Check out the states where online casinos are legal and the latest news on legislation in other states as online gambling sweeps across the USA.
Latest Online Gambling News
New York moves closer to legal online casinos
Check back here for the latest news breaking on online casino legalization.
Legal Online Casino States
As of December 2022, online casino games are only legal in six states, with each state having a different number of online casino options to choose from. The following states all have legal online gambling options:
Connecticut
Connecticut launched online casinos late in 2021, going live with just two options for casino players. CY has only tribal casinos currently.
Delaware
Delaware owns the claim of being the first state to legalize online gambling. However, they were not the first to actually launch online casinos.
The state’s three current casinos are partnered with 888 to offer online play and work closely with the Delaware State Lottery.
Michigan
Michigan is one of the newer members of the online casino club, but the Great Lakes State is already making plenty of waves since its launch in 2021.
There are more than a dozen online casino apps for you to try, and you can find options from big-name companies like Caesars Casino, but there is still room for smaller Michigan-based brands like Firekeepers and Four Winds.
This diverse mixture of options is available under the umbrella of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and the state also offers legal sports betting. Good job, Michigan.
New Jersey
Perhaps the hub of legal gambling in the USA, New Jersey is home to more online casinos and sportsbooks than any other state in the country.
Like Delaware, the Garden State was one of the first to legalize online casino gaming in 2013, and nearly a decade on, there have been more than 20 online casinos live in the state.
Top brands like FanDuel, MGM, and Golden Nugget are available to online casino players in New Jersey, whose options are endless. From a legislative point of view, each online casino is overseen by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Pennsylvania
After a lengthy wait, Pennsylvania joined the online casino party in 2019 with just two online casino options. In a short space of time, Pennsylvania has expanded its online casino landscape to offer nearly as many online gambling options as New Jersey.
BetMGM, FanDuel, and Borgata are just some of the online casinos available in the Keystone State, amongst other strong online gambling options.
All online casinos in Pennsylvania answer the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
West Virginia
West Virginia was one of the first states to legalize online sports betting and is, at present, one of the few to offer online casinos. There are four online casino options in Mountain State, and more should be joining the group soon.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission serves as the gambling regulator in the state and oversees all online casino sites there.
Not in one of these states?
Which states will launch online casinos soon?
The rise of online sports betting in the USA has not been mirrored in the online casino world, with states slow to jump on the case of legalizing online gambling. Progress has been few and far between, with the following states the next in line to seemingly launch online casinos.
| State | Current Situation |
| Arizona | New Bill expected in 2022 |
| Illinois | Gambling sites set for launch by end of 2023 |
| Indiana | Expected launch in 2023 |
| Massachusetts | Launch proposed within next two years |
| North Carolina | Moving towards legalizing within the coming years |
Given the rapid expansion of online legal sports betting in the USA, once more states legalize online casinos, it can be expected that the spread of legalization will happen quickly.
What are the benefits of Online Casinos?
- Convenience
- Exclusive Promotions and Offers
- Speedy Gambling Experience
- Lower Playing Limits
- Live Dealer games
Legal vs. Offshore Casinos
While the legal online casino world continues to grow across the USA, there are still offshore casinos operating, albeit questionably. Offshore casinos are casinos that are based outside of the US, often in countries with more lenient gambling laws. Many offshore online casinos are based in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, or Europe.
Offshore casinos have been available for years now and are very popular amongst online gamblers. These operators continue to be used, even in states where online gambling is legal and legitimate online casinos are operating.
The main concern with offshore casinos is they are not strictly legal. As result there’s no oversight over their practices by any state gaming commission or by the federal government.
This means your money is not always safe with offshore sites, whereas you would be 100% assured you are playing in a secure environment at a legal online casino.
| Legal Online Casino | Offshore Online Casino |
| Legal and licensed in the USA | Not strictly legal |
| Less states covered | Available for anyone in the USA |
| Safety and Security when playing | No regulation in USA |
| Mobile apps available to download | Lack of mobile options |
The truth is that the enforcement of offshore casino gambling has always been very chilled out. That seems unlikely to change, especially as US-based online casinos begin to launch.
Online Gambling States FAQs
What states have legal online gambling?
The following states currently have some form of legal online casino gambling:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Michigan
- Delaware
- Connecticut
Of this list MI, NJ, PA and VA have online casino availability most akin to sportsbooks in legal sports betting states.
Are online casinos legit?
Absolutely. Guaranteed safety is one of the major perks of gambling with a regulated online casino. The games are safe, and so is your money.
Each casino that is available in your state has been specifically licensed to operate within that jurisdiction. Attaining these licenses is not easy, and it’s certainly not free (in PA, a license costs $10 million!). All legal sites have been put to the test and come out clean – you can trust them with your action.
How old do you have to be to play at online casinos?
As with any form of gambling in the USA, players need to be 21 or older in order to play at online casinos.
Can I play online casinos in New York?
As of December 2022, online casinos are not permitted in the state of New York. Given sports betting was only legalized in January 2022, it is expected that the launch of online gambling will have to wait a short while.