-based players.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006. It was considered added as Title VIII to the SAFE Port Act, which was responsible for regulating port security. The major function of UIGEA was to prohibit gambling operators from accepting payments from players, who used the Internet to bet. The UIGEA excluded from the ban several types of interactive gambling activities, such as fantasy sports, games based on skill, and intertribal gaming.
As mentioned above, the Act did not explicitly ban online gambling but made it illegal for gambling websites to accept deposits from US-based players. The Act also prohibited different financial institutions, including banks, to process such transactions, regardless of how they are carried out. It applies to card payments, electronic money transfers, and even to standard paper checks. As a result, a large number of gambling operators ceased servicing the US market and stopped accepting US-based players at their websites. However, it should be noted that these restrictions pertain to interactive gambling operators only, US players who make deposits and play at offshore virtual casinos are not persecuted or charged for their actions.
UIGEA was not well-accepted across the entire territory of the US and attracted a lot of criticism. Opponents of the Act claimed it made simple transactions such as deposits and withdrawals more difficult, not to mention the fact that players were provided more limited options considering the narrow number of websites they could use freely.
Many argued that these prohibitions would only lead to the creation of a black market on US soil as players from the country continue to register and bet at unregulated websites, exposing themselves to higher risk. Others pointed out that the Act completely omitted some forms of interactive gambling like horse racing, interstate betting, and state lotteries.
In spite of the widespread criticism that the UIGEA drew, it remains in place to this date. Still, there are currently some states that have implemented their own legislation when it comes to online gambling. There are also states in the process of introducing their own laws on the matter.
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, which is also called the Federal Wire Act, is a federal law of the US, which bans the operation of some types of betting activities in the country. The Act was signed over the mandate of President John F. Kennedy, after then-US Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy made a suggestion to Congress to pass legislation that would proclaim interstate gambling illegal.
The Wire Act was enacted by Congress as a part of series of anti-racketeering laws. It was meant to help the states, territories, and possessions of the US enforce their separate laws related to gambling and bookmaking and also restrict organized gambling activities. Under the provisions of the Wire Act, placing bets through the use of ‘wire communication facilities” is illegal, which many legislators later interpreted to include bets made over the internet.
However, the main purpose of the Wire Act was not to render gambling activities immoral or illegal. It aimed predominantly at hindering the leaders of large organized crime groups from illegally profiting from the sports bets they offered over the telephone, hence the name of the Act itself.
The Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA)
The Restoration of America’s Wire Act was introduced to US Congress for the first time in 2014 by Republican Senators Lindsay Graham and Jason Chaffetz only to be reintroduced during the 2015 sessions. The original title of the bill was the Internet Gambling Control Act. The early drafts of the Act were identified as a result of the efforts of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has previously shown his strong dislike towards enforcing online gambling regulations.
If the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) is approved, it is to rewrite its predecessor, the Federal Wire Act of 1961, with a target of extending its effect over most forms of online gambling, lotteries included. To date, the Wire Act applies primarily to online sports betting. This is the reason why the RAWA is considered to “rewrite” the original Act, as the latter could not and respectively, did not, refer to the use of the Internet.
RAWA, however, does not include the existing state-regulated online gambling activities of New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.
Adelson and his supporters claimed that the passing of this bill would protect vulnerable groups like minors from getting involved in online gambling activities. However, if approved by Congress, it may have devastating consequences since it does not include any exemptions for some online betting activities, like lotteries, that are regulated on a state level. Ironically, this piece of legislation allows for exemptions of interactive gambling forms like fantasy sports and horse racing. Provided that RAWA gets signed into law, it would render multi-state lotteries like Mega Millions illegal, damaging local state economies in the process.
Many opponents of RAWA also argue that signing the bill into law would only undermine the US Constitution’s Tenth Amendment which basically states that any power that is not delegated to the federal government belongs to the states and to the US citizens, respectively. In the context of iGaming, what this means is that each individual state should be allowed to determine whether or not online gambling should be legal and regulated within its respective territory. But more importantly, the enforcement of RAWA would result in a thriving offshore gambling market that is not subjected to adequate local regulations, exposing US players to more risks.
Current Online Gambling Landscape in the US
As was mentioned earlier, the UIGEA does not state explicitly it is illegal for US players to partake in gambling activities over the internet but simply prohibits financial institutions from processing payments to and from offshore online casinos. Unfortunately, the introduction of the UIGEA caused many reputable gambling operators to withdraw from the local market, making it harder for US players to find reliable online casinos. Other than that, US citizens are not persecuted for participating in betting activities at unregulated gambling websites.
More importantly, some of the country’s states have already embraced iGaming by introducing pieces of legislation that allow their residents to legally partake in some forms of interactive gambling, including online poker, sports betting, and horse racing. Such activities are legal in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware. In October 2017, the state of Pennsylvania joined them by passing a bill that is to regulate online poker and casino games within its borders.
Things are looking up for gambling enthusiasts from the US as over the past few years several other states have decided to follow in these footsteps by introducing or planning to introduce bills that seek to make online gambling legal. Among them are the states of Massachusetts, New York, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Mississippi, and California.
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act
On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), also known as the Bradley Act. PASPA was signed into law by President Bush in 1992, preventing states from offering legal sports betting, with a few exceptions.
As a result of the New Jersey court victory, Murphy vs. NCAA, the United States Supreme Court reversed the federal ban on state-authorized sports betting, paving the way for states to offer legal, regulated sports wagering to residents within their respective borders. The reversal ended Nevada's monopoly over a wide variety of legal sports betting.
As of June 2020, 18 US states and DC have live legal sports betting, 4 have recently passed bills, 24 have recently introduced bills but have not passed, and only 3, Wisconsin, Utah, and Idaho have yet to have any legalization activity.
Popular Games
Despite the complex legislative landscape in the USA, some online gambling operators based and regulated outside the county continue to accept play from US citizens. However, due to the murky legal situation in this jurisdiction, some of the most renowned suppliers of online casino software opted to leave the market until adequate regulations are in place. Among them are big names, like Playtech, which was accepting bets from US players until 2005 but following the introduction of the UIGEA dropped out of the US market in 2006.
The same can be said about industry pioneer Microgaming which announced its decision to no longer service players from the country back in November 2008. As a result, many online casinos utilizing the software of the Isle-of-Man-based developer followed suit and announced they cease to accept registrations from customers, residing in the USA. Therefore, players from this jurisdiction who did not previously hold accounts with such gambling operators are identified as US citizens and are prohibited from downloading and installing the Microgaming software on their devices.
On the positive side of things, US players are welcomed by a variety of operators that are licensed and regulated outside American territory. The majority of the US-friendly gambling websites are usually linked to software suppliers like RealTime Gaming, Rival Gaming, Parlay Games, NuWorks, and TopGames, among several others. Some online casinos are normally licensed by regulatory authorities like the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, but many have obtained their permissions to operate internationally by the governments of Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles, and Costa Rica.
We recommend US players to exert extra caution when choosing a gambling operator and always check whether or not their preferred casino has received the necessary licensing to offer its services legally.
Licensed, US-friendly casinos usually offer a huge range of quality games that are available either in instant play or via downloadable software. Such websites run various random-number-generated (RNG) games like video slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, casino poker, and baccarat but some also provide the option to play live dealer games, which are hosted and streamed in real time.
Video Slots
Video slots normally constitute the bulk of most online casinos’ collections, which is understandable considering the immense popularity they enjoy among gambling enthusiasts. They come in all shapes and forms as US-friendly casinos typically offer classic slots with three reels, more advanced five-reel games, as well as the latest 3D slots, which stand out from the crowd with their enhanced animations and interesting features.
Players’ chances of scooping a payout are further boosted by the special symbols, bonus games, and extra spins incorporated into online video slots. Some titles are commonly preferred over others because of the progressive jackpots that are linked to them.
| Game | Paylines | Free Spins | Wild Symbol | Scatter | Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 20 |  | | | |
 | 20 | | | | |
 | 25 | | | | |
 | 20 | | | | |
 | 25 | | | | |
 | 25 | | | | |
 | 25 | | | | |
Card and Table Games
Table and card games have become absolute staples throughout land-based venues, so it is only natural they are available across most online casinos welcoming customers from the “Land of the Free”. Iconic mainstays like roulette, baccarat, craps, and blackjack are usually offered in different variations and provide gambling rookies with the opportunity to learn their rules in practice play before they risk any of their hard-earned money.
The great thing about swapping land-based for online gambling is that many US-friendly casinos would normally offer more flexible table limits. In many cases, the table and card games are available in both high-limit and low-limit variants so that players from all walks of life can afford to join in with a couple of bets.
| Game | Double Zero | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
 | |  |
 | | |
Video Poker
Most online casinos to accept play from the United States have separate categories in their collections that are reserved for video poker. The latter is based on draw poker and resembles a slot game but is different in that it combines both skill and chance. One of the greatest advantages of playing this type of game is that it comes with the lowest house edge you can possibly find at an online casino. Players can extract great value from video poker on condition they adopt a proper strategy and play a full-pay game.
US players will be able to find a wide range of video poker variants online, including popular options like Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, and Deuces Wild. Many prefer to engage in Bonus Poker because of the additional payouts they receive on specific winning hands. Others are more interested in playing variations like Joker Poker or Joker Wild where an extra wild card is in play substituting for other cards in the deck. Many online casinos offer these variations in single-hand and multi-hand formats.
| Game | Wild | Multihand |
|---|---|---|
 | | |
Arcades
Customers from the States are granted the chance to engage in a variety of “specialty” games that rely on luck and are rather easy to play even if one is a rookie. One of the most popular options is keno which is a lottery type of game where players choose several numbers (usually from 1 to 80) and are paid out according to a paytable depending on how many of their selections have been drawn. US-friendly gambling operators would also offer a range of bingo games along with scratchcards with different themes and prizes.
Online Poker
Some of the largest poker operators like Full Tilt, partypoker, and PokerStars decided to leave the US market after the enforcement of the UIGEA in 2006 only to return years later after several states introduced clear-cut regulations in 2011. Customers residing in the state of New Jersey are now allowed to legally play at locally regulated sites like partypoker and PokerStars but this is not to say poker fans from other parts of the country are left without options.
On the contrary, international gambling companies whose operations are based outside the United States continue to welcome poker fans from the country, including some of the websites we have reviewed in brief below. Such operators utilize robust software that allows for multi-tabling and generates a sufficient amount of traffic. Poker mavens are able to join a huge number of tournaments and cash games in popular formats like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud. Various freerolls are available to players with limited means and experience.
Popular Deposit Methods
As was explained earlier, all the UIGEA did was to prohibit banks and financial companies from processing payments to and from unauthorized gambling websites. Respectively, this piece of legislation makes it a bit more difficult for US players to fund their accounts and withdraw their winnings but this does not mean processing banking transactions of this type is impossible. Above all, players will be able to deposit and withdraw in their local currency without incurring additional conversion fees since US-friendly operators support payments in USD.
Cards
The majority of operators that accept play from this jurisdiction work with credit and debit cards like those issued by the well-known brands Visa, American Express, and MasterCard. These are readily available for both deposits and withdrawals but American citizens may have their transactions blocked by the issuing banks because of the aforementioned UIGEA.
One way to circumvent these blocks will be to use gift cards or prepaid cards by the brand Visa, which can be purchased from a variety of retail outlets and gas stations across the United States. Before you attempt to deposit with one such card, we recommend you check whether or not it can be used for making international payments. If it can, you are unlikely to experience any issues and your money transfer will go through.
The great thing about prepaid and gift cards is that they can be reloaded and used repeatedly, but most importantly, you will have limited amounts of money to gamble with which enables you to keep your expenditures in check. Another strong point is that card payments are executed right away. As far as withdrawals go, some US-friendly online casinos do not support cards by Visa and MasterCard for cashing out. However, players from this country are often provided with other options of receiving their profits, such as e-checks and standard bank transfers to use an example.
Western Union
Bank transfers conducted via Western Union are a decent alternative for all US players who are reluctant or unable to manage their casino transactions with credit or debit cards. This method is hugely popular among gambling fans from the country but can be used by players from over 200 jurisdictions the world over. It supports over 130 different currencies. Western Union was established over 150 years ago and has grown to become one of the biggest money transfer companies in the world.
One of the strongest points of Western Union is that it does not require you to own a card of any sort. Throw the higher deposit limits into the bargain and the method fits the needs of high-rollers like a glove. There are two ways to initiate a deposit with Western Union, the first one being the money order where you will need to visit a nearby Western Union agent location in person. But if you wish, you can initiate the payment online or via the mobile app as long as you own a bank account or a debit/credit card.
The alternative is to make a person-to-person transfer from the comfort of your home by opening an account at Western Union’s website. You receive a 10-digit code called Money Transfer Control Number, or MTCN, for each transfer carried out in this manner. Make sure you save this code to produce in case your US-friendly casino request it.
Withdrawals are also possible with Western Union. In a similar fashion, the player is provided with an MTCN they need to use to withdraw their profits at a local Western Union agent location. Western Union is a great method for players from unregulated markets like the USA but it, too, has several disadvantages. The method is less time-efficient as deposits are typically completed within a timeframe of 20 minutes up to a couple of hours. Fees are also involved on behalf of Western Union. Withdrawals, on the other hand, require several business days to be completed.
MoneyGram
MoneyGram may be treated as a rival of Western Union’s since it, too, is a US-based money transfer company which operates in over 200 jurisdictions with a massive network spanning over 300,000 agent locations worldwide. It enables its customers to transfer money to their bank accounts or e-wallets as well as to receive their casino winnings in a quick and safe manner.
The beauty of funding your casino account via this method lies in the fact there is no need to own a card or even to have a bank account. Once you visit the nearest MoneyGram office all you will be asked to do is provide your ID and specify the amount of money you want to deposit. When receiving money, players must provide the reference number the casino has given them.
On the downside, the method involves flat fees which many players would deem quite steep. The same applies when you receive funds with MoneyGram as the currency may be potentially converted at a rate that involves a huge margin. However, since most US-friendly gambling operators accept USD as a currency, you are unlikely to be charged for conversion when using MoneyGram.
Bitcoin
Several years ago, US players experienced difficulties in processing their casino payments via standard methods like credit or debit cards since their transfers were often blocked by American banks. Now that cryptocurrency has sprung into existence, this problem is easily solved.
More and more US-friendly casinos are embracing Bitcoin, the first and one of the most popular decentralized digital currencies in the world.
Using Bitcoin offers a variety of perks. For starters, it allows US players to gamble anonymously and process deposits without experiencing nuisances of any sort. Unlike MoneyGram and Western Union, there is no need to personally visit any land-based agent location. You can make a Bitcoin deposit from the convenience of your home as long as you sign up with a Bitcoin wallet account, similarly to over 1.8 million other customers using the cryptocurrency.
There are two ways to obtain Bitcoins, you can either purchase them on an exchange like Bitfinex, Poloniex, or Bitstamp (you need an account for that as well) or visit a Bitcoin marketplace where you can buy the coins from other people. You can pay for your digital coins in cash, use cards or wire transfers or even exchange some other cryptocurrencies for them.
Casino payments via Bitcoin are time-efficient, to say the least, as the transactions are usually carried out at an impressive speed. Fees are rarely involved and the method is considered one of the safest ones. Like anything else, Bitcoin has a couple of downsides as well. The value of the crypto-coins tends to fluctuate dramatically, Bitcoin being a relatively new currency. Also, once you initiate a Bitcoin payment, it would be impossible for you to reverse it which is not the case with many of the other banking solutions supported by online casinos.
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200% up to
∞
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Everygame Classic Casino
100% up to
$100
Slotsroom Casino
150 Spins
PlayCroco Casino
300% up to
∞
+ 60 Spins
DuckyLuck Casino
$/€ 100
Drake Casino
300% up to
$2,000
Exclusive Casino
$ 7,000
Vegas Crest Casino
300% up to
$/€1,500
Roaring 21 Casino
150 Spins
EmuCasino
12 Spins
NewVegas Casino
400% up to
$3,000
Jackpot Capital
25% up to
∞
Spinfinity Casino
150 Spins
Slotastic
250% up to
∞
Black Lotus Casino
200% up to
$600
+ 30 Spins
LadyLuck Casino
100 Spins
Everygame Casino
125% up to
$1,000
Ripper Casino
25% up to
∞
Cherry Jackpot
150 Spins
Lucky Creek
50 Spins
Cherry Gold Casino
250% up to
∞
Slots And Casino
500% up to
∞
+ 150 Spins
Ozwin Casino
$ 10
Grande Vegas
$ 25
Two-Up Casino
250% up to
$5,500
BoVegas Casino
250% up to
$5,500
Grand Eagle
200% up to
$5,000
+ 30 Spins
Treasure Mile
200% up to
$/€4,000
+ 50 Spins
Jazz Casino
100% up to
$1,000
HarrahsCasino.com
20 Spins
TropicanaCasino
Borgata Online Casino
BetMGM Casino NJ
100% up to
$1,000
VirginCasino NJ
100% up to
$100
BetOnline Casino
100 Spins
Grand Rush
200% up to
$4,000
+ 40 Spins
RedCherry Casino
20% up to
∞
Lucky99 Casino
25% up to
$500
The majority of the games we have discussed in this US Online Casino Guide can be played on most hand-held devices on the market as long as players have a reliable enough internet connection and an up-to-date browser. Most reputable casinos to welcome players from the United States run mobile-responsive websites that are based on the advanced HTML5 mark-up language, which is to say you will enjoy a seamless experience on devices based on Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Support for the latter was discontinued in the fall of 2017, but players who own a Windows-Phone based device will experience no troubles loading their favorite casino games, at least for the time being.
Furthermore, some of the most popular US online casinos have set up dedicated applications for smartphones which can be downloaded at no cost from the Apple App Store or directly from the websites of the said gambling operators.
Online casinos are in quite the competition with one another which is why each operator is trying to come up with appealing incentives as a means to attract patronage at its website. The same applies to US-friendly casinos where multiple promotions are on offer, starting with a welcome bonus upon your first deposit(s). Some online casinos even go as far as offering no-deposit bonuses granted to those who sign up with real-money accounts.
Additional bonuses are often awarded for friend referrals but existing customers can also extract more value from their bets by collecting comp points and converting them into various rewards like free credits or even cash. Before you redeem any of these bonuses, we strongly urge you to go through your US-friendly casino’s terms and conditions to check what the wagering requirements of your chosen offer are.
This question is on all inexperienced players’ minds but to put all doubts to rest, yes, US-friendly casinos utilize Random Number Generators (RNG) and therefore, are fair. This sophisticated software uses complex algorithms to replicate absolute statistical randomness of results so that everyone has the same odds at winning.
Of course, it would not hurt to make sure you are joining a gambling operator that is licensed and regulated. Licensed offshore casinos are required by their regulators to have their RNG software audited by third-party companies that are in no way associated with them financially to avoid any bias on their behalf. Once the RNG software has passed the audits successfully, the casino receives a certificate of validity to display publicly on its homepage.
The majority of established casinos that accept American players strive to process payments as fast as possible to the benefit of their patrons. Deposits normally take place immediately but withdrawals are less time-efficient because of the verification each transaction needs to go through before the funds are released from customers’ accounts.
Normally, the withdrawal is processed within 72 hours max before the money is cleared from a given account. What this means is your winnings will be with you in about 3 to 5 business days but this timeframe largely depends on the US casino you have signed up with. Be sure to inquire in advance how long it will take to cash out with your preferred payment solution beforehand; the customer support of your selected casino will be happy to help.
This one is tricky to answer considering that most US players are likely to gamble at offshore online casinos, licensed and regulated under the legislature of other jurisdictions. The proper thing to do would be to declare your casino winnings because in the US these are considered taxable income once the sum exceeds a specific amount. This actually applies to profits generated in both online and landbased casinos. The same goes for winnings from lotteries, raffles, and horse racing.
Losses can also be deducted from players’ tax returns as long as they show the necessary documents like bank statements and receipts. The amounts you need to pay may vary depending on the type of game you have accrued the winnings on. US players are recommended to fill out what is called Form 1040 to declare their winnings. The form is available for a free download on the official website of the IRS.
What if you have won a huge amount while gambling at an offshore casino that is licensed outside US jurisdiction? Some would argue they do not have to declare their wins as an income because the servers of the casino are located outside the US. This line of reasoning is also false since US law clearly states all gambling income is taxable.
It would be a good idea to keep track of your gambling profits by saving your session logs. In the eyes of the IRS, foreign-based online casinos are just another way for taxpayers to avoid declaring all of their income. The only way for the government to find out about your casino winnings would be to audit you for one reason or another. If you are unlucky enough for this to happen while having undeclared income, you will end up paying interest and a penalty along with your taxes, which is why you better not risk it.
