While the above-mentioned states offer regulated online gambling, they still maintain the option to utilize licensed offshore online options. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, poker, or bet on sports.
- Online Gambling Us States Treasury
- Online Gambling Us States
- Online Gambling Legal In Us States
- Online Gambling Us States Capitals
- Online Gambling Us States Abbreviations
Online casinos can be fun to wager on, but many folks within the United
States find themselves confused if they are able to participate or not. The
United States, unfortunately, does not have clear laws or regulations relating
to betting online unlike some other countries in the world. Due to the lack of
clarity, many US citizens are unsure about online gambling in general because
they just don’t know how or where to get started.
States find themselves confused if they are able to participate or not. The
United States, unfortunately, does not have clear laws or regulations relating
to betting online unlike some other countries in the world. Due to the lack of
clarity, many US citizens are unsure about online gambling in general because
they just don’t know how or where to get started.
- USA Online casino players will be able to enjoy plenty of casino games like online slots, poker, roulette, blackjack, and more. Carry on reading to find out everything you need to know about gambling in the United States, thanks to our comprehensive US states gambling guide. Best Casino Sites #.
- All casinos featured on this page accept players from the United States and let you play with US dollars. By forming long-standing relationships with the casinos we work with, we're able to negotiate exclusive deals and offer a unique selection of bonuses and free spins that you won't find anywhere else.
- Rhode Island also opened its first sportsbook six months after the U.S Supreme Court's decision and currently offers sports gambling exclusively at two in-state casinos, but online/mobile betting.
We’re here to help end the cloudiness surrounding online casino gambling for US
residents. Our site is full of information relating to US online casinos. We’ve
included site reviews, site recommendations, and some tips for you to use. If
you’re new to US casino sites, you’ve found a great starting point here. Check
out all that we have to offer, and you’ll be on your way to betting comfortably
online in no time.
residents. Our site is full of information relating to US online casinos. We’ve
included site reviews, site recommendations, and some tips for you to use. If
you’re new to US casino sites, you’ve found a great starting point here. Check
out all that we have to offer, and you’ll be on your way to betting comfortably
online in no time.
The Most Trusted US Casino Sites in 2020
If you’re ready to play now at a US casino site, check out the list below
of our most trusted US online casinos. We’ve taken the time to do exhaustive
research on each of these sites to make sure that they are the best of the best.
Each of these recommended sites scored well when it came to important criteria
such as variety, trustworthiness, and quality of their customer service. Each of
these casinos can provide you with a trusted starting point for a US online
casino.
of our most trusted US online casinos. We’ve taken the time to do exhaustive
research on each of these sites to make sure that they are the best of the best.
Each of these recommended sites scored well when it came to important criteria
such as variety, trustworthiness, and quality of their customer service. Each of
these casinos can provide you with a trusted starting point for a US online
casino.
For those of you that are new to playing online or that would like to learn
more before proceeding, be sure to check out everything else that we have to
offer. Below, we’ll cover much more information about playing online at US
Casinos. Our site is full of information to help get you quickly up to speed.
more before proceeding, be sure to check out everything else that we have to
offer. Below, we’ll cover much more information about playing online at US
Casinos. Our site is full of information to help get you quickly up to speed.
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Is It Legal?
While we wish we could give you a simple yes or no when it comes to the
legality of betting online in the US, we, unfortunately, can’t. At a high level,
things are very fuzzy and not clearly defined. The United States has not yet
fully regulated or legalized online gambling yet. Still today, online gambling
in the US falls into a gray area. While the US has laws and regulations relating
to gambling in general, there is no update to the laws yet with specific
language about online gambling.
legality of betting online in the US, we, unfortunately, can’t. At a high level,
things are very fuzzy and not clearly defined. The United States has not yet
fully regulated or legalized online gambling yet. Still today, online gambling
in the US falls into a gray area. While the US has laws and regulations relating
to gambling in general, there is no update to the laws yet with specific
language about online gambling.
We know for a fact that there is no law specifically banning US residents
from gambling online. Add to that the fact that we don’t know of a single
individual within the US that has ever been arrested for gambling online.
from gambling online. Add to that the fact that we don’t know of a single
individual within the US that has ever been arrested for gambling online.
In short, you should proceed without any concerns about trouble with the law when
it comes to gambling online.
it comes to gambling online.
Online Casinos by State
Below we’ve compiled a list of where you can find the best online casinos for a specific state. Just click on the state that you’d like more information about and you’ll find out where and how to gamble in that state. You’ll notice not every state has a page dedicated to it yet, but please check back frequently as we are continually updating our list so we can better serve you.
Why Play Online?
People often ask us why they should consider playing online versus playing
live at a real casino. Below, we’ll give you our top three reasons why we love
playing games online. After checking out these reasons below, we think you’ll begin to
see things our way!
live at a real casino. Below, we’ll give you our top three reasons why we love
playing games online. After checking out these reasons below, we think you’ll begin to
see things our way!
Convenience
First and foremost in our minds is the convenience of playing online. Most
people in The United States do not have an easy path to stepping foot in a
casino. For most, it requires a long car ride or possibly an airplane to get
there. Due to this, most folks in The United States do not get into a physical
casino nearly as often as they would like.
people in The United States do not have an easy path to stepping foot in a
casino. For most, it requires a long car ride or possibly an airplane to get
there. Due to this, most folks in The United States do not get into a physical
casino nearly as often as they would like.
The magical part of playing at US casino sites is that you can do it from
anywhere as long as you have a connection to the internet. It does not get more
convenient than that, friends! Want to wager from your office? No problem! Want
to wager while you take a dump at home? No problem! Want to wager while walking
your dog? No problem!
anywhere as long as you have a connection to the internet. It does not get more
convenient than that, friends! Want to wager from your office? No problem! Want
to wager while you take a dump at home? No problem! Want to wager while walking
your dog? No problem!
Hopefully, you get the point by now that playing at online casinos is
super simple and easy. No gas money, no wasted time in the car or an airplane.
You do it when you want from wherever you want!
super simple and easy. No gas money, no wasted time in the car or an airplane.
You do it when you want from wherever you want!
Bonuses and Promotions
Our second most favorite thing about playing games online at US casino sites is
the bonuses and promotions that they offer clients. Unlike traditional casinos,
US online casinos are literally offering money for you to come and wager on
their site. This bonus cash can be a great way to build your account balance on
the online casino of your choice.
the bonuses and promotions that they offer clients. Unlike traditional casinos,
US online casinos are literally offering money for you to come and wager on
their site. This bonus cash can be a great way to build your account balance on
the online casino of your choice.
With casino sites offering free money to do what you are already
planning to do, you’d be an idiot not to take them up on it. Be sure to check
out the bonus/promotions page on a casino’s website to get a feel for what all
they offer. Do your best to claim every free cent because each free cent is
literally free money!
planning to do, you’d be an idiot not to take them up on it. Be sure to check
out the bonus/promotions page on a casino’s website to get a feel for what all
they offer. Do your best to claim every free cent because each free cent is
literally free money!
Variety
Our last reason that we like to play online relates to the variety available.
Like we mentioned before, most folks in The United States don’t have easy access
to a physical casino. However, online, you can find a massive amount of US
online casinos to choose from.
Like we mentioned before, most folks in The United States don’t have easy access
to a physical casino. However, online, you can find a massive amount of US
online casinos to choose from.
With so many choices online, you can shop around to find the one that really
fits all your criteria. You won’t need to settle simply because it is the only
game in town. The variety available online is a huge plus, and that’s another
reason why we like to play online.
fits all your criteria. You won’t need to settle simply because it is the only
game in town. The variety available online is a huge plus, and that’s another
reason why we like to play online.
Important US Casino Site Criteria
While searching for a US casino site to wager on, you’ll want to look into
six key criteria. These six criteria are the same items that we dive deep into
when we’re doing a review of an online casino. If you can find a US online
casino that scores well on all six of these, you’ve probably found a great spot
to get your online gambling career in motion!
six key criteria. These six criteria are the same items that we dive deep into
when we’re doing a review of an online casino. If you can find a US online
casino that scores well on all six of these, you’ve probably found a great spot
to get your online gambling career in motion!
Bonuses and Promotions
As you saw above, bonuses and promotions offered by US casino sites are one
of our favorite perks when it comes to playing online. In order to help maximize
your bonus cash, you’ll need to make sure that you shop around to find yourself
the best deal for your situation. Bonuses and promotions vary greatly between
different US online casinos, so you’ll need to take a little time to do your
homework.
of our favorite perks when it comes to playing online. In order to help maximize
your bonus cash, you’ll need to make sure that you shop around to find yourself
the best deal for your situation. Bonuses and promotions vary greatly between
different US online casinos, so you’ll need to take a little time to do your
homework.
When it comes to bonuses and promotions on US online casinos, they tend to
targeted at two main groups: new customers and current customers.
targeted at two main groups: new customers and current customers.
New customers
tend to be the ones that can get the most bang for their buck with bonuses and
promotions as US online casinos are competing to win their business.
tend to be the ones that can get the most bang for their buck with bonuses and
promotions as US online casinos are competing to win their business.
Most US
online casinos will offer large signup and initial deposit bonuses to new
clients. For current customers, we often see reload bonus offers.
online casinos will offer large signup and initial deposit bonuses to new
clients. For current customers, we often see reload bonus offers.
US casino sites tend to offer up bonuses and promotions on a wide variety
of items. For example, one US online casino might have bonuses and promotions
targeting slots while another one may be focused on table games at that point.
With so much variance out there, find a trusted US casino site that has the
best deals on the games that you plan on playing.
of items. For example, one US online casino might have bonuses and promotions
targeting slots while another one may be focused on table games at that point.
With so much variance out there, find a trusted US casino site that has the
best deals on the games that you plan on playing.
Your goal is to locate a trusted US online casino that offers you the chance
to earn the most bonus cash. Pay close attention to the initial deposit match
offers. If you’re planning to make a large initial deposit, be sure to locate a
US online casino that will get you the max cash back on that initial deposit. By
doing a little bit of homework, you can come out way ahead in the long run with
some extra cash in your pocket!
to earn the most bonus cash. Pay close attention to the initial deposit match
offers. If you’re planning to make a large initial deposit, be sure to locate a
US online casino that will get you the max cash back on that initial deposit. By
doing a little bit of homework, you can come out way ahead in the long run with
some extra cash in your pocket!
Variety
We’re big fans on options when it comes to playing online, and you should be
too. Seek a US online casino that offers you a wide variety of game selection.
Not only do you want to find a casino site that offers you a wide selection
of different types of games, but you also want them to have a broad selection of
options within each game.
Take Slots as an Exampletoo. Seek a US online casino that offers you a wide variety of game selection.
Not only do you want to find a casino site that offers you a wide selection
of different types of games, but you also want them to have a broad selection of
options within each game.
It’s great if a US casino site offers slots as
one of their gaming options. However, there is a massive difference between an
online casino that offers 20 different type of slots versus another one offering
hundreds of different types of slots.
one of their gaming options. However, there is a massive difference between an
online casino that offers 20 different type of slots versus another one offering
hundreds of different types of slots.
Your goal is to locate a casino site
with a nice variety of games. By locating a US casino site with a wide
variety, you’ll have plenty of gaming options for the future.
with a nice variety of games. By locating a US casino site with a wide
variety, you’ll have plenty of gaming options for the future.
Consider finding a site with a large variety of games now even if you’re new
to betting online or if you just like to play one type of game. By getting
started with an online casino with a large variety of games, you’ll be less
likely to outgrow that site in the future as you play more and more games.
Finding a US online casino with a large variety of games should help you create
a one stop shop for all of your online casino needs.
to betting online or if you just like to play one type of game. By getting
started with an online casino with a large variety of games, you’ll be less
likely to outgrow that site in the future as you play more and more games.
Finding a US online casino with a large variety of games should help you create
a one stop shop for all of your online casino needs.
If you’re into table games, we highly suggest that you find a site that
offers you live dealer options. Live dealers are one of the biggest trends right
now in the online casino industry. They tend to be a big hit with folks that
want to feel more engaged with the game they are playing. If you have not tried
it, be sure to check it out!
offers you live dealer options. Live dealers are one of the biggest trends right
now in the online casino industry. They tend to be a big hit with folks that
want to feel more engaged with the game they are playing. If you have not tried
it, be sure to check it out!
Quality Customer Service
We can’t stress enough how important finding a US casino site with quality
customer service is. While we hope that you never have a significant issue arise
that requires customer service to step in and help, you’ll want quality customer
service at that time. Consider finding an online casino with quality customer
service as good insurance for the future.
customer service is. While we hope that you never have a significant issue arise
that requires customer service to step in and help, you’ll want quality customer
service at that time. Consider finding an online casino with quality customer
service as good insurance for the future.
While all US casino sites offer some form of customer service, some simply
do it way better than others.
do it way better than others.
The good sites are fast to respond and offer you
several different ways to get in touch with them while the poor sites tend only
to offer one way to reach them and are slow to help.
several different ways to get in touch with them while the poor sites tend only
to offer one way to reach them and are slow to help.
Having quality customer
service can make a world of difference when you need it.
service can make a world of difference when you need it.
To gauge a site’s level of customer service, check out site reviews like the
ones that we offer here. Also, test drive the customer service for yourself.
Give them a quick call or shoot over an email and see how well and quickly they
respond to your inquiry. If you get a fast and helpful response, you’re most
likely on your way to finding a good fit when it comes to quality customer
service.
ones that we offer here. Also, test drive the customer service for yourself.
Give them a quick call or shoot over an email and see how well and quickly they
respond to your inquiry. If you get a fast and helpful response, you’re most
likely on your way to finding a good fit when it comes to quality customer
service.
User Interface
The user interface is another one of our key criteria that we suggest you
closely analyze when searching for an online casino home. A site’s user
interface is what determines how you get around and find things on a site.
You’ll quickly see that user interfaces vary between each casino site, so
you’ll want to find one that offers you a good fit.
closely analyze when searching for an online casino home. A site’s user
interface is what determines how you get around and find things on a site.
You’ll quickly see that user interfaces vary between each casino site, so
you’ll want to find one that offers you a good fit.
The best way to test your fit with a site’s user interface is to test drive
it yourself. As you’re digging into the other key criterion listed here, take
note of how easily you’re able to find things that you’re looking for. Also,
make sure that you feel comfortable on the site. If you get around quickly and
easily, you’ve found a good fit. However, if you struggle to locate things or
get around in general, we suggest that you move onto another site that offers
you a better user interface fit.
it yourself. As you’re digging into the other key criterion listed here, take
note of how easily you’re able to find things that you’re looking for. Also,
make sure that you feel comfortable on the site. If you get around quickly and
easily, you’ve found a good fit. However, if you struggle to locate things or
get around in general, we suggest that you move onto another site that offers
you a better user interface fit.
Graphics Quality
If you’re going to be spending lots of time on any particular US casino site, you’ll want to make sure that you find the right one that offers you
some great game graphics. While all casinos have games, they are not all created
equal when it comes to the quality of the game graphics. Games with much better
graphics tend to be much more engaging and create an overall better experience.
some great game graphics. While all casinos have games, they are not all created
equal when it comes to the quality of the game graphics. Games with much better
graphics tend to be much more engaging and create an overall better experience.
You can get a feel for a site’s game quality by checking out casino reviews
like the ones that we offer here on this site. You can also easily test drive
them yourself by playing a few games on a potential site. Most US online casinos
offer you the ability to play for free without having to wager real cash. This
is a great way to see how the games look and feel before you have to deposit a
single dime on the site.
like the ones that we offer here on this site. You can also easily test drive
them yourself by playing a few games on a potential site. Most US online casinos
offer you the ability to play for free without having to wager real cash. This
is a great way to see how the games look and feel before you have to deposit a
single dime on the site.
Banking Options
One last that you’ll want to check for is to make sure that you’ll be able to
get your money on and subsequently off of your selected casino site. It is
important for you to find an online casino that offers you the types of deposits
and withdrawal options that you need for your situation. If you need to bank
using bank wires, then your goal is to find a site that operates with bank wires
as one of their banking options.
get your money on and subsequently off of your selected casino site. It is
important for you to find an online casino that offers you the types of deposits
and withdrawal options that you need for your situation. If you need to bank
using bank wires, then your goal is to find a site that operates with bank wires
as one of their banking options.
Banking options across different US online casinos vary quite a bit. You’ll
find standard options such as credit and debit card accepted by most everyone.
After that, it becomes pretty random. Some sites will take methods such as
PayPal and Bitcoin while others won’t.
find standard options such as credit and debit card accepted by most everyone.
After that, it becomes pretty random. Some sites will take methods such as
PayPal and Bitcoin while others won’t.
At the end of the day, just make sure to
do your homework and make sure that you’ll be able to bank using the methods
that you most prefer.
do your homework and make sure that you’ll be able to bank using the methods
that you most prefer.
As a final reminder, the six key criterions above are the same things that we
look for when reviewing a US casino site. Check out our honest and trustworthy
reviews to jumpstart your search. In most cases, we’ve already done the homework
for you which will allow you to get to gaming online faster!
look for when reviewing a US casino site. Check out our honest and trustworthy
reviews to jumpstart your search. In most cases, we’ve already done the homework
for you which will allow you to get to gaming online faster!
Staying Safe
When gambling at US casino sites, remember always to keep your guard up.
While you might end up in a trusted site at this time, things could always
change. We’ve compiled a short list below of our top tips to keep you safe while
using US online casinos. Keep these in the front of your mind while you wager
online.
While you might end up in a trusted site at this time, things could always
change. We’ve compiled a short list below of our top tips to keep you safe while
using US online casinos. Keep these in the front of your mind while you wager
online.
Online Gambling Us States Treasury
Top Tips to Stay Safe Gambling Online:
Do your homework. The more informed that you are, the more likely that you’ll have a great experience.
Limit your deposits. Only keep the funds that you need for wagering in your US online casino account. This
account should NEVER serve as a savings account.
account should NEVER serve as a savings account.
It’s your money. Because it’s your money, you’re the boss of safeguarding it.
Walk away. If something ever doesn’t feel right, pack up and head on to another site.
FAQs
We’ve gathered a list below of some of the most common questions that we get
when it comes to US casino sites.
when it comes to US casino sites.
Are Online Casinos Safe?
Most online casinos are safe. Unfortunately, there are some bad eggs out
there that you should avoid. If you’re here, you’re doing what you should be by
researching. A little bit of research will go a long way in
helping you end up on a good online casino. Check out our list of most trusted
US casino sites at the start of this article see great starting points for a
safe experience.
there that you should avoid. If you’re here, you’re doing what you should be by
researching. A little bit of research will go a long way in
helping you end up on a good online casino. Check out our list of most trusted
US casino sites at the start of this article see great starting points for a
safe experience.
I’m New to Using Casinos Online. Where Do You Suggest I Start?
Congrats! You’ve found the place that you should be to get things started if
you’re new to online casinos. We’re here to help get you acquainted with playing
online as well as helping you with in-depth reviews for some of the US online
casinos that are out there. We’re an independent and unbiased source of
information for you.
you’re new to online casinos. We’re here to help get you acquainted with playing
online as well as helping you with in-depth reviews for some of the US online
casinos that are out there. We’re an independent and unbiased source of
information for you.
Check out all of the information on this page. After that, dig into our
casino reviews to get a feel for which one might be the best fit for you.
casino reviews to get a feel for which one might be the best fit for you.
How Can I Move Money Onto and off of These Online Casinos?
Most US casino sites will offer you a wide variety of banking options for
your deposits and withdrawals. The options will vary from site to site, but you
should not have an issue finding a site that provides you with the options that
you need. You’ll find an assortment of basic banking options all the way up to
more rare ones.
your deposits and withdrawals. The options will vary from site to site, but you
should not have an issue finding a site that provides you with the options that
you need. You’ll find an assortment of basic banking options all the way up to
more rare ones.
According to The American Gaming Association (AGA), the gambling industry in the US is worth $261 billion and supports 1.8 million jobs in 40 states (1); however, gambling has had a difficult (and illegal) history in the USA and it is just up until now that the path is being cleared.
Several anti-gambling laws have been in place since the great depression and gaming has been heavily regulated ever since. Some of those regulations haven’t been updated since the 60’s. Despite this, the widespread use of the internet (and online casinos) have made the betting scene change notably and laws have started to shift (2).
Today, the industry faces a rapid growth and increased revenue moving away from the stigma it once held, making it easier for people to access online gaming and betting.
Gambling Revenues in the USA
USA gambling revenues increased to over $160 billion in 2018. Now that sports betting is legal, most gaming experts and financial analysts predict the total revenues for US betting each year will top $200 billion. Whether it’s a lottery ticket, slot machines, sports bets, bingo, or poker, Americans love to gamble.
As each year passes, US state governments expand legalized and regulated games of chance, which encourages more gambling. 2018 was no different. Below is a breakdown of the revenue generated by each form of betting each year.
INDUSTRY | 2017 GROSS REVENUES | 2018 GROSS REVENUES |
---|---|---|
Commercial Casinos | $41.2 Billion | $51.4 Billion |
Tribal Casinos | $31.945 Billion | $32.801 Billion |
Poker Rooms | $1.9 Billion | $1.9 Billion |
Lottery Revenues | $80.55 Billion | $72 Billion |
Legal Bookmaking | $248 Million | $430.6 Million |
US Online Gambling | $247.5 Million | $306.5 Million |
Pari-Mutuel | $295 Million | $299 Million |
Charitable Games/Bingo | $2.15 Billion | $2.1 Billion |
Total Revenue | $158.54 Billion | $161.24 Billion |
Online Gambling Us States
USA Casino Revenues
US commercial casinos generated $41.2 billion in 2017, a 3.7% increase year-to-year from 2016 and a new record for gross gaming revenues for US commercial casinos. New casinos in Maryland and New York added to the increased revenues in 2017. MGM National Harbor in Maryland was the most successful new casinos, but Del Lago Resorts, Rivers Casino, and Resorts World Catskills in New York state also contributed.
In all, commercial casinos generated $51,395,562,664 in revenues in 2018. The total represents a 3.5% increase over 2017. Commercial casinos sustained 737,450 jobs and paid $34.334 billion in worker income. The Las Vegas Strip generated $6.59 billion in gaming revenues in 2018, making it the top destination. Atlantic City came in second with $2.51 billion, which shows a strong 5-year bounce back from its $2.1 billion in 2014. Chicagoland, Baltimore-Washington DC, and New York City finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th among commercial casino markets.
USA Tribal Casino Revenues
The National Indian Gaming Council still has not released full tribal casino statistics, so the NIGC’s 2016 gross gaming revenues are the most recent official revenue statistics. In 2016, America’s tribal casinos generated $31.195 million in gross gaming revenues. That is up nearly $1.3 billion from 2015, which itself increased $1.4 billion from 2014. If one projected similar growth year-to-year from 2016 to 2017, one might expect to see gross gaming revenues in the range of $33.3 billion for 2017. To avoid speculation, we list the 2016 official statistics. The NIGC releases the previous year’s figures in June or July each year, so check back for the latest results.
Tribal casinos generated $32.801 billion in 2018 — a 3.5% increase over 2017. At its current pace, the tribal casino industry should overtake commercial casino revenues by the year 2030. Like the commercial gambling industry, a handful of tribal casinos launched sportsbooks.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians opened sports betting at their three land-based casinos, while the Pueblo of Santa Ana opened a sportsbook at Santa Ana Star Casino near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The bookmakers’ success could open the door for many other tribal sportsbooks across the United States.
US Poker Room Revenues
Nevada poker room revenues showed less than 1% growth, as gross gaming revenues were $118.46 million. The 2017 poker rake was $117.7 million. The Nevada figures were a minor miracle, considering that several Nevada poker rooms closed in the past year. MGM Resorts closed the Mirage poker room in February 2017, while the Hard Rock Las Vegas poker room closed in March 2017 and Luxor cardroom closed in May 2017. (The cardrooms for the Linq, Eastside Cannery, The Plaza, and Aliante Casino closed in 2016.)
Atlantic City’s seven poker rooms added $28.38 million in gross gaming revenues in 2017. Pennsylvania’s live poker revenues equaled $60 million. MGM National Harbor in Maryland collected $44.5 million in poker rake alone last year, which was the vast bulk of Maryland poker revenues in 2017. New York’s new live poker rooms, on the other hand, contributed only $6.7 million to the nation’s live poker revenue total. It is difficult to calculate accurately the live poker revenues for America’s 6,100+ live poker rooms. Tribal casinos contain many card rooms and they do not have to report their earnings to states. Thus, it is likely that some poker revenues might be listed under tribal casino statistics.
Nevada poker rooms increased their total rake from $118.45 million to $120.1 million. On the other hand, Atlantic City poker revenues dropped from $28.38 million in 2017 to $27.028 million in 2018. Pennsylvania’s live poker revenues remained in the $60 million range. MGM National Harbor remained high with over $45 million in poker rake, while the New York state live card rooms continued with a week haul with a little over $7 million in revenues. As always, it’s difficult to gauge total poker revenues, because tribal casinos include their poker rake with their other casino games.
Ultimately, the official US poker room revenues remained steady at $1.9 billion. 2018 showed the US poker industry holding steady after two years of decline. Fewer Las Vegas casinos have card rooms than they did ten years ago, but 2018 did not have any major Vegas poker rooms close. 2016 and 2017 showed a marked decline. MGM Resorts closed the Mirage poker room in February 2017, Hard Rock Las Vegas’s poker room closed in March 2017, and the Luxor cardroom closed in May 2017. In 2016, the cardrooms for The Plaza, the LINQ, Eastside Cannery, and Aliante Casino closed. Still, the United States has over 6,100 poker rooms, so the revenue stream remained steady throughout 2018.
New Jersey Online Gambling Revenues
US online gambling produced $247.5 million in revenues in 2017. New Jersey’s online gambling industry continues to grow. In 2017, the combined revenue of Atlantic City’s online casinos and poker sites was $245 million. That’s a 21% increase from 2016 when New Jersey’s iGaming niche generated $195 million. Delaware added only $2.4 million in online gambling revenues, which was an 18% decline.
Mike Lawton of the Nevada Gaming Control Board said online poker revenues are included in total poker revenues for the state, so it is hard to get official statistics for Nevada online poker. Given the fact, only two Nevada online poker sites exist and state regulators try to hide the small revenue stream, one can assume Nevada’s iPoker stats are tiny. Nevada has about twice the online gamblers as Delaware, so $5 million is a safe assumption. Those poker revenues are not included in our figures, though, because they are included in Nevada’s overall poker stats.
New Jersey grabbed the lion’s share of legal US online gambling revenues in 2018 with $298.7 million. Five years into its experiment with online gambling, New Jersey’s online casino and poker portals continue to grow apace. Delaware and Nevada both have regulated online poker, but despite the Multi-State Internet Gambling Association (MSIGA), their revenues were negligible. Pennsylvania will be a huge factor in 2019, but its online poker and casino industry was still getting off the ground in 2018.
Interstate online gambling faces a severe test in 2019. The U.S. Department of Justice declared in January 2019 that interstate online poker is illegal under federal law, striking a blow to the MSIGA pact between Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. The New Hampshire Lottery sued because its online lotto ticket sales are endangered by the 2019 DOJ opinion, while New Jersey and Pennsylvania filed their own lawsuit to protect their online poker and casino industries. Whatever happens with the legal cases, US online gambling revenue growth should be significant in the coming year, because Pennsylvania’s iGaming industry launches.
US Lottery Revenues
Like the tribal casino revenues, compiling an official list of lottery revenues takes a bit longer each year, because of the patchwork of state-run lotteries and multistate lottery associations. In 2016, US lottery ticket sales were $80.5 billion. The projected figures for 2017 are expected to exceed $85 billion, due to upticks in the sale of scratchcards and the increases in the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot sizes. Scratch-off tickets are the biggest contributor, with the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery association games contributing the second and third-most to the revenue pool.
New York state had the biggest lottery ticket sales, with over $10 billion. California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas were next in line. Each of those four states had between $5 billion and $6.5 billion in lottery sales.
The combined revenues of US lotteries for 2018 sit around the $72 billion mark. The U.S. Census Bureau releases the official lottery revenue statistics each year. So far, the Census Bureau has not released official 2018 lottery revenues. The 2017 lottery total was $71.826 billion, while the 2016 lottery statistics were $72.649 billion. That shows a regression of nearly $800 million from 2016 to 2017, though that number reflects a statistical anomaly in lottery drawings more than a loss of interest in the state and multistate lotteries.
State politicians are leery of allowing legal online gambling, though, because they fear it would harm lottery sales. Departing Michigan Gov. Bill Snyder vetoed an online poker and casino bill in December 2018, because he said lottery taxes are higher and iGaming would hurt lottery sales (thus tax revenues). Given the recent trends, it’s a safe bet that US lottery revenues in 2018 were around $72 billion for the year. Mega Millions and Powerball drawings continue to dominate national attention, while their revenues increase year to year.
State politicians are leery of allowing legal online gambling, though, because they fear it would harm lottery sales. Departing Michigan Gov. Bill Snyder vetoed an online poker and casino bill in December 2018, because he said lottery taxes are higher and iGaming would hurt lottery sales (thus tax revenues). Given the recent trends, it’s a safe bet that US lottery revenues in 2018 were around $72 billion for the year. Mega Millions and Powerball drawings continue to dominate national attention, while their revenues increase year to year.
United States Legal Sportsbooks
The revenue figures for US legal sportsbooks came from Nevada and Delaware in 2017. Nevada bookmakers won $248 million from sports bettors in 2017, which was a record year. New forms of betting on eSports helped, though the growing impact of William Hill USA on the Nevada sports betting scene helped. Even hockey betting was up in 2017, thanks to the inclusion of the Las Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL. The Golden Knights’ surprising first-year performance helped drive local sports betting, though it was general NFL, Super Bowl, MLB, NBA, and March Madness betting which generated the most revenues.
Delaware, which had legalized sports lotteries, generated the remaining $6 million in sports betting revenues. Delaware’s sports lotteries require players to make parlay bets of 3 or more games. Delaware sportsbook revenues should increase significantly in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s repeal of the PASPA sports betting ban. Delaware plans to open legal sportsbooks at Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway on June 5, 2018. New Jersey sportsbooks at the Atlantic City casinos and Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport should follow suit quickly. US sports betting revenues should have a big jump in 2018.
Given the landmark US Supreme Court decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) as unconstitutional, US sports betting revenues increased significantly. Several states (New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, West Virginia) legalized sports betting in the months after the May 14 SCOTUS decision. Led by New Jersey, the new sports gambling jurisdictions generated $129.6 million in a little over 6 months of activity.
Meanwhile, Nevada benefited from the additional media coverage given to sportsbooks, so it generated $301.0 million. In all, the legal US sports betting industry generated $430.6 million in revenues – a $182 million increase from 2017. The number should increase significantly in 2019, when New Jersey and Mississippi feature a full year of sportsbook operations. Pennsylvania bookmakers also launched in late 2018 and early 2019, which should boost numbers greatly.
US Pari-Mutuel Racebook Revenues
Pari-mutuel racebooks generated $300 million in revenues in 2018. Pari-mutuel wagering is the legal term for betting on horse racing and dog racing. Bettors receive winning for the thoroughbreds, harness racers, or greyhounds which finish in the top three of a particular race (win-show-place). Pari-mutuel wagering also includes a variety of trifecta bets and parlay bets, which pay out more, but hit for the bettor less often.
Dog racing now is allowed in only 5 US states, as the Florida electorate voted to ban greyhound racing (Amendment 13) in the coming years. Most greyhound tracks continue to act as off-track betting facilities (OTBs), offering simulcasting and wagers at over 200 race venues worldwide. Churchill Downs, site of the annual Kentucky Derby, continues to generate almost 60% of the racebook revenue ($175 million) in the United States. Besides the world-famous Louisville-area horse track, Churchill Downs Incorporated owns racetracks and even a few land-based casinos across the United States.
The US pari-mutuel racebook industry must find new ways to drive customers or die a slow death in America. Race betting declined significantly in the past generation due to competition from the lottery, tribal casinos, online casinos, and mobile betting. After the US Supreme Court repealed the federal ban on sports betting (PASPA) in May 2018, sports betting should grow significantly in the coming 5 to 10 years. US pari-mutuel racebooks face another major competitor, so they’ll need to find innovative ways to bet on horse and dog racing or that $300 million total will decline.
For generations, charitable bingo halls have generated cash for civic organizations, veterans groups, religious groups, fraternal organizations, firefighters, and other charity organizations. Charitable bingo remains a major focus, but organizations also hold raffles, poker nights, and sell pull-tab games to the public.
As lottery betting and tribal casinos have increased over the past two decades, charitable gaming and bingo participation has decreased in many states. Charitable gaming is a major source of fundraising for nonprofit organizations in the United States. The numbers haven’t declined across the board, as Michigan’s poker nights (millionaires clubs) increased greatly from 2002 to 2012, due to making it easier to attain a charitable gaming license. Even in Michigan, though, the decline since 2012 has been significant. Meanwhile, Minnesota increased its charitable gaming revenues significantly, as part of a plan to fund the Minnesota Vikings’ football stadium.
As the US population has increased in the past 16 years, the number of charitable organizations holding bingo nights and raffles has increased. That means the overall decline in charitable gaming revenues was slight, from $2.2 billion to $2.15 billion, though the decline in revenue-per-venue and real money value due to inflation is stark.
Each US state organizes and regulates charitable gaming in their own way. Groups pays taxes to the states, but otherwise remain coy about their fundraising. Different states have different terms for their games (Millionaire’s clubs, pickle games, fish games), which adds to the confusion. This makes a completely accurate total of charitable gaming revenues more an estimate than an official tally. Charitable gaming revenues stayed in the $2.1 billion range for 2018.
What Is Online Gambling in the US?
The gambling industry in the United States is the sum total of all forms of legal betting. US gambling includes commercial and tribal casinos, state and multistate lotteries, sportsbooks and racebooks, real money online casinos and poker sites, as well as charitable gaming and bingo halls.
US gambling statistics do not include unregulated online gambling, local bookies, organized poker games in your neighborhood, office pools, fantasy leagues, or March Madness brackets. Because such gaming is unregulated and untaxed, it is hard to get accurate statistics for them. The American Gaming Association and other groups estimate yearly betting turnover of illegal gambling, but the AGA’s data is an educated guess.
In this US gambling report, Online United States Casinos stick to the facts. Most of the statistics below are compiled from state regulatory agencies. Each month, gaming commissions, gaming control boards, and state lotteries across the United States produce gambling statistics. We’ve collected the latest gaming data and compiled it into several gambling categories, which we present below.
Is Gambling Legal in the US?
Many forms of gambling are legal in the United States, but no form of gambling is legal everywhere. Because the United States is a constitutional republic with a federated system of government, the USA is a patchwork of state and federal gaming laws. That makes gambling legality complicated in the United States. What it does mean is Americans who love to bet can find places to live with permissive gambling laws, while Americans who dislike gambling can find states where gambling is 100% banned.
Online Gambling Legal In Us States
In Which States Is Gambling Legal?
US gambling laws are complicated because each state deals with its own gaming interests and social mores. Nevada is the most pro-gambling states in the United States, as Las Vegas and Reno are gambling destinations. At the same time, Nevada is one of a handful of states which bans lotteries — because it would compete with the billion-dollar resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Kentucky bans casino betting, though it is the center of the United States horse racing (and horse betting) industries.
As a general rule, legalized gambling has expanded greatly in the past 25 to 30 years. After the Indian Gambling Regulation Act of 1988, tribal casinos expanded to 28 states. California and Oklahoma are two US states with huge tribal gaming industries, but dozens of others exist. The expansion of tribal gaming caused US states to liberalize their commercial casino industries, so states like Illinois, Ohio, Arizona, and Kansas expanded casinos greatly. Pennsylvania legalized casino betting at racetracks and now collects more gaming tax revenues than any states besides Nevada.
Lottery gambling has grown exponentially, too. The Powerball and Mega Millions have the biggest lottery jackpots in the world. State lotteries’ scratch-card tickets generate the most tax revenue. Meanwhile, online and mobile casino gambling and poker betting has grown in popularity. While many Internet gaming sites are unregulated, legal online/mobile gambling exists in 4 states and is expected to be legalized in other US states in the coming years.
Utah and Hawaii are the only two US states which have a 100% ban on all forms of gambling. In Utah or Hawaii, you can’t visit a casino, buy a lottery ticket, make a sports bet, or even play in a bingo hall. All 48 other U.S. states have some form of legalized gambling. In the USA, many southern states restrict gambling significantly, because of the social conservative values in many states. Despite that general statement, all southern states can’t be pegged as anti-gambling.
Online Gambling Us States Capitals
Alabama bans gambling (even lotteries) in anything but tribal casinos, while Mississippi has dozens of casinos on the Gulf Coast and Tunica County. South Carolina bans most forms of gambling, while Florida allows expanded gambling for the Seminole Tribe and even 8 counties throughout the state. Texas bans all but lottery betting and horse racing, while its neighbors, Oklahoma and Louisiana, allow casino betting; Texans flock to those casinos.
Online Gambling Us States Abbreviations
Types of Gambling
Readers might be wondering about the types of gambling that takes place inside the United States. Below is a glossary list of the betting opportunities Americans have, along with a quick description of each form of gambling. We provide revenue data for each type below.
- Commercial Casinos: Owned by private companies and publicly-traded companies alike. Commercial casinos can be land-based casinos, riverboat casinos, airport casinos, racetrack-casinos (racinos), or casino cruises. Many have Class III or Las Vegs-style slot machines, while others use Class II Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) or Video Gambling Terminals (VGTs).
- Tribal Casinos: Owned by Native American tribal gaming authorities and based on Indian reservation lands. A landmark 1986 US Supreme Court case (Cabazon v. California) stated Native American reservations are sovereign lands (and thus able to house casinos) if they were recognized by the US Department of the Interior’s Indian Affairs Bureau by 1934 or before. The Cabazon case led to the US Congress passing the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which says Indian tribes which reach a gaming compact with the states they are inside can have casino gambling with Class II slot machines. States can tax tribal casinos for the cost of regulation but can tax more, if the state gives special concessions like statewide monopolies on certain gaming types.
- Card Rooms: Card rooms can exist inside or outside a land-based casino. Many Las Vegas Strip casinos and Atlantic City have their own poker rooms. In certain states, commercial card rooms or poker clubs exist. The Bicycle Club, Hollywood Park Casino, and Cameo Club in Los Angeles are a few examples of private card rooms. Tribal casinos like WinStar World Casino, Choctaw Casino, Mohegan Sun, and Foxwoods have poker rooms.
- Charitable Games: Charitable gaming takes many forms. In most places, charitable gaming organizations host bingo nights, but other forms of gambling are allowed. Not-for-profit charitable gaming organizations sometimes host Las Vegas Nights (Millionaire Clubs), raffles, bell jar competitions, pickle card contests, and pull-tab contests. Pickle cards and pull-tab tickets are similar in many ways to a lottery scratch-card. Bell Jar gaming is a kind of raffle.
- Bingo: Bingo is the most popular and widespread form of charitable gaming. Church groups, veterans’ groups, police and firefighter organizations, medical research groups, and civic organizations all host bingo nights. Organized bingo nights might be found in a dedicated bingo hall, a community center, or a VFW outpost; online bingo has become widely popular as well.
- Lotteries: State lotteries have existed since the early days of the United States. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress funded the war partly with lottery betting. In the latter half of the 20th century, many US states enacted state lotteries to produce public school funding and scholarship funding. Since the 1980s, the multistate lottery associations, Powerball and Mega Millions, have grown to include 44 US states apiece. State lotteries also sell scratch-cards, the best revenue producer.
- Sportsbooks: Legal sportsbooks are found in land-based casinos in Las Vegas. For the past 25 years, sports lotteries are legal in Delaware, Oregon, and Montana. After the US Supreme Court struck down the PASPA federal ban on sports betting in the 46 other US states, any US state can legalize sportsbooks. Delaware and New Jersey plan to open sportsbooks in the coming weeks, while 5 other US states have sportsbook legalization bills in committee. Lawmakers in 13 other US states are discussing the legalization of sports betting.
- Horse Racing: Horse racing has been legal in many US states for generations because betting on horses is considered a less dangerous form of gambling — and one wealthier Americans enjoy. Horse racing, harness racing, and greyhound racing involve pari-mutuel wagering, in which one bettor’s win means other bettors lose. The horse bettor competes against other bettors and not the racebook, though the bookmaker sets the odds based on betting volume for each horse. Off-track betting facilities now exist, with simulcast horse races and betting on historical horse races. Because the horse betting industry has struggled, many states now allow slot machine gambling at horse tracks.
- Online Casinos: Online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks were a huge industry in the USA until 2006 when the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA banned all forms of Internet gambling which were banned for interstate telephone lines under the 1961 Wire Act. From 2007 to 2011, this meant casino sites, online cardrooms, and bookmaker sites. A 2011 US Department of Justice opinion reversed the DOJ’s stance on online casinos and poker sites, so four US states now have legal online casinos and poker sites: New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. New York, California, and others might follow suit eventually. It is estimated that between 65% to 85% of casino revenue in the US comes from real money slots.
- Smartphone Betting: In most parts of the United States, mobile casino and poker sites are banned or unregulated. Now that sportsbooks are legal, live/in-play smartphone betting apps could become legal. Tom King of the Readyfire smartphone trivia apps says legal US sports betting will transform Android and iOS gaming apps in America.
Other Types of Wagering: Other forms of gambling takes place in the United States. 50 million Americans bet on Super Bowl office pools and March Madness brackets each year. Though it’s illegal, so many people engage in office betting that authorities look the other way in most cases. Fantasy football and fantasy baseball leagues involve small season-long wagers. In over a dozen US states, fantasy sports have been legalized, but in many other states, fantasy sports betting is allowed to happen. Some argue that daily fantasy sports gaming sites like FanDuel and DraftKings are sports wagering, but they exist in a gray area. Over a dozen US states have legalized DFS sites. Jai Alai is a legal form of sports betting in Connecticut and Florida.