Online Casino Gambling Sites In The USA

Essential Criteria For Reviewing Online Casinos USA

We have already told you that we take it really serious when it comes to reviewing gambling websites, and now we want to prove it. Thus, each online casino review that you can find on our NativeCasinos website contains comprehensive info as well as our experts’ evaluation based on the criteria thoroughly described in this section.

These are basically the essential criteria that we pay attention to while reviewing different gambling websites to decide which of them are worth being regarded as the best US online casinos. If a casino doesn’t meet these criteria that ensure its lawfulness, safety, and fairness, it’s not worth evaluating it according to any other criteria because no matter how many perks a gambling website promises to you, you are sure to get none of them if this casino isn’t licensed, safe, and fair.

Gambling Licenses

First and foremost, a casino online that you consider to play with must be licensed. If it’s not, there’s no reason on earth that can convince you start playing with not legit online casinos. Know why? Because in this case, none of your interests as a gambler can be protected. Seriously. Playing on a gambling website that doesn’t possess a license issued by an authoritative gambling commission and isn’t monitored and regulated is quite risky. Not only can you lose all your money, you can also end up with your personal data being exposed to third parties.

In such a way, the best way to test online casino is to check if it’s licensed by one of the following gambling authorities:

• the Malta Gaming Authority;
• the Gibraltar Gambling Commission;
• the UK Gambling Commission;
• Antigua and Barbuda Regulatory Commission;
• the Kahnawake Gaming Commission;
• the Curacao eGaming Licensing Authority;
• Costa Rica Gambling Authority;
• the Alderney Gambling Control Commission;
• the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission etc.

Feel free to check the official websites of these gambling authorities to check all the requirements an online casino has to meet in order to get a certain gambling license and maintain it.

Mind that all the gambling websites that possess any of these licenses are definitely worth playing with since they comply with all the gambling requirements and regularly monitored by the licensing authorities to make sure that their gambling standards haven’t worsened after receiving the license.

Safety and Security

Talking about your cyber security and personal safety on gambling websites, it’s highly important to opt only for the best online US casinos that are protected by a cryptographic protocol, such as the ones with SSL or TLS encryption. These cryptographic protocols serve to encrypt your personal data and secret banking details in order to turn them into illegible text that can’t be read and decrypted. In such a way, you can be absolutely sure that all your personal details are absolutely safe and can’t be used without your awareness and consent. That’s why we can tell you for sure that playing in the US online casinos protected with SSL or TLS encryption is absolutely safe and secure.

Fair Gambling in the US Online Casinos

You can’t neglect another important criterion for web based casinos to be considered best rated online casinos, such as fairness. That’s why we strongly advise you to play only in those offshore and United States based online casinos whose gambling production has been tested by the independent testing agencies like eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA). If you do, there’s a hundred percent guarantee that all your gambling results are absolutely fair. Mind that licensed casinos that have been tested by authoritative independent testing agencies can’t fool you since they risk being left without a gambling license and fairness certificate. Bear in mind that online casinos take it very serious when it comes to licensing because it’s really hard to obtain it and very easy to lose in case there are any complaints from gamblers. That’s why you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of in case you opt for a licensed online US casino with an eCOGRA certificate.

Legal Gambling In USA Casinos Online and Offline

First of all, we are happy to tell you good news – most forms of online and offline gambling are legal in the United States of America according to Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Interstate Wire Act of 1961. However, since the United States has a bunch of federal laws as well as state legal regulations that may considerably differ from one state to another, there are some important peculiarities of gambling in different states.

The most gambling friendly state is, evidently, Nevada because of Las Vegas and Reno that are the most popular gambling locations in the United States of America and quite recognizable in the world (American Gaming Association). Mind that most forms of gambling are legal in Nevada except for lotteries (2016 State of states). Lotteries in Nevada are banned in order to avoid their potential competition with the Las Vegas Strip resorts worth billions of dollars. A similar situation can be observed in Kentucky legislature that bans casino betting in the state in order to avoid its competition with horse racing betting.

Talking about legalization of different gambling activities, it’s also worth mentioning lottery gambling that has become extremely popular not just in the United States of America, but also abroad. For instance, such famous American lotteries as the Powerball and Mega Millions are nowadays the world’s biggest lottery jackpots (American Gaming Association). In addition, state lotteries such as scratch-card tickets are believed to generate the most tax revenue compared to other gambling activities available in the United States of America.

Talking about online gambling, which, evidently, interests you most, new online casinos USA friendly are not regulated that’s why the government can’t control whether you play in top US online casinos or not, therefore, your online gamblings can’t be taxed too, which is quite a privilege compared to land based gambling, huh? That’s probably the reason for an extremely growing popularity of playing in the best online USA casinos. It also has encouraged the government to launch American regulated online gambling that is currently legal only in 5 states, specifically Delaware, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006).

As for the states where gambling (including casinos, lottery tickets, sports betting, bingo halls etc.) is still considered illegal, there are just two of them – Utah and Hawaii. You might also find it useful to know that southern states usually impose more gambling restrictions because of the dominating conservative values in many southern states. In such a way, in Alabama, you can’t gamble anywhere but in tribal casinos (National Indian Gaming Association). In contrast, in Mississippi, you can visit dozens of cool land based casinos scattered across Tunica County and the Gulf Coast. As for Florida, you can gamble in this state only in 8 counties as well as in the Seminole Tribe. Texas also has certain gambling restrictions, such as the ban of horse racing betting and lotteries.

In addition, six states of America, including Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, and Nevada still don’t allow lottery betting. 22 states (e.g., Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia) let you be involved into pari-mutuel horse betting as well as lottery gambling, yet don’t have land based gambling facilities.

United States Legal Gambling Timeline

In 1931, Nevada became the first state where casinos were legalized. That’s the year when the first land based casino known as Pioneer Club was opened in the United States.

It took as long as 18 years since the legalization of land based gambling houses to make legal sports betting as well as off-track horses betting. However, the situation with sports betting was quite challenging owing to the popularity of interstate betting, which wasn’t profitable neither for federal not for local governments. That’s why in 1961, the Congress passed the Wire Act aimed at fighting interstate sports betting.

1964 was also quite a remarkable year in the history of legal gambling in the United States since it was when the first state lottery was launched in New Hampshire.

In 1976, there was approved by the voters of New Jersey a significant constitutional amendment aimed at legalizing land based gambling houses in Atlantic City. Two years later, there was opened the first Resorts International in Atlantic City.

In 1978, horse racing was exempted from the Wire Act as well as potential federal gambling laws owing to the Horseracing Act passed by Congress.

The third official casino state of the United States turned out to be South Dakota, where offline gambling was legalized in 1989, and the first casinos in the state were opened in Deadwood.

In 1991, there was a substantial gambling breakthrough as Iowa opened the first riverboat casino in the country.

In 1992, the situation with sports betting worsened as there was passed Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that literally banned subsequent expansion of sports betting.

In 1994, there was introduced a really cool way of undermining legal unfriendly laws as the first online casino was launched in Antigua. In such a way, United States players get a chance to plunge into online real money gambling.

In 1996, there was introduced a gambling website Intertops that accepts American gamblers and lets them place sports bets that are technically illegal in offline American gambling venues.

In 1998, there was launched the first real money poker website known as Planet Poker. Three years later, online poker was legalized in Nevada. However, it contradicted the federal laws, that’s why the US Department of Justice convinced the state to make sure that online poker should never go live.

In 2003, there was a wide scale poker event known as World Series of Poker Main Event won by Chris Moneymaker. Chris Moneymaker managed to gain entry through PokerStars $39 satellite. After such a tremendous success of Chris Moneymaker, there started a real online poker boom among American gamblers.

In 2006, there was passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that made most trusted online casinos and poker sites leave the United States market. Evidently, it provided tons of opportunities for most popular online casinos to win the love and popularity among American gamblers.

In 2009, there were attempts in Delaware to launch sports betting in Nevada style. However, major sports league managed to obstruct those endeavors through the decision of the federal court.

In 2010, sports betting websites and apps went live in Nevada. The next year, online poker and casino games were legalized by the Washington D.C. City Council through the DC Lottery.

Following this example, in 2011, there were attempts by the New Jersey Legislature to legalize casino games and online poker, yet that bill was vetoed by Governor Christie. The same year, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, Absolute Poker along with a dozen sports betting sites were indicted by the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. Those indictments were named Blue Monday. In contrary, casino games, online poker, and lotteries were announced by the US Department of Justice as legal in case it doesn’t contradict certain state’s local laws. In 2011, there were also passed by the Nevada Gaming Commission online poker regulations based on laws dating back to 2001.

In 2012, satisfying the request of New Jersey voters, the New Jersey Legislature made sports betting legal, yet this law was defeated by the Sports league’s in the federal court of the United States. The same year, Washington D.C. City Council repealed the online gambling law. In addition, the same year, Calvin Ayre as well as two other people associated with Bodog were indicted by the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland. Also, in 2012, there was passed a gambling law by the Delaware Legislature that legalized online poker and casino games and made them regulated by the state lottery. This network was launched in 2013.

A similar network was also launched in Nevada in 2013 aimed at legalizing and creating favourable conditions for the online poker industry operating in the state. Consequently, Ultimate Poker and WSOP.com went live. The same year, there was passed online poker and casino bill by the New Jersey Legislature. This time, the law wasn’t vetoed and Governor Christie signed it. As a consequence, gambling websites were launched in November 2013.

In 2014, there was passed the second sports betting bill by the New Jersey Legislature. However, it was again met with Sports leagues’ rebuke, so this case is still being investigated by the federal court. The same year, poker liquidity sharing agreement was made by Delaware and Nevada.

Next year, Nevada’s WSOP.com combined the player pools together with Delaware Lottery’s poker network. In 2015, attorneys general of several states declared daily fantasy sports gambling.

Statistical Info About Land Based Gambling and Online Casinos

As you might have presumed, gambling legalization has had a positive effect on American economy as it has led to quite impressive revenues from the United States leading commercial gaming markets in 2018 (Statista). Check them in the table below.

The Center for Gaming Research University Libraries claims that in 2017, the total gambling revenue was $158.54 billion consisting of $41.2 billion gained in commercial casinos, $31.945 billion received from tribal casinos, $1.9 billion brought from card rooms, $80.55 billion gained through lotteries, $248 million was received from legal bookmaking, $295 million was brought from pari-mutuel wagering, and $2.15 billion was received from charitable games and bingo.

According to the United States Commercial Casino Revenues, in 2015, there was the following revenue distribution across the United States regions: West – 31.78%, Midwest – 22.21%, South – 18.83%, Northeast – 27.24%.

The same source shows the following Percentage distribution of United States Gaming Revenue in 2015 (United States Commercial Casino Revenues) across the states listed in the table below.

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), gambling plays an exceptionally important role in the country since the US gambling industry is estimated at $261 billion and provides jobs for as many as 1.8 million Americans living in 40 states.

In 2018, the US gambling revenue was distributed the following way: Commercial Casinos – $51.4 Billion, Tribal Casinos – $32.801 Billion, Poker Rooms – $1.9 Billion, Lottery Revenues – $72 Billion, Legal Bookmaking – $430.6 Million, US Online Gambling – $306.5 Million, Pari-Mutuel – $299 Million, Charitable Games / Bingo – $2.1 Billion (AGA).

According to Statista survey conducted in 2018, 69% of the questioned Americans consider gambling morally acceptable, while 28% insist that it’s morally wrong; 1% of the respondents think it depends, and 2% of the questioned Americans prefer not to share their opinion.

Another Statista survey has revealed the most popular and regular gambling activities of Americans: 53% are fond of lottery, 32% are interested in casino gambling, 26% have been involved in casual betting with friends, 12% are poker players, 6% are enthusiastic about race wagering, and only 3% are internet gamblers.

You might find it really interesting to learn that 57% United states online gamblers (including social casino gambling and gambling for fun) are females (2013 survey by SuperData Research). The same survey shows that over 40% of American gamblers playing on the best US online casino sites are aged from 21 to 34.

Gambling Revenues in the United States

As you might have understood already, gambling is quite prosperous and popular in the United States of America. After the adoption of the Indian Gambling Regulation Act in 1988, there emerged such concept as tribal casinos run by Indians (National Indian Gaming Association). The first tribal casinos were established in California and Oklahoma. In 2015, California gambling revenue reached 794,761, while Oklahoma received 111,370 (The United States Commercial Casino Revenues).

Nowadays, you can play in a tribal casino in over 28 states, which is quite impressive, huh? To tell you more, the expansion of tribal casinos have caused liberalization of  American gambling legislature to such an extent that gambling has been legalized in such states as Illinois, Arizona, Ohio, and Kansas, which are now quite popular gambling destinations. According to the United States Commercial Casino Revenues, in 2015, Illinois gambling revenue reached 2,352,427, and Kansas gambling revenue was estimated at 44,729.

Another state of America substantially benefiting from legalizing casino betting at racetracks is Pennsylvania that collects more gaming tax revenue than any other American state except for Nevada. In such a way, in 2015, Pensylvania’s gambling revenue was 3,025,048 vs Navada’s gambling revenue of 10,700,994 (The United States Commercial Casino Revenues).

Among other states with a million or several millions enrichment of the local budget through gambling, there can be mentioned the following: Illinois – 1,477,601, Indiana – 2,732,773, Iowa – 1,423,998, Louisiana – 2,374,244, Michigan – 1,424,445, Mississippi – 2,239,084, Missouri – 1,815,000, New Jersey – 3,317,720, New York – 1,259,813 (The United States Commercial Casino Revenues). What a bunch of states benefiting from gambling revenue, huh? Thus, you can see it yourself how reasonable it was for the federal and state governments to legalize gambling.

Popular Game Categories In US Online Casinos

As you might have presumed, offshore online casinos for US players are immensely popular. That’s why we find it essential to share with you the most loved gaming categories by American gamblers. Check them out along with the most popular games representing each gaming category in the list below.

• Slots (including I-slots, Reel Series, Progressive Jackpots, Rival Slots, Three Reels, Video Slots, Five Reels, 3D slots, classic slots etc.) — e.g., Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin, Cleopatra, Triple Red Hot 7, Da Vinci Diamonds, Wheel of Fortune On Tour, Triple Diamond, Wheel of Fortune Ultra 5 Reels, Pixies of the Forest, Medieval Money, Silent Movie, Shamrockers, Family Guy, Crown Of Egypt, Lucky Larry Lobstermania 2, The 100,000 Pyramid, Double Diamond, Wolf Run, Treasures of Troy, Merlin’s Millions, Chilli Gold, Gorilla Go Wild, Raging Rhino, Monopoly Big Event, Bingo Billions, Manic Millions, Zeus 3, Irish Riches, Snack Time, Zeus, A While On The Nile, Cash Stampede, Star Mania, Spin Sorceress, The Snake Charmer, Monster Wins, Medusa, Mad Mad Monkey, King Kong, Judge Dredd, Irish Eyes, Emerald Isle, Doctor Love, Big Foot, Bars and Bells etc.
• Jackpots — e.g., Count Duckula, Top Cat, Super Spinner Bar-X, Paws of Fury, Jackpot 6000, Slots O’Gold, Mega Pots Mega-X, Prissy Princess, Holiday Season,Lion Festival, Ultimate Super Reels, Ozwin’s Jackpots, House of Doom, Sweet 27, Wild Blood, Aztec Warrior Princess, Matsuri, Divine Fortune, Jade Magician,  Merry Xmas etc.;
• Table Games —  e.g., Realistic — Blackjack, Tri Card Poker, Classic Craps, Spin the Wheel, Relax — Roulette, Andar Bahar, NetEnt — Blackjack, Red Tiger — Blackjack, Classic European Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Relax — Blackjack, Roll the Dice, Gamevy — Roulette, Classic Baccarat, Concept — Roulette, Caribbean Hold’em, American Roulette, Let ‘Em Ride, Single Deck Blackjack Pro, Lucky Ladies Blackjack, Let ‘Em Ride Classic, European Roulette, 3 card Hold’em, 21+3 Blackjack, Classic Tri-Card Poker, Oasis Poker, Classic American Roulette, Double Ball Roulette, Baccarat VIP, Caribbean Stud Poker, Teen Patti Rapid, KeyBet Roulette, 6 in 1 Blackjack, Red Dog, Teen Patti Pro, Multi Hand Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, Punto Blanco, Vegas Three Card Rummy etc.;
• Video Poker —  e.g., Joker Poker 52 Hands, Video Poker, Jacks or Better 52 Hands, Bonus Deuces Wild 1 Hand, Jacks or Better 3 Hands, Bonus Poker 1 Hand, Jacks or Better 1 Hand, Bonus Poker Deluxe 1 Hand, Joker Poker 3 Hands, Deuces Wild 1 Hand, Jacks or Better 10 Hands, Double Bonus Poker 1 Hand, Double Double Jackpot Poker 1 hand, Double Double Bonus Poker 1 Hand, Double Jackpot Poker 1 Hand, Joker Poker 10 Hands, Joker Poker 1 Hand, Loose Deuces 1 Hand.
• Blackjack — e.g., European Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, 21 Burn Blackjack, American Blackjack, Casino Stud Poker, European Blackjack MH, Classic Blackjack Gold, Premier Blackjack High Streak Gold, European Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, Blackjack Multihand, Classic Double Deck Blackjack, Live Common Draw Blackjack High, Multi-Hand Premier Blackjack Gold, Double Deck Blackjack, Evolution Gaming Live Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Classic Single Deck Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, Sonya Blackjack, Multihand Vegas Downtown Blackjack, NetEnt Live Common Draw Blackjack Low, Pirate 21 Blackjack, Double Exposure Blackjack MH, Zappit Blackjack etc.;
• Poker — e.g, Aces and Eights, Caribbean Stud Poker, Jackpot Poker, Jacks or Better MH, Pai Gow Poker, Joker Wild Double Up, Caribbean Hold’em, All American Double Up, Deuces Wild MH, Classic Tri-Card Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Tri Card Poker, Joker Poker MH, Louisiana Double, Deuces and Joker, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker etc.;
• Scratch Cards — e.g, Penguin Payday, Itchin’ 2 Win, Beach Bums, Gunslingers Gold, Cast for Cash, Tiki Treasure, Cavalier Cash, Pirates Pillage;
• Card Games — e.g, Pai Gow Poker, Let ‘Em Ride, Single Deck Blackjack, Classic Baccarat, Perfect Pairs, European Blackjack, Caribbean Hold’em, Double Deck Blackjack, New Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Classic Double Deck Blackjack, Let ‘Em Ride Classic, Classic Single Deck Blackjack, Classic Tri-Card Poker, Zappit Blackjack, Vegas Three Card Rummy, Baccarat, Classic Blackjack, Tri Card Poker, Teen Patti Rapid, Teen Patti Pro, Andar Bahar etc.;
• Roulette — e.g., Spin the Wheel, Svensk Roulette, French Roulette, European Roulette, Shangri La Live Roulette, NetEnt Live Roulette, Classic American Roulette, Evolution Gaming Live Roulette, American Roulette, European Roulette Gold, Zoom Roulette, American Roulette, Classic European Roulette, Blaze Live Roulette, Roulette — High Roller, Premier Roulette Diamond Edition etc.;
• Bingo —  e.g., Go-Go Bingo, Pesca Bingo, Bingo Ribeirinhos, Tribo Bingo, Bingo Goal, 30-Ball Bingo, Amazonia Bingo, 80-Ball Bingo, European Bingo, American Bingo, Bingo Cataratas;
• Live Casino Games — e.g., Live Football Studio, Live Dragon Tiger, LeoVegas Live Roulette, Celebrity Blackjack Party, No Commission Baccarat, Live Roulette — Foxwoods,  Live Baccarat Squeeze, Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Live Blackjack, Dragonara, Live Speed Baccarat, Exclusive BlackJack, Texas Holdem Ultimate, LeoVegas VIP Roulette, Live Lightning Roulette, Baccarat card games, Live Dragon Tiger, Dream Catcher, VIP Blackjack, Speed Auto Roulette, Live Blackjack Collection, Salon Prive Collection, Dragon Tiger, Salon Prive Collection, Roulette Lobby, Baccarat Controlled Squeeze, Suomiruletti, Live Three Card Poker, Live Baccarat Collection, Three Card Poker etc.

Becoming a Millionaire with Online Casino USA Jackpots

Among the most popular games in best online casinos for Americans there’s certainly worth mentioning jackpots, to put it differently, maximum prize available in land based and best casinos online. The most loved type of jackpots in the best casinos online USA are, evidently, progressive jackpot whose value keeps increasing letting you end up a millionaire in case you manage to hit the jackpot.

Check out the list consisting of the highest paid progressive jackpot games that can make you a millionaire: Mega Moolah (at the time of publishing this article progressive jackpot is estimated at $3,903,074.48 and keeps increasing all the time), Space Venture ($3,144,710.99), Road Hogs ($3,144,710.99), Melon Madness Deluxe ($3,144,710.99), Loot Enkhamun ($3,144,710.99), Going Nuts ($3,144,710.99), Snow Business ($3,144,710.99), Aztec Millions ($1,924,658.05), It Came From Venus ($1,432,593.27), Pirates Millions ($1,125,501.78), Irish Riches ($1,125,501.78), Millionaire Genie ($1,125,501.78), Santa’s Super Slot ($1,125,501.78), Arabian Nights ($1,054,194.67), Megasaur ($1,029,452.63).

Other games with a high chance of their progressive jackpot to hit a million soon include the following: Major Millions ($926,264.85), King Cashalot ($824,487.19), Super Joker ($717,374.52), Mega Fortune Wheel ($717,374.53), Hippy Days ($717,374.53), Hawaiian Madness ($717,374.53), Dragons Hoard ($717,374.53), Golden Sevens ($668,752.24), Treasure Fair ($646,124.10), Gods of Gold ($646,124.08), Mega Fortune Dreams ($626,314.94), Mega Fortune ($626,314.97) and so on.

Looks too great to be real? Stop doubting! Check out the table below showing you the craziest winnings of American gamblers in the offshore top online casinos USA. In such a way, you can see what are the best online casinos USA and what progressive slots it’s really worth playing in order to win a jackpot.