Do it Right! Casinos State by State 2024

Which states allow online casino gambling?  

Most US states now permit gambling in one form or another, although there’s absolutely no pattern involved. Gambling is perfectly legal on a federal level, but every state is allowed to make its own decisions regarding gambling activities – and there’s very little consensus. So some states that allow online gambling permit sports betting but not casino games, whereas others might allow poker but nothing else.

Even more confusingly, the gambling laws are constantly changing, so a state which doesn’t permit online gambling this month might well have changed its mind within a few months. Even trying to define which states have casinos in bricks-and-mortar premises is difficult, thanks to the obscurity of the state laws.

Just take a look at a states with casinos map to see how quickly the situation can change over time. Although the first states with online casinos were based exclusively in New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania, that’s no longer the case. There is now an increasing number of states that allow casinos to operate, whether on land or online, making it incredibly difficult to put an exact number on how many available operators there are.

Check out if online casinos are legal in our state!

The legal history of casino gambling in the USA

When trying to establish which states allow casinos to operate within their jurisdiction, we need to take a look at the history of gambling in the US. And it certainly goes back a long way, right to the arrival of the first British settlers, who enjoyed nothing more than a bit of gambling at the end of the working day. But the Puritans were the next to arrive, and they weren’t at all keen on the practice, believing it to be wicked and sinful, although they struggled to try and contain it since it was so widespread.

By the time of the American Revolution, gambling had become a means for raising money to fund the war chest. Lotteries and raffles were extremely popular and were soon followed by Blackjack, as well as sports such as horse and dog racing, and even cockfighting. By the early 19th century New Orleans had become the gambling capital of the country, with riverboats plying the Mississippi packed with gamblers, who enjoyed playing as they cruised the river.

The effect of the California Gold Rush

The discovery of gold in the California hills saw a steady stream of prospectors heading out west, where they enjoyed nothing more than a spot of gambling after a hard day’s work. Soon the capital of gambling had moved to San Francisco, with an enthusiastic uptake by its residents. Nevada was the next spiritual home of gambling, with Las Vegas soon becoming renowned for its casinos and gambling opportunities – a reputation it still holds to this day.

But the Puritan ethos never really went away, and there was always fierce opposition to gambling from some quarters. Prohibition put an end to the practice for a while, but the human urge to gamble is so strong that it couldn’t be suppressed for long, and soon pockets of gambling began to reappear, often in the form of lotteries.

The rise of online gambling

By the 1990s the internet was rapidly gaining in popularity, and software developers were quick to seize their opportunity. New and exciting games soon attracted the attention of gambling fans, and casinos started rushing to put their games and products online, hoping to attract a wider audience.

But everything changed in 2006, when Congress approved the UIGEA, or Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This made it almost impossible for online casinos to process financial transactions, effectively reducing their games to light entertainment, with no financial rewards. This had a massive knock-on effect – if you take a look at casinos by state map from that period, it’s clear to see the impact this legislation had, as the majority of online casinos closed their doors to US residents.

Today, although you’ll find quite a few U.S. states with land-based casinos open to American citizens and tourists, it’s much harder to find states with online casinos. And where they do exist, they have very strict controls about who can play at them, so you won’t be eligible if you reside outside state lines and gambling age by state also varies between 18 and 21 years. But casino operators are nothing if not resourceful, so offshore casinos have sprung up to fill the gap. Because although state legislature may forbid online casinos from operating within state lines, there’s nothing to stop US residents from signing up and playing at casinos based elsewhere.

Editor’s recommendation – the best online casino operator for users in the USA  

If you take a look at which states have casinos by state map, it’s clear that some regions are better served than others. And when it comes to online casinos, the situation becomes even more obscure. So picking out one single operator is almost impossible, as not all our site visitors will be able to benefit from our recommendations.  But having assessed all the available options when it comes to playing online, our editor has picked out BetMGM as the best online operator for US players.

BetMGM is a reputable and well-established operator, with a huge amount of player appeal. It’s currently only accessible to players in specific states, namely Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, but it’s possible that more states will join the party in the future.

You’ll find the casino offers plenty of games, including a great selection of online slots games, and there’s a sportsbook too, which is sure to please a huge number of fans. And of course, there’s a generous Welcome Bonus package to get your initial gambling session off to the very best start!

Five tips for a secure and fair online gambling experience in the USA

Gambling can be great fun, with the chance to win some big cash prizes, which is why so many US citizens enjoy it so much. But not all states with casino gambling options online are equal, slot machine payouts by state can vary significantly, for example, so it’s important to make the right decisions from the outset. And with that in mind, we’ve put together five important tips to help you get started.

What do we look for when evaluating online casino operators for USA residents?

We want you to enjoy online gambling as much as we do, so we work incredibly hard to create our in-depth casino reviews. And we’re always mindful of safety when playing online, so we undertake rigorous checks on every operator we inspect.

In addition to telling you what to expect from the look and feel of each online casino operator, we also check out the customer support service, inspect the licenses and make sure data security is given the utmost priority. In fact, we tell you absolutely everything you could possibly wish to know, so you can always make informed choices.

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Finding your perfect online casino operator

Searching for casinos by state map is a great option if you’re looking for a brick and mortar operator, although states with casino gambling are pretty thin on the ground and states that allow online poker are even more rare. Admittedly there are more states with gambling casinos now than there were just a few years ago, so the choices are slowly increasing.

But if you’re not fortunate enough to live in one of the states that allow casinos to operate on land, you’ll need to find an online operator, and we can help with that. Our in-depth reviews are a great starting point, helping you to narrow down your options and saving you from hours of tedious research.

But personal preference is at the heart of the decision-making process, so establish what type of player you are from the outset. For example, if you love a freebie then you’ll want to aim for casinos with generous bonus offers and a regular rewards program. Meanwhile, night owls will want to make sure they choose an operator with 24-hour customer support, in case of any issues.

Always here for you!

Your biggest and best asset when looking for the perfect online operator is our website. Aside from our casino reviews, our site is packed with tons of useful information, including helpful articles and advice guides. They’ll help you make the most of every gambling opportunity, whether or not you happen to live in one of the states that allow casinos to operate.

Conclusion – Finding your online casino partner has never been so easy!

Just take a look at any U.S. states with casinos map to see how difficult it can be to locate a brick-and-mortar casino. And out of all the US states with casinos, not all of them will be appropriate for your needs, or even accessible to you – at least, not without incurring some hefty travel expenses. So it makes perfect sense to seek out an online casino, which saves you time and expense, as well as allowing you to play whenever and wherever you wish. All that’s needed is an internet connection – and in the case of some mobile casinos, even that’s optional!

But remember, the situation is constantly changing when it comes to states that allow gambling casinos to operate within their jurisdiction. It’s well worth bookmarking this site, so you can keep abreast of the new casino operators and be one of the first to explore the latest bonus offers!

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Casinos by state FAQ