Read more about US online casinos
On this page, you can read everything you need to know about US casinos, how they work and what they can offer.
US online casinos
Bojoko helps you find online casinos. Online casinos are the complete digital version of brick-and-mortar casinos. You can bet real money in the hope of winning some more. But, what if you don't know the first thing about online casinos?
On Bojoko, you can find basic information, such as how online casinos work, and what type of casino games you can play - and how you can start playing. Also, you don't have to trust our word alone as our experts test the casinos and even our users can review and rate the casinos based on their experiences.
On this page, we've gathered the very basics of online casinos and listed the states where you can dive into the world of online casino gaming, legally and safely.
A list of licensed US online casinos
Here's a list of legal, US online casinos available in different states. Use the quick filters to narrow down your search.
Why look for online casinos on Bojoko?
Bojoko is your #1 destination for finding legal online casinos in the United States.
Our goal is to offer you a site with accurate and up-to-date information, easy-to-read guides, and above all, be your reliable source of trustworthy casinos.
Although Bojoko is a newcomer to the US casino market, we've been doing this for a long time. For years now, we've helped thousands of players in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Finland find the perfect casino to suit their tastes.
In addition to expertise, we believe in transparency. That's why all casino listings are created in collaboration with the casinos. We also ask our experts to try each site with real money and report their experience with no holds barred.
All our content is written by people with years of experience in the online casino industry. All articles, guides, casino reviews, and game tests are published with our own names and faces. No John Smiths or Jane Does here! As a registered member, you too can review and rate our casinos and even your favorite slot games.
Not a member yet? Join Bojoko for free!
Article by:
Lauri Ronkainen
Lauri Ronkainen is the Head of Content at Good Game, Bojoko's parent company. He's one of the key players in planning and executing Bojoko's content strategy.
Lauri has worked in the online industry since 2016. He plans and coordinates Bojoko's content together with the team and helps plan tools that make Bojoko easier to use
Starting 2020, Lauri has helped bring slot and real money casino tester reviews on Bojoko by planning the format and coaching authors. These honest experiences from real players have helped Bojoko stand out from the competition.
Lauri is a real stickler for...
Article by:
Kati Saari
Kati Saari works as the Product Manager of Bojoko's parent company. She started with us in June 2020, but her career in the iGaming industry dates back all the way to 2013.
During these years, she has tested hundreds of casinos and written thousands of reviews and articles. On top of that, she has managed several sites and thus has evolved into an iron-clad expert in her field.
“When I started my career, mobile gaming was the latest thing the casinos were investing in. Also, gamification was the new trend. It was very exciting to witness the birth of first casinos that began awarding ...
Article by:
Ville Saari
Ville Saari, a content manager on Bojoko, is a gaming veteran who has worked in the industry since 2009.
Ville has written thousands of reviews and articles over the years about casinos and gambling in general. He has also managed some of the largest Finnish gambling-related sites. He joined Bojoko in 2020 to find new challenges in life.
“It has been interesting to see the rise of remote gambling and the changes the industry has gone through. I still remember writing about the up and coming casino that will challenge how we play. That newcomer was Mr. Green.”
Ville is an IT enginee...
Read more about our authors.
Find US online casinos
1-minute introduction to online casinos
Online casinos aren't that far off from real, physical casinos. You can play the same familiar games which usually include:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Poker
- and many more
Access an online casino using your computer, smartphone, or tablet. The games are available 24/7.
Online casinos offer several ways to top up your account, e.g. credit cards, e-wallets, and wire transfers. Use the same methods to withdraw your winnings.
What are USA online casinos like?
Legal online casinos
On Bojoko, we only promote legal online casinos licensed in the USA. The legal status of online casinos and other forms of gambling varies from state to state.
Online casinos are 100% legal in the following states:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Online casinos for US players must have a state-specific license to operate in each state. Here's the list of regulatory bodies that grant online casino gambling licenses in the United States:
- Delaware Gaming Enforcement
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- West Virginia Lottery Commission
Check out our home page to read more about the legal status of other forms of online gambling in each state.
Sweepstakes casinos available in 49 states
Online casinos are legal in only 5 states. This doesn't mean that residents in other states can't enjoy casino entertainment at all. Sweepstakes online casinos can legally offer their games in all states except for Washington.
Sweepstakes casinos aren't considered gambling in the traditional sense, because they don't technically use real money.
Fewer casinos, higher quality
From the regulatory perspective, USA online casinos for real money are tied to land-based casinos. The number of brands each company can offer is limited.
This makes the barrier to enter the legal online casino market in the US is quite high. Compared to their European counterparts, American players aren't exactly spoiled for choice.
In the 5 states with legal casinos, there are currently 24 license holders with a total of 42 brands between them.
This isn't a bad thing. Instead of launching a steady stream of bulk casinos, the US online casino operators can focus on their existing brands. This means taking better care of the players and satisfying their needs, which leads to more brand loyalty.
Local and international
American companies dominate the legal online casino scene in the US. With decades of experience from the brick and mortar casinos and racetracks, these online casinos are firmly based in the United States.
The same firms that operate the world-famous casino resorts are also responsible for American online casinos. These include industry giants such as Golden Nugget, Borgata, and Ceasars in New Jersey.
The other regulated states don't have the 40+ years of gambling history the Atlantic City can boast. There, local casinos and racetracks rule the online scene.
These close links with the physical and online worlds are based on the local casino legislation.
Regulators only grant online licenses to companies that already offer brick-and-mortar gambling in the state.
This requirement doesn't mean that the US market is completely closed off from the international casino firms. They just have to cooperate with the local companies.
International household names, such as Unibet, 888, William Hill, and Pokerstars, can be found on the American scene too. However, they've partnered up with American casino firms to meet the regulatory requirements.
Versatile games
Online casinos accepting US players offer a great variety of casino games and other forms of online gambling. They feature online slots from both domestic and international game suppliers, as well as a handsome selection of classic table games with live dealers.
To top things off, US online casinos also cater to sports enthusiasts, poker players, and horse racing fans. Depending on where you are, you can access all forms of gambling entertainment on a single website.
Mobile-first
Online casinos for USA players are built mobile-first. You can sign up, deposit, play your favorite games, contact the support and withdraw your winnings using your smartphone.
In addition to convenience, the mobile-friendly approach also helps casinos meet regulatory requirements.
Regulated online gambling casinos aren't allowed to offer games across state borders.
You don't have to live in a state where online casino gaming is legal, but casinos need to verify that you're actually there when you gamble.
That's where the mobile comes in. Many casinos offer a casino app that also verifies your location. The other option is to use a separate GeoGuard app to satisfy the regulators.
Get bonuses
The competition between US-friendly online casinos is fierce. That's why practically all casinos entice players both old and new with bonuses.
You can usually double your initial deposit up to hundreds of dollars in bonus money. In addition, you may get a nice heap of free spins to the most popular slots.
The playthrough requirements and other terms are usually fairly relaxed too. This makes US casino bonuses good value for money.
How to play at an online casino
Read our step-by-step instructions and play at online casinos for real money.
Getting started may seem intimidating, but gambling at online casinos is actually easy as pie. Below, we'll walk you through the important steps from account creation to withdrawing your winnings.
1. Choose an online casino
On Bojoko, you can find a list of trustworthy and legal online casinos operating in the US. You can filter and sort them to your liking and choose the one that interests you the most.
2. Read the reviews from our experts and users
Before heading to the casino, you might want to check out what others have to say about it. Our team of experts test out the casinos with real money and, on top of that, our users can also write about their experiences.
3. Go to the casino
The big green 'PLAY HERE' button on the review page is your express ticket to the casino. Clicking the button also activates a special bonus for you, if such offer is available through us.
4. Sign up and make your first deposit
Once you get to the casino, you need to sign up by filling out their registration form. After that, you can choose your preferred banking method and deposit money to your player account. And that's it, you're ready to play!
Using Bonuses
When you sign up or make a deposit, you usually have the option to take advantage of a welcome bonus offer. Depending on the casino, there are different types of bonuses available:
- No deposit bonus. A small amount of bonus money or free spins to test the casino without risking your own money.
- Deposit match bonus. The casino matches your real money deposit in bonus money up to a certain dollar amount.
- Free spins. Free rounds in specified slots. Winnings are given as bonus money.
- Cashback. A percentage of your net losses is given back to you as real money with no strings attached.
We explain these in more detail on our Casino bonuses page.
Find and play games
Online casinos for US players have loads of games to choose from and it's easy to find something to suit your taste.
Casinos usually offer some sort of filtering tools to help your search. If you already have a favorite studio, most casinos let you browse games based on the supplier. In addition, you can find the following game types in most casinos:
- Online slots
- Live dealer games
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Video poker
- Progressive jackpot slots
- Bingo
- Scratchcards
- Virtual sports
You can test drive the games in the demo mode before putting your money down. You can test the features and figure out how the game works. After you understand what's what, you can choose a bet size you're comfortable with and spin away.
Some casinos do require you to register with them even if it's just to try the demo games. Live dealer games can't be used with demo currency but, once you're a registered member and logged in, you can usually at least open the live games to see how they are.
In addition to casino games, many sites also offer an online sportsbook and a poker room, if this is allowed by the state regulator.
Contact customer support
If you have questions or an issue that needs resolving, casinos offer several ways to get in touch with the support team. Here are the most common support channels:
- Live chat
- Phone
- Social media
Many of the big operators offer support 24/7, whereas smaller brands may have more limited service hours.
Confirm your identity
Before casinos can pay your winnings, you have to prove your identity. This isn't an extra step to mess with you; it's a regulatory requirement. The idea is to prevent money laundering and underage gambling.
Casinos ask you to send them copies of certain documents to prove your identity. This is known as the KYC (Know Your Customer) check. The documents include:
- Proof of ID: Passport, driver's license or an ID card
- Proof of address: Utility bill or some other official letter with your name and address
- Proof of banking method: This varies between payment methods. It can be a bank statement, credit card scan, or a screenshot of your e-wallet account
Most casinos have a "My Account" section where you'll find instructions for account verification. These include the specifications for the documents, accepted images formats, a file uploader, or an email address for sending the documents.
Some casinos offer their customers the possibility of starting the KYC check at any point after the registration. We recommend getting the process rolling as soon as possible because the faster you get it over with, the quicker the casino can start handling your first withdrawal.
Withdraw Winnings
Putting money in the casino is easy, and getting it out shouldn't be too hard either.
As a rule of thumb, you use the same method for both deposits and withdrawals. This way, you don't have to confirm multiple banking methods.
Here's how you withdraw your winnings:
- Before you make a withdrawal request, make sure you've played your deposit through at least once. This is also called wagering
- Go to the "Withdrawals" section. You can usually find it under "My Account", "Banking" or similar
- Choose a withdrawal sum and banking method
- Wait for the casino to process your withdrawal
- If the casino asks you to send any documents, submit them
- Once the casino has accepted your withdrawal, you still need to wait for the payment provider to process it. This may be instant or take several days, depending on your banking method
- The money hits your account and you can spend it any way you want
Play responsibly at online casinos
Responsible gambling is an important aspect of legit online casinos in the United States. The approach is threefold:
- Casinos provide responsible gambling tools, e.g. reality checks and deposit limits
- Players use these tools to set limits and recognize early signs of problem behavior and self-exclude
- Professional help with problem gambling and gambling addiction is easily available
Gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment that provides fun and excitement to thousands of people. However, it's also an activity with negative expectations. In the long run, you're more likely to lose money instead of ending up winning.
Bojoko is a strong advocate of responsible gaming. Check out our Responsible gambling page for practical tips to keep your gambling in check.
Online casino FAQ
Article by:
Lauri Ronkainen
Lauri is the Head of Content at Bojoko. He has worked in online gambling since 2016 reviewing hundreds of online casinos, bonuses and games. Lauri has a masters degree in history from the University of Tampere. He is a live casino aficionado who has also created his very own roulette strategy.
Article by:
Joonas Karhu
Joonas has been in the gaming business for over 10 years. His texts are frequently featured in casino and gambling industry publications. Joonas is the Chief Business Officer at Bojoko.
Article by:
Kati Saari
Kati Saari has worked with the gambling industry since 2013. She has tested hundreds of casinos and written thousands of articles while evolving into an iron-clad expert in her field. Having a true passion for her work she’s adamant not to let anything past her without thorough research.