Online casinos are the completely digital version of brick and mortar casinos. You can bet real money in the hope of winning some more.
You can play the same familiar games as in physical casinos. These 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.
On this page, we tell you everything you need to know about online casinos. Click on the buttons to jump ahead:
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.
Although Bojoko is a newcomer to the US casino market, we've been doing this for a long time. For 3 years, we've helped thousands of players in the UK, Canada 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 by the operators themselves and checked by our team. We also ask our casino testers to try each site with real money and report their experience with no holds barred.
All our content is written by experts 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!
Article by:
Joonas Karhu
Joonas Karhu is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced senior figures in the online gambling industry, having spent more than a decade in various roles across the sector.
He has been a driving force behind Bojoko becoming one of the most popular online casino comparison sites, taking it from launch to tens of thousands of members.
A founding member of the team, he has been responsible for educating operators and suppliers about Bojoko’s ‘Airbnb‘ concept and to date has onboarded 200+ UK-licensed casino partners.
Joonas has also helped establish Bojoko as a recognisable bra...
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:
Toni Halonen
Toni Halonen has an extensive online casino player experience starting from the early 2000s. He has worked over 10 years in the online gambling industry from which six years as a professional poker player.
Toni is a Master of Economics from the University of Tampere, Finland. He has built and acted as a content writer close to a dozen of Finnish and English gambling websites. These websites have covered gambling topics such as online poker, online sports betting and online casinos. He has been featured in podcasts and publications like iGaming Capital and the Malta Chamber of Commerce a...
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:
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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
Choose an online casino
Go to our comparison tool
Select your state
Narrow down the results based on your preferences
Read a review by our casino testers
Play safely at US-licensed casinos
Create a casino account
After you've picked a casino you like, it's time to sign up. The registration process is very straightforward. All you need to do is fill out a form, asking for some basic information about you. These include:
Name
Gender
Address
Date of birth
Social security number
Phone number
Email address
You'll also need to pick a password for your account and verify your email by clicking a link sent to your email address. After this, you're all set to deposit some money to your player account.
Deposit money
Depositing money to your casino account is simple:
Go to the deposit page
Choose a banking method
Select a deposit sum
Follow the instructions on the screen (the exact steps vary between payment methods)
The money appears on your account
US casino banking options
Online casinos that accept US players offer several banking options to top up your player account. They include:
Online bank transfer
E-check
Credit and debit cards
E-wallets
PayNearMe
In addition, some casinos offer their own payment solutions. You can find the full selection on each casino's banking page.
The banking methods differ in four main ways:
Are the deposits instant?
How much or little can you deposit?
Can it be used for withdrawals too or only deposits?
Are there transfer fees?
Use 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.
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.
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:
Email
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.
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 wagered your deposit at least once
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
An online casino is an online version of the traditional brick-and-mortar casino.
You can play different casino games over the internet, with real money. The game selections often include:
Online slots
Traditional casino table games
Live dealer games streamed from a studio
Video poker
Bingo
Scratch cards
Sportsbetting
Virtual sports
Online lottery and keno
Online casinos are available 24/7 and can be accessed with your computer, smartphone or tablet. Use our casino comparison tool to find the ones best suited for you.
Although the core principle of gambling remains the same, there are some differences between online casinos and the land-based casinos.
Online casinos:
Are more numerous
Are updated more frequently
Can be accessed anytime, anywhere, even on mobile
Offer more banking methods
Feature more games and game types
Have a better return to player percentage (RTP), i.e. a smaller house edge
Have a larger range of minimum and maximum bets
Offer bonuses
Don't have a dress code
Brick-and-mortar casinos:
Invest in a more social experience
Have higher minimum and lower maximum bets
Have lower RTP, i.e. a bigger house edge
Feature a smaller selection games
Offer classic table games and older slots
Offer free drinks or food, not so much bonus money
Have a dress code
That depends on the state you're living in. Fully-fledged online casinos are available, regulated and 100% legit in:
Delaware
New Jersey
Michigan
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
You need to be over 21 to play at an online casino.
People in all states except Washington can play in sweepstakes casinos. These sites don't technically use real money for gambling, although you can win real money.
Sweepstakes casinos use two different currencies you buy with real money: Gold Coins and Sweep Coins. They are bought together, i.e. you cannot buy only Sweep Coins.
Gold Coins are just for entertainment. Winnings can't be redeemed in real money.
Sweep Coins are the real thing and they can be exchanged into dollars, usually at a 1:1 ratio.
Here's how it works:
Buy a package of Gold Coins and get a corresponding amount of Sweep Coins
Play with Gold Coins just for fun
Winnings made with Sweep Coins can be cashed out in real money
Legal online casinos are safe. The license holders work constantly to
safeguard players' privacy
offer responsible gaming tools
conduct checks to prevent underage gambling
make money transfers safe
You know an online casino is safe when it's licensed in the state you're playing in. You can find the licensing information at the end of the casino's home page (footer).
No. Games at online casinos are designed to give out random outcomes. To achieve this, studios use random number generators to power their games.
Each game also has a mathematical payout percentage, called the RTP (Return To Player). This probability of winning realises over tens of thousands of rounds. The exact percentage varies between games, but is usually around 85% - 99%.
Gambling is a negative expectation activity. This means you're more likely to lose than win. This doesn't mean the game is rigged. Casinos are very open about this advantage, also known as the house edge. It covers the cost of running the games and makes profit for the owners.
Yes. Legal online casinos use only licensed games from trusted providers. The games use a technology called a random number generator (RNG) to ensure fair, unpredictable outcomes.
Each game supplier's RNGs are tested and approved by either state regulators or independent testing agencies.
Technically yes. However, you take a financial and legal risk in doing so. You're not protected from fraud and have no way of getting your money back from a rogue casino. In addition, gambling in an unlicensed casino is illegal.
On Bojoko, we only promote legal and licensed online casinos where US players are accepted. In the United States, online casinos are only legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Michigan.
Residents in other states (except Washington) can play at sweepstakes casinos.
There are many things to take into account when choosing a place to play. Depending on the state you're living in, you may not have a huge number of options.
Your personal preferences play a big role in choosing a casino. Here are some of the most important things we pay attention to:
A valid casino license from the state regulator
Banking methods
Game selection
Bonuses
Mobile usability
User and tester reviews
Use our handy comparison tool to find a casino to suit your taste.
Yes. Most online casinos in the US are 100% owned and operated by American companies. Although some have partnered with international online gaming firms with decades of industry experience, they're still strongly rooted in the United States.
Yes. You can try the games in demo mode to learn how they work and whether you like them. This is 100% free and usually doesn't require registration either.
In addition, many casinos offer no deposit bonuses and free spins. You can use these casino bonuses to win real money without risking your own.
Absolutely – millions of players around the world have played and won real money repeatedly.
The majority of online casino games are based 100% on chance, meaning there's no element of skill involved. These include online slot machines, scratch cards and online roulette.
Other games require a varying level of skill. Skill-based games include poker, sports betting and blackjack. However, even skill-based games have a built-in house edge. You can play them well, but the odds are still not in your favour.
Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Never play with money you can't afford to lose.
To a large extent, no. If you win over $5,000, you need to pay a federal tax of 24%. Smaller sums may need to be declared, but they're not necessarily taxed.
In addition, your gambling winnings are taxed on the state level. The exact rate varies state by state. Here are the state-specific tax rates for gambling winnings:
Delaware: 0%
Michigan: 4.25%
New Jersey: 3%
Pennsylvania: 3.07%
West Virginia: 0%
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.
