As online casinos evolve and become legal in more states across the USA, at USALegalBetting, we understand that finding the best real money online casinos can become challenging.
Here, we’ll look at where online casinos are available, why you should trust us, some of the best online casinos today, answer the question about what the best real money online casino for US players is, and more.
We want to emphasize this—our only goal here is to educate you about online casinos so you can play safely and securely and enjoy your time playing your new favorite games.
With so many sites and resources about online casinos, it’s a fair question to ask why you should trust us.
For starters, our roster is filled with industry professionals, and combined, we have decades upon decades of collective experience.
With this level of experience, we understand the importance of responsible gaming. It’s something we mention in our online gaming write-ups because we strongly encourage playing from a place of entertainment as opposed to another source of income.
We also take the time to explore the sites we review and comment on to provide a unique and first-hand experience as a real player.
When exploring these sites, we look for many things. Still, we have a list of criteria that we immediately look for, including the following attributes:
Safety & security: Since we’re looking at United States-based online casinos, we check to see if the site is legal in the states and which ones it’s available in. If it’s a legal US online casino, it’ll have a license from the state’s lottery, gaming commission, or gaming control board
Various games selection: Remember, we’re looking at online casinos here, so the game library plays a massive role in what we look for. In addition to the quantity of the various types of games, we look for quality. There are many top developers like IGT, NetEnt, Scientific Games, and more. We look to see if these and other top developers are part of the online casino’s gaming infrastructure
Bonus offers & wagering conditions: While some bonuses and promotions sound good just from reading the headline, we dig deeper and look into the terms and conditions for things such as wagering requirements and game contribution percentages. While it may sound exciting to get a $1,000 bonus, what good is it if you can never use it or withdraw it as real money? We look to see what you need to do to make that possible
Banking methods: Since we’re looking at US-based casinos, the sites will have to offer safe and reliable banking methods—cryptocurrency is not available. Since that’s all set, we primarily look for what variety of options are available, and the amount of time it takes to get your money
Mobile apps: This is huge, especially as the online casino industry evolves and people’s natural tendency to be more on the go. A mobile app is vital to the success of an online casino as a brand, and while we’ll still write about a site that doesn’t have a mobile app, we certainly hope they will, as this improves the gaming experience for everyone, including us as reviewers
Customer support: Customer support has blossomed in the online gaming space. Today, it’s not uncommon for sites to have an FAQ section, live chat, and email and phone support. In addition to looking to see what combination of those options a site has, we engage with the representatives to see how knowledgeable and responsive they are. We do this to ensure you’re dealing with a site that’ll help you under dire circumstances
After we’ve checked out an online casino, we weigh the pros and cons of it and deliver a grade. We won’t ever write about sites that are illegal or ones that we deem suspicious, let alone recommend them. We aim to provide insight into safe outlets and compare and contrast them to their fellow legal competitors.
Now that we’ve established what we look for when evaluating real money casinos online from the USA, we wanted to offer up six suggestions that you could look into.
As you’ll see, each of these USA online casinos offer something a bit different that help them stand out from the other real money online gambling sites.
888Casino was one of the first real money online casinos in the USA, launching in November 2013. Here, players will receive a $500 deposit bonus and a $20 no deposit as new players. There’s a wide variety of games to choose from that are shown on a unique user interface, unlike anything you’ll see at other online casinos. Navigating the site is easy as well as information such as promotions and banking information are easy to locate.
Website: https://us.888casino.com/
Payout Time: 2-6 days
Established: November 26, 2013
License: New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
PartyCasino does an excellent job at living up to the “Party” in its name. Launching on the same day at 888Casino, PartyCasino is one of the best online casinos with real money, especially if you like live dealer games. There’s a great library of live dealer game options, including baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, and more. With live dealer games, you’ll be as close to an in-person meet-up to play your favorite table games, but from the comfort of your home. Additionally, PartyCasino has a great selection of offline games, including slots, table games, and variety games like Slingo.
3. SugarHouse Casino - Best Game Filtering Options
SugarHouse Casino is an intriguing online casino because you may know it now as BetRivers. The rebrand started in June 2020 to make the online casino and online sportsbook have the same name. However, there’s still a SugarHouse outfit in Pennsylvania. The first SugarHouse branch launched on September 15, 2016. There’s a robust game library here, and when we refer to filtering options, you can not only find games by type but also can by game developer. As you play at the best online real money casino options throughout the USA, you’ll learn who the top developers are: IGT, NetEnt, and Evolution. At SugarHouse Casino, you can sort games by these developers.
Website: https://pa.playsugarhouse.com/
Payout Time: 24 hours - 14 business days
Established: September 15, 2016
License: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Where It’s Legal: Pennsylvania (also available in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Michigan as BetRivers)
4. Unibet Casino - Best Existing Player Promotions
Launching in June 2019, Unibet Casino also has an online sportsbook platform. Whether you play at the New Jersey or Pennsylvania branch, you’ll have access to numerous existing player promotions that help enhance your experience after you take advantage of the deposit bonus welcome offer. These existing player promotions include live dealer blackjack boosts, a game of the week, and more.
Website: https://www.unibet.com/us/casino/
Payout Time: Immediately or up to five days depending on the method
Established: June 2019
License: New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Headquarters: Malta
Where It’s Legal: New Jersey and Pennsylvania
100% First Deposit Match With Bonus Code: UBCASINO10
BetMGM Casino first launched on August 1, 2017, and it comes with one of the best online gambling with real money welcome bonuses. You’ll receive a $1,000 deposit bonus and $25 in freeplay credits here. BetMGM Casino also has one of the best real money online casino apps on the market, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.
BetMGM also has a top online sports betting platform, making it one of the best betting sites, whether it’s for casino play, sports betting, online poker, or horse racing on the USA market today.
Website: https://www.betmgm.com
Payout Time: 1 - 5 business days
Established: August 1, 2017
License: New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Michigan Gaming Control Board, and West Virginia Lottery
Headquarters: Jersey City, New Jersey
Where It’s Legal: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan
Borgata Casino falls under the BetMGM umbrella, so you’ll immediately notice some similarities. Here, you’ll have a wide variety of games, including live dealer games, Slingo, and Virtual Sports. With Virtual Sports, you can bet on the outcome of an RNG-generated sporting event. The rewards program here is something that you’ll earn points toward by playing your favorite games and can redeem it for online benefits or in-person perks at Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Going through the best online gambling sites above, we referred to numerous real money casino games. That said, we’ll elaborate on these in more detail below.
Online Slots: Online casinos always have numerous online slot games. This usually makes up 90% or more of an online casino library. You’ll have access to regular slots, video slots, jackpot slots, and progressive jackpot slots.
Online Roulette: With online roulette, you can play multiple variants of this game. These include American, European, Live, and more. You’ll wager in multiple ways, including on individual numbers, groups of numbers, and red or black, amongst others.
Online Blackjack: Of all online casino games that pays real money, blackjack has multiple versions. These include classic, live dealer, European, Progressive, Atlantic City, and more. The goal of this game is to get as close to a card value of 21 while not going over and having a higher total than the dealer.
Online Baccarat: Baccarat will sometimes have just one iteration of it for offline and live dealer games. However, this is a straightforward game to play despite its stigma of being for high rollers at land-based casinos. You’ll bet on the player, banker, or a tie, and you’ll win or lose based on the cards dealt and the value of those cards.
Online Keno: Regarding online casino games that pay real money, Keno can sometimes be hit or miss in terms of its availability. Where it is available, Keno is an easy game to play as well. Depending on the type you play, you’ll choose 1-20 numbers, and the game will draw 20 random numbers. You win based on the number of games you picked correctly.
Online Craps: This is another online casino game in which you may only find one option to play at. With online craps, you’ll wager on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. The results of this are based on the roll of two dice.
Live Casino Games: With these games, there’s usually a library of close to or around 10 titles. These games bring you as close to an in-person casino atmosphere as possible while at home. With these games, you’ll enter a platform where you’ll interact with a live host using a chat box and play against other real players. The host is streamed live from an actual land-based casino.
All Things Online Casinos: What You Need To Know
As more online casinos launch, you can always come to us for our take on the site. However, suppose you decide to check it out on your own. In that case, there are several attributes you should look for to answer the question “what is the best online casino for real money?”
Let’s check out five quick things you should look for.
Sign Up Bonus/Existing Player Promotions: The best way to approach the evaluation of welcome bonuses and other existing player promotions is to first understand what the offer is by reading the headline. While this will lead you in a general direction, you’ll then need to dig into the terms and conditions to evaluate things such as the expiration date, wagering requirements, game contribution percentages, and other exclusionary measures.
Banking Methods: Whether you’re looking for sites that accept PayPal or other banking methods, playing at a site that accepts your desired payment methods is vital. After all, if you can’t deposit or withdraw your funds, what’s really the point?
Game Library: In addition to how large the library is, we also recommend looking into the variety of games, especially if you have a type you enjoy playing more. If you enjoy variety games, not all online casinos will offer them.
Customer Support: After looking to see if the site you want to play at offers FAQ, live chat, email, and/or phone support, we recommend reaching out via live chat to see how helpful the representatives are.
Mobile App: While not having a mobile app shouldn’t be a disqualifier, this certainly provides flexibility as to where you can play at your favorite online casino. With a mobile app, you’ll want to see if there’s lag or aggravating buffering. You’ll also want to see how much of the game library is available on the mobile app and get a feel for the layout to see how easy it is to navigate.
Best USA Casino Bonuses and Promotions in 2023
At online casinos in the United States, you'll receive multiple types of bonuses and promotions for both new and existing players. Below are a few examples of those you’ll receive when creating a new account.
Deposit Bonus: With a deposit bonus, you’ll receive a percentage match up to a certain amount. For example, if you have a 100% match up to $500, you can deposit up to $500 and receive $500 in bonus funds. With these bonus funds come wagering requirements and game contribution percentages. This will show you how much you need to wager in cash to withdraw the bonus funds as cash
No Deposit Bonus: A no deposit bonus is a term coined for bonus funds you receive simply for creating an account. This is typically not ever anything more than $25. Like deposit bonuses, these come with wagering requirements and game contribution percentages
Free Spins: With free spins, these will be allowed for a particular game or games. Free spins typically carry a $0.10 value. Some online casinos will have wagering requirements on the winnings you receive from free spins
Risk-Free Play Period: The typical risk-free play period is 24 hours. At the end of this, you’ll receive a bonus equal to your net losses. So, if you wager $700 and only “win” $500, you’ll incur $200 in net losses and receive that as bonus credits
Casino Name
Casino Bonus
Bonus Codes
Average Payout
Minimum Deposit
BetMGM
$1,000 deposit bonus + $25 freeplay
N/A
1-5 days
$10
Borgata
$1,000 deposit bonus + $20 bonus funds
N/A
1-5 days
$10
SugarHouse
$250 deposit bonus
PACASINO250
24 hours - 14 business days
$10
Unibet
$200 deposit bonus
UBCASINO200
Instant or up to five days
$10
888casino
$500 deposit bonus + $20 bonus funds
N/A
2-6 days
$10
PartyCasino
$500 Welcome Bonus
N/A
24 hours - 14 business days
$10
Online Casinos FAQs
Are online casinos legal in the USA?
Yes, online casinos are legal in the United States, but only in six states.
When did online casinos become legal in the USA?
Online casino play in the United States first became legal in 2013. However, the legalization date for the six legal states is as follows:
New Jersey: November 26, 2013
Pennsylvania: October 30, 2017
Michigan: January 22, 2021
West Virginia: March 27, 2019
Delaware: October 31, 2013
Connecticut: October 2021
Can I win real money playing at online casinos in the USA?
Yes, you can win real money playing at online casinos in the United States. You must be within the borders of any of the legal states to make real money transactions and be at least 21 years old.
What is the payout percentage at a real money online casino in the USA?
With hundreds of games available at the best online casinos, it’s difficult to say what the average payout percentage is, but generally speaking, players can plan on most games to have a payout percentage of at least 96%.
Are online casinos rigged in the USA?
No. Online casinos in the USA are licensed and regulated by a state-run governing body that makes it, so playing is fair for all legal players.
Can I use cryptocurrency at online casinos in the USA?
No, you cannot use any cryptocurrency at online casinos in the USA.
What are the best bonuses and the top real money online casino sites in the USA?
Determining the best bonus all depends on the type of player you are. We recommend reading our description of each type above.
Do I need to live in a legal online gambling state to play?
No, you don’t necessarily need to be a resident of New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, or West Virginia to play. You simply need to be within the borders of the state to play.
Conclusion
As you can see, a lot goes into finding the top online casinos in the USA. There are not only many online casinos to choose from but plenty to consider before picking a site to play at.
We created this as a resource for you to continue to refer to as you explore where you want to play real money casino games now and in the future.
Whenever a new online casino launches or a new state legalizes online gambling, we urge you to return to this page to assist with the evaluation process.
