Top Online Casinos in United States

Gambling has always been a notable part of US culture, and many Americans consider gambling as an entertainment activity they resort to on a semi regular basis. The booming land casino industry speaks well of this fact.

Casino, hotel and restaurant resorts are mega popular across US soil, and they can be found in nearly every state. There, players can enjoy a wide range of casino games that all have their fair share of popularity. Slot machines are by far the most popular casino game for US players, and some US land casinos boast thousands of physical slot machines for players to bask in.

The same can be said for online casinos as well, as these games often comprise the lion’s share of a casino’s gaming selection. The fast-paced, fast paying nature of these dazzling machines of luck make them attractive to play and easy to pick up, as all one has to do is spin and enjoy the rush of dopamine.

Popular US online casino games:

• Video Slots
• Classic Slots
• Jackpot Slots
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Poker

Table games are also enjoyed by US players a great deal. Blackjack and Craps are highly popular due to their large factor of skill, and frequent portrayal in media such as TV shows, movies and the general pop culture.

Baccarat, known as the “high-roller” game, is extremely simple to play, but it is so popular that many land casinos have separate Baccarat VIP rooms for the most ambitious players. Poker, in many of its variants such as Casino Hold’em and Texas Hold’ em, is enjoyed both casually and professionally in the US, with frequent televised tournaments that bring about high entertainment value.

Gambling has a vast history in the United States, and it has been present in one form or another ever since the birth of the country.

Throughout the last centuries, horse racing, dice, and card games were the game of choice for illegal gambling activities of elite members of society, as well as the working class.

Gambling regulations were minimal to non-existent, and owners of gambling establishments would often resort to bribery as means of “licensing” their ongoing operations.

The Great Depression took a heavy toll on the majority of countries across the globe, including the United States. In an effort to combat its effects and bring about an economic boost, the state of Nevada legalized many forms of gambling in 1931.

However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that gambling in Nevada truly started picking up steam, particularly in Las Vegas. The city’s quick proximity to key states such as California led to an influx of gambling enthusiasts, and a subsequent boom in gambling.

Gambling in the second half of the 1900s

Due to the country’s history of illegal gambling, the majority of Vegas’ gambling establishments were owned by shady figures and thus linked to criminal activity. In the 1960s, however, reputable businessmen started investing and purchasing the most popular casinos and hotels in Vegas, ridding the city of its links to organized crime.

The current state of gambling in Las Vegas today needs no further explanation, as everyone probably is aware it is the de-facto gambling capital of the Western world.

In 1977, New Jersey legalized gambling in Atlantic City, which revitalized tourism in the city and brought about a spiral of positive economic effects. To date, Atlantic City remains a highly sought after tourist destination in the US, primarily because of its gambling establishments.

Gambling nowadays in the US

Many forms of land-based gambling are widely legal across the United States, but Atlantic City and Vegas’ are the main gambling hubs. Nonetheless, it is comforting to know that no matter your location in the states, a gambling establishment should be a few hours ride away, at worst.

Some popular US land casinos are Caesar’s Palace, The Bellagio, the Ameristar Casino & Hotel, Blue Lake, Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, and so forth.

As the regulation of gambling and gambling itself has a rich history in the United States, we will focus on the more recent history of issues of gambling legality on US soil.

Land-based gambling, as the majority of residents are well aware of, is widely legal in the States. However, Internet gambling was a legal gray area up until very recently.

Before we give you a brief explanation about the legality of online casinos for US players, we will give you the short answer: it is not illegal to place bets in online casinos, as long as the online casinos are not physically located on US soil.

This means that online casinos serving US players that are based offshore with an offshore license, such as Costa Rica, Panama or Curaçao, are perfectly safe for US gamblers to place online bets and receive payments.

With more recent changes to legislation, several US states have also legalized Internet gambling, leading to 100% legal US-based online casinos. However, you must consult your state laws on this matter, as the rules vary by state.

In 1992, congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which aimed to regulate sports betting in its many forms. In 2018, however, the act was deemed constitutional and sports betting was legalized on a federal level.

Modern times

In the early 2000s, Internet gambling started picking up steam as well. However, the legality of online gambling for US players was highly ambiguous. Fortunately, in 2011, the Federal Wire Act of 1961 was challenged by Virginia Seltz, which led the Department of Justice to constitute that the act only applied to sports betting.

The effect of this had a groundbreaking impact on online gambling in the States. What followed next was a resolution that proclaimed that online gambling was now legal on a federal level, but it was up to the states to define their online gambling laws.

Several states, such as Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, quickly acted on this monumental change and aimed to capitalize on the ever-growing market of Internet gambling.

At the time of writing, legislation regulating online casinos is still pending in numerous states, but the process is going slow, and there may be some time before US-based online casinos become truly mainstream across the country.

Nonetheless, the future's looking bright. What is a slow process, is also an inevitable one. In our minds, there is no doubt that US online gambling will boom in the States in the years to come.

Language at US online casinos

All US online casinos are naturally available in US English. This includes the casino interface, account settings menus, customer support and the games themselves.

Customer support at US online casinos

On a global level, customer support is one of the most essential factors that make up a good online casino. Having access to quick, professional customer service is monumental to having a good time while gambling online.

This is why most US online casinos offer 24/7 customer support via live chat. Typically, you will receive a response to your live chat query within a few minutes of your request.

Customer support gets special attention in our reviews. Besides live chat, telephone support is also a plus. Email support is the bare minimum an online casino can offer in terms of customer support, and it earns no special mention.

Bonuses at online casinos in the US

There are many bonus types at US online casinos that will boost your bankroll and enrich your gaming sessions. We will give you a rundown of the most popular bonus types and what they represent.

It is important to note that bonuses are not free money. With some rare exceptions, all bonuses come with wagering requirements and other terms and conditions which must be respected. Our casino reviews give you an easy-to-follow explanation of each bonus’ terms of use and wagering requirements. You can also consult your casino’s customer support team for further guidance, if necessary.

Welcome bonuses - Welcome bonuses are the best bang for your buck you can get from a US online casino. These bonuses are exclusively offered to newcomers and are generally available on your first deposit, or first several deposits.

Typically, a welcome bonus will match your deposit by 100% i.e. 100% up to $300, doubling your bankroll.

Free spins bonuses - Free Spin bonuses are pretty self-explanatory. They offer you a set amount of bonus spins on a single slot machine or several slots. Your winnings will then be converted to bonus money that will need to be wagered before it can be withdrawn.

No deposit bonuses - No deposit bonuses are highly popular among US online casino players. They require no deposit on your part, and are as close to “free money” as it gets in the online casino world.

No deposit bonuses typically have a cashout limit, usually $100, and higher wagering requirements.

Cashback bonuses - Cashback bonuses are rare among online casinos, but some US casinos still offer them as a way to maintain regular players. Typically, a casino will give you a cashback on 10% to 25% of your previous day or week’s losses. As with all other bonuses, cashback bonuses must be wagered as well.