Online Gambling Sites For Real Money

US Online Sports Betting

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A new era of legal online sports betting in the United States began in May 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PAPSA), which outlawed sports betting, was unconstitutional.

With PAPSA no longer in effect, states can now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with each state able to establish its own laws. The Supreme Court’s reversal of PAPSA set off an online sports betting boom in the U.S.

As of April 2021, legal online sports betting is available in thirteen states: Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Rhode Island, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Oregon, Illinois, Washington D.C, Virginia and West Virginia. All of these states offer mobile sports betting from anywhere within state borders, on state-regulated platforms.

Several other states have passed legislation to legalize online sports betting, with the actual launch of those platforms yet to come.

The U.S. sports betting industry appears to be in the beginning stages of a boom period, and those states offering legal mobile betting are poised to be at the forefront.

New Jersey, for example, has seen 80 percent of its sports betting handle produced from online and mobile bettors since launching its mobile platforms in August 2018. New Jersey’s overall sports betting revenue is second only to Nevada, and the impact of mobile betting on those totals could be an indicator of things to come in other states.

The first two companies to launch mobile sports betting in New Jersey, DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, lead the U.S. in mobile sports betting revenue. Both companies are aggressively expanding U.S. operations and are in a position to lead the rapidly growing market.

Legal sports betting (both retail and mobile) produced nearly $1.4 billion in revenue in the U.S. from June 2018 through March 2020, and those numbers should continue to rise.

US Online Casinos

Legal, real-money options for online casino games aren’t as far-reaching as mobile sports betting in the U.S. so far.

Legal and regulated real money online casino games are live in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. These online offerings include the most popular games normally seen on the floor of land-based casinos, such as slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and casino poker games like Pai Gow Poker and Caribbean Stud.

Delaware was the first U.S. state to legalize online gambling, doing so in 2012. New Jersey and Nevada followed suit in 2013, with Pennsylvania becoming the fourth in 2017. Nevada’s legislature only allows for online poker, and not other casino games.

In the three states that do offer legal online casino games, all online and mobile platforms are tied to land-based properties in some fashion. In Delaware, the state’s three land-based casinos offer online gambling through a unified platform, operated by 888 Holdings.

New Jersey hosts more than 20 online casinos, all tied to retail properties in Atlantic City. Pennsylvania, the newest player in the online casino game, currently has four casinos offering real-money games, and more to come.

Online casino revenue hasn’t made the same impact as sports betting, but both New Jersey and Delaware saw an upswing in revenue growth for 2019.

US Online Poker

The same four states (Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania) that allow for online gambling aside from sports betting also offer legal online poker.

WSOP.com is the biggest online poker site in the U.S. and is the only legal real money online poker network allowing for players from multiple states to play against each other. WSOP Nevada, WSOP New Jersey, 888 Poker NJ, and the 888 Poker network of sites in Delaware all have access to a shared online poker client, which allows for players within those states to play against a merged player pool.

While WSOP.com is the only option for online poker in Nevada, New Jersey has other options in addition to the WSOP/888 network. Those platforms include PokerStars NJ and a partypoker NJ network.

Pennsylvania is expected to see several of its approved online gambling operators roll out online poker clients within the next year. The first of these platforms, PokerStars PA, launched in November 2019. For both PokerStars and partypoker, their U.S. poker clients only allow access to players from within the states in which they’re based and are not linked to either company’s international poker sites.

The prospects of future shared liquidity/interstate poker networks is uncertain. In January 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a reversal of opinion on its 2011 interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act. The 2011 ruling effectively legalized gambling transactions conducted across state lines, as long as those transactions weren’t related to sports wagering. The 2019 reversal of that ruling is now attempting to restore the original language of the act.

If enforced, all state-regulated online poker sites would only be able to offer access to players located within the borders of their respective states.

Online Sweepstakes Casinos, Sportsbook & Poker Sites for Cash Prizes

For players who don’t reside in states with legal, regulated gambling options, online sweepstakes sites offer casino games, sports, and poker to all U.S. states, apart from some restrictive regulations in Washington state.

The biggest names in sweepstakes are Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots owned by VGW Malta Limited and Global Poker by VGW GP Limited.

All of the sites use the same model, which allows players to purchase “Gold Coins” for use in play-money games. Gold Coin purchases also come with a corresponding amount of “Sweeps Coins,” which can be used to play in sweepstakes games.

These sweepstakes games include the full gamut of casino games at Chumba Casino, and on Global Poker players have access to a variety of stakes of poker cash games and tournaments. The Sweeps Coins used in these games are redeemable for cash prizes.

With the sweepstakes model in place, the games on Chumba Casino and Global Poker amount to mini-sweepstakes games. Sweeps Coins can’t be purchased directly, but come as a gift whenever Gold Coins are purchased.

Both Chumba and Global are popular options for casino gaming and poker throughout the U.S. Other platforms using the Sweepstakes model include Luckyland Slots, B-Spot, and FendOff Sports.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The legality of Daily Fantasy Sports in some parts of the U.S. is unclear. DFS are regulated and explicitly legal in many states, some of which include New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Colorado, and Massachusetts, among others.

The two biggest players in DFS, FanDuel, and DraftKings, operate in those states where DFS has been legalized, along with several others. FanDuel and DraftKings operate in about 80 percent of U.S. states, even with some of those states having an unclear position about the legality of DFS.

DFS are illegal to play in Arizona, Washington, and Montana. Most DFS platforms also steer clear of operating in the states of Alabama, Idaho, Hawaii, and Nevada, due to attorney general interpretations of law in those states.

Legislation surrounding DFS in the U.S. is ever-evolving. While sports betting revenues have surged in the states in the past two years, DFS revenue growth has leveled off a bit since the mid-2010s. The DFS market is still steadily growing, however, with U.S. DFS revenue accounting for nearly 60 percent of the global market.

DraftKings and FanDuel own 90 percent of the U.S. DFS market, while outlets like Yahoo Daily Fantasy and FantasyDraft are smaller alternatives.

Online Horse Race Betting

Online/mobile betting on horse racing has been around in the U.S. for far longer than any other form of online gambling. In the form of off-track betting (OTB) venues, horse race bettors have enjoyed the luxury of placing bets away from the actual site of a race since the 1970s.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) contains a provision that allows states to set their own laws as it relates to online horse race wagering.

The UIGEA, passed in 2006, was designed to outlaw payment processing from illegal internet gambling activities, which includes any kind of gambling-related transactions across state lines. It excludes interstate horse race wagering, which was established as legal under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.

With that UIEGA exemption in place, 30 states currently offer legal online horse race betting. While OTB venues are still alive and well, online/mobile apps for horse race betting have grown in popularity.

Online horse race betting platforms like TVG, BetAmerica, TwinSpires, DRF Bets, and NYRA Bets are just a few of the options out there. These five platforms are the biggest names in the industry and allow for betting on events from hundreds of tracks across the country.

Horse race betting has a loyal following in the U.S., with the advent of mobile wagering options making it easier than ever to place bets and follow the sport on streaming services.

Online Lottery

State lotteries have been around for decades, but regulated online lotteries in the US is a relatively new concept, only offered in a handful of states.

The U.S. Department of Justice in 2011 released an opinion on the Federal Wire Act, which stated that interstate gambling transactions were only illegal if they were related to sports betting. This opinion opened the door for individual states to start offering online entries into national lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions.

As of early 2021, seven states offer online lottery, which includes Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Georgia.

An eighth state, Minnesota, launched online lottery games without legislative approval in 2014. A 2015 vote from state lawmakers rendered the games illegal, and they’re no longer available as a result.

Regulations for the seven states that still offer online lotteries vary from state to state. New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Illinois all offer online ticket sales to Powerball and Mega Millions, in addition to each state’s own instant-win and lottery drawing games.

Pennsylvania participates in both the Powerball and Mega Millions national lotteries but currently doesn’t offer online options to purchase tickets. Pennsylvania’s online lottery offerings include instant-win games, Keno, and virtual sports.

The popularity of online lottery platforms varies across the states. Both online and in-person lottery sales have surged in Michigan and Georgia over the past decade, and the future of online lotteries looks bright for at least those two states.

At least three other states (Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut) have introduced legislation to potentially allow online lottery sales in the future.

State Spotlights

Colorado Sports Betting

The Centennial State ushered in a new era of legalized sports betting in November 2019, as Colorado voters passed Proposition DD. The legislation allows for both retail and online sports betting in the state.

The state is home to more than 40 land-based casinos, and those casinos can now add retail sportsbooks, as well as online sports betting platforms, to their gaming line-ups

Colorado sports betting launched on May 1. Four sportsbooks launched including Draftkings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetRivers, and BetMGM. Colorado’s online gambling offerings include sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and horse racing.

The industry’s biggest names are competing in Colorado. DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, the two companies leading the U.S. mobile sports betting market, are both operating their brands in Colorado.

Other potential big players in the market include BetFred USA, which sees the successful UK-based BetFred brand extending its business plan into the U.S. BetAmerica (owned by Churchill Downs), PointsBet, FOX Bet (owned by The Stars Group), theScore, and Wynn Resorts will also launch platforms in Colorado.

That list includes just some of the companies planning on offering mobile sports betting in Colorado, and bettors will enjoy several options when the state’s newly minted sports betting industry goes full scale.

All online operators must be partnered with land-based casinos in the state, and as such the introduction of online/mobile sports betting is expected to be a major boost to Colorado’s gaming industry.

Colorado does not have legal, state-regulated online poker, lottery, or casino games.

Indiana Sports betting

Sports betting, both in land-based casinos and online, became legal in Indiana with the passage of House Bill 1015 last year.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill on May 8, 2019, and Holcomb himself placed some of the first bets in the history of Indiana sports betting. He did so on Sept. 1, 2019, the day the bill officially went into effect. With that, Indiana became the seventh U.S. state to legalize online sports betting.

The passage of HB 1015 allowed the state’s casinos to begin offering retail sportsbooks, as well as online/mobile sports betting apps in partnership with the land-based casinos. Land-based casinos started rolling out retail sportsbooks on the Sept. 1 date, with the first mobile betting apps launching a month later.

So far, five different mobile betting apps are up and running in Indiana. The companies offering those platforms are DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers and PointsBet.

The new market as a whole is off to a good start in Indiana, as sports betting (both retail and online) brought in more than $65 million in revenue in the first sixth months following launch. Indiana’s proximity to major cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville gives residents of those cities a convenient option to drive into the state and place mobile bets from their phones.

So far, sports betting is the only form of state-regulated legal online gambling available in the state. Any other form of online gambling is not only outlawed in Indiana but criminalized.

Sweepstakes gambling sites like Global Poker and Chumba Casino are technically available to Indiana residents. But with strict laws and potential punishments in place, any online gambling conducted outside of the state’s regulated sports betting apps should be done with caution.

Michigan Online Gambling

The journey to legalized online gambling in Michigan has been filled with ups and downs. That journey finally hit pay dirt on Dec. 20, 2019, when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4311, aka the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, into law.

That date marked the second time an online gambling bill hit the Michigan governor’s desk. In December 2018, state legislators voted to legalize online gambling, but then-Governor Rick Snyder vetoed the bill just days before his gubernatorial term expired.

This time around, the Lawful Internet Gaming Act made it through that final stage. The new bill opens up an exciting new world of possibilities for online gambling in the state, which has a population of 10 million.

HB 4311 legalizes online sports betting, casino games, and poker.

The next steps in the process involve applications for online gaming licenses from the state’s 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, along with potential partners to operate online gaming platforms. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has a long task ahead to put all the pieces in place for a rollout of online gambling.

Sports betting was also legalized in Michigan last December, and land-based sportsbooks are already open for business. Online sportsbooks would presumably be next to get off the ground, although no official date has been set for the launch of mobile sports betting apps.

FanDuel Sportsbook, PointsBet, FOX Bet, and William Hill are among the companies expected to partner with various Michigan casinos for mobile sports betting.

Online casino games and poker for Michigan, while legalized, appear to be further down the road.

New Jersey Online Gambling

The Garden State is the undisputed leader in legal online gambling in the U.S. New Jersey’s history is synonymous with gambling, with Atlantic City operating for decades as the only major alternative to Las Vegas for land-based casino gambling in the U.S.

New Jersey is at the front of the curve when it comes to online gambling. Legislation to legalize online gambling passed in 2013, paving the way for a 2021 market that gives New Jersey the largest number of online gambling options of any state, by far.

Online casino games, poker, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports are all legal in New Jersey. Online casinos are operated in partnership with Atlantic City casinos, with no less than 22 different online casinos available to players within state borders. These casinos offer the largest spread of traditional table games, slots, and live dealer games to be found online.

New Jersey is one of four states to currently offer state-regulated online poker, with the WSOP NJ/888 NJ network giving New Jersey players access to a combined player pool from those state sites, as well as WSOP Nevada and the 888 Poker network of sites in Delaware. This merged network is the only one of its kind, offering players from different states to compete against each other.

PokerStars NJ and the partypoker NJ network bring even more online poker options to New Jersey.

New Jersey introduced online sports betting in August 2018, with DraftKings SportsBook launching the first of many mobile sports betting platforms to come. As of early 2021, New Jersey bettors have access to more than a dozen online sports betting apps.

New Jersey is second only to Nevada in overall annual sports betting revenue, with about 80 percent of total handle coming from online betting.

New York

A complicated battle continues between N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers wanting to legalize online gambling in New York. For now, online gambling of any kind is illegal in the state.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo introduced online poker bill S 18 for consideration by state lawmakers in 2020. 2020 marked the seventh consecutive year that an online poker bill of some kind has been up for consideration in New York, but it was a no-go for poker or any other form of online gambling.

Senator Addabbo, who chairs the state’s Gaming, Racing, and Wagering Committee, and N.Y. State Assemblyman Gary Pretlow are the legislators at the front of the effort to legalize online gaming. Attempts to introduce legal online poker to the state have now been going on for nearly a decade.

Lawmakers like Addabbo and Pretlow are also pushing for legalized online sports betting in New York, as neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey reap the benefits of their own online sports betting markets.

Gov. Cuomo is opposed to legalizing online gambling, partially on the grounds that the New York state constitution would need to be amended to pave the way for legalization. Addabbo and other pro-gaming lawmakers contend that no amendment is needed.

A 2013 constitutional amendment allowed for the state’s commercial casinos to offer sports betting in the case of a reversal of the federal ban. That reversal happened when PAPSA was overturned in 2018, ushering in a new era of legalized sports betting in the U.S.

Addabbo and company contend that the language of the 2013 amendment already allows for mobile sports wagering, but the pushback from Gov. Cuomo continues. New York State’s annual budget was finalized on April 1, 2020, with nothing related to online gambling making it into the budget.

The push for legal online sports betting and poker is very much alive, however. For now, the only online gambling options available in New York are sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino and Global Poker.

Pennsylvania Online Gambling

Pennsylvania offers the full gamut of mobile gambling options. The passage of House Bill 271 in 2017 authorized an expansion of Pennsylvania’s gambling industry to include sports betting (both retail and online), online casino games and online poker.

The addition of a robust online market has bolstered the state’s gambling economy, and Pennsylvania is second only behind Nevada in overall casino revenue in the U.S. The 2017 passage of HB 271 came with the provision that the launch of legal sports betting could only begin if the federal ban was lifted, which happened when PAPSA was overturned in 2018.

Land-based sportsbooks began operating in late 2018, with the first of the state’s mobile sports wagering platforms appearing in May 2019.

Pennsylvania players have access to multiple apps offering mobile sports betting, with market leaders such as DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel SportsBook, and Caesars Entertainment among the companies that have partnered with the state’s land-based casinos. The addition of these mobile wagering platforms has made a significant impact on Pennsylvania’s gaming revenues.

Online casino games are also available in the Keystone State, and like mobile sports betting, numerous options abound as many of the state’s 12 land-based casinos offer virtual versions of slots and table games.

A similarly expansive selection of online poker options will eventually be available in Pennsylvania as well, but for now, only PokerStars PA is up and running.

With the execution and expansion of the online gambling industry as a top priority, Pennsylvania looks poised to be at the forefront of the industry in the U.S. for some time to come.

Tennessee Sports Betting

Online sports betting became legal in Tennessee with the passage of House Bill 1 in May 2019. The Volunteer State, with no land-based casinos, is taking a unique path in the execution of its plans.

Unlike other states, which require online sports betting platforms to be partnered with its land-based casino properties, Tennessee is the first state to pass an online-only law pertaining to mobile sports wagering.

Potential operators will pay $750,000 annually to be licensed in Tennessee, with the state taking a 20 percent gross gaming revenue tax. These factors could present significant challenges for the future of online sports betting in the state.

The biggest names in the industry could have an eye on Tennessee nonetheless, as the U.S. market continues to expand. Companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, FOX Bet and William Hill are aggressively expanding their respective U.S. operations, and are heavily involved in all states that have legalized online wagering so far.

House Bill 1 does not have a provision to allow any kind of land-based, retail sports betting. The state’s sports betting offerings will be exclusively online, and the Tennessee Lottery will oversee the industry.

There is currently no set date for the launch of mobile sports betting in Tennessee.

California Online Gambling

Poker and other forms of gambling are popular in California, but as of yet no form of legal, state-regulated online gambling exists.

The most populous U.S. state with nearly 40 million people, the introduction of online gaming would no doubt make California one of the leading markets in the industry. However, as of now, it appears the Golden State faces a long road toward the implementation of online gambling.

Online sports betting, by far the most lucrative mobile gaming market, appears to be a long way away for California. The state has yet to legalize sports betting of any kind, leaving the 63 tribal-owned casinos in California without any sports betting offerings.

These casinos are operated by more than 60 different Native American tribes, and any kind of online gaming legislation would involve cooperation among these tribes. This dynamic, along with the size of California and the complexity of state laws, makes potential online gaming legislation a challenging issue.

California is home to one of the most vibrant live poker economies in the U.S., with more than 80 card rooms in business throughout the state. Legalized online poker, should it ever manifest, would no doubt be welcomed by California’s poker players.

Progress in the area of sports betting could be coming soon, however, as 18 of California’s gaming tribes filed a referendum to put sports betting on the 2020 state ballot. The initiative was shelved until 2022 due to coronavirus-related delays, but if land-based sports betting were to become legal, mobile wagering might not be far behind.

For now, California residents do have online casino and poker options with sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino and Global Poker.

Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed bill House Bill 617 into law in May 2019, legalizing both land-based and mobile sport betting in Iowa.

Iowa’s new sports betting industry rapidly took shape after that, with the first of the state’s land-based sportsbooks open for business just three months after legalization.

William Hill, one of the biggest brands in sports wagering worldwide, was not surprisingly the first to launch an online sports betting platform in Iowa. William Hill, PointsBet, and DraftKings SportsBook are the three biggest names currently offering online sports betting in Iowa.

These mobile apps are operated in partnerships with various land-based casinos in the state, and overall Iowa’s casinos are fully embracing the opportunity to offer sports betting, both retail and online.

No other form of online gambling is permitted in the state, and there are no immediate plans to introduce legislation that would make online casino games or online poker a possibility.

As such, the best option for these forms of online gaming is sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino and Global Poker.

Illinois Sports Betting

Adding to a long history of casino gaming and horse racing, along with a rich tradition of sports, Illinois legalized sports betting in summer 2019. SB 690 was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 28, 2019, setting the scene for both retail and online sports wagering in the state.

The Illinois sports betting bill is unique in the number of different ways online wagering will potentially be available to bettors. Land-based sportsbooks, the first of which already began taking bets in Illinois in March 2020, can offer online sports betting.

Online-only operators can also apply for one of three standalone online licenses, but if not partnered with a land-based casino must wait 18 months to enter the market. With sports betting having gone live in Illinois in March 2020, that 18-month window sets the start date for online-only operators at September 2021.

Sports venues (potentially Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, etc.) can also apply for a sports betting license, which would allow for both retail sports wagering, as well as mobile betting. Sports venues must have a capacity of 17,000 or greater to apply for one of seven stadium licenses, and those licenses would allow for mobile betting within a five-block radius of the venue.

The Illinois Lottery will also oversee sports betting kiosks, which will allow limited options like “parlay wagers and fixed-odds parlay wagers” at retail lottery locations throughout the state. Up to 5,000 of these kiosks are allowed by law to begin operation by June 2021.

One provision of the Illinois Gambling Act restricts wagering on any of the state’s college sports teams.

Online poker and casino games are not legal in Illinois, and players looking for those options are better off playing on sweepstakes sites like Global Poker and Chumba Casino.

Texas Online Gambling

Gambling laws in Texas are highly restrictive, and it appears likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

No form of online gambling is legal in the Lone Star state. The only legal gambling available within Texas borders are at the state’s two land-based casinos and eight horse and greyhound racing venues.

Sports betting of any kind is illegal in Texas, although in recent years pro-gaming legislators have attempted to introduce various sports betting bills.

The latest of these efforts is a pair of bills filed by State Rep. Eddie Lucio in 2019. HJR61 would amend the Texas Constitution to allow sports betting, and HB1275 would create a sports betting oversight commission in the state.

Another bill filed in 2019 by State Rep. Roland Gutierrez would allow for up to 12 more land-based casinos to operate in the state. While these bills indicate that there are certainly lawmakers in the state with pro-gaming interests, there’s no indication that any of this proposed legislation will actually pass any time soon.

Live poker is on the rise in Texas, with private poker clubs springing up throughout the state. These card rooms are not explicitly legal, however, and any kind of online poker industry appears to not be in the cards for now.

West Virginia Sports Betting

West Virginia is on the list of states offering a full slate of online sports betting, casino games, and poker options, doing so with the passage of the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in March 2019.

Much like other states in the evolving U.S. online gambling industry, mobile sports wagering is at the forefront of West Virginia’s gaming offerings.

The first of the state’s online sports betting platforms launched in late 2018, in the form of the BetLucky Sportsbook. That mobile app was short-lived, however, ceasing operations after just a few months amidst a dispute with technology providers.

Fast forward to 2021, however, and the state’s mobile betting market is alive and well.

FanDuel Sportsbook launched in August 2019, with DraftKings Sportsbook hitting the market shortly thereafter. A third online platform, BetMGM, opened for business in January 2020. The future of the industry in West Virginia could see online sports betting expand even more, as all five of the state’s land-based casinos are eligible to operate three different mobile betting skins.

In July 2020, the first online casino app launched in West Virginia. DraftKings partnered with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to launch its mobile casino product. More online casinos are expected to follow suit. Online poker will take a bit more time as rules, regulations, and licensing are in the works.

Over the last several years, legal online gambling has become more popular than ever. Many states in the U.S. now offer licenses for online casinos, and others offer online sweepstakes casino games. Residents of these states have a huge variety of real money online gambling options to choose from. In fact, it can be hard to keep up with all of the choices.

Many U.S. residents can now enjoy online slots, table games, poker tables, and live dealer casinos to fill their time (and hopefully their pockets).

Below we will delve into all of the online options and what differentiates them from one another. Whether you’re new to real money online gambling or an old pro, we have information that will make your betting experience even better.

Best Online Gambling in the United States for 2021

  • Chumba Casino – Best US Online Casino For Cash Prizes – Available in all states except WA
  • LuckyLand Slots – Best Online Slots Casino For Cash Prizes – Available in all states except WA
  • Global Poker – Best Online Poker For Cash Prizes – Available in all states except WA
  • Golden Nugget Casino – Best Online Casino in Michigan
  • BetMGM Casino – Best Online Casino In NJ, PA, WV
  • FanDuel Sportsbook – Best Sportsbook For Risk-Free Bet Offer

Real Money Online Gambling In The US

There are several types of real money online gambling available in the US, but your options depend on your state of residence. Some states have legalized a large number of gambling options online. Others are still working through the process, and aren’t quite there yet. We will break it all down for you below.

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Currently, the states that have legalized online gambling are Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Delaware was the first state to legalize online gambling with New Jersey following shortly thereafter. Interestingly, New Jersey launched its online gambling sites a day before Delaware did in November 2013.

Pennsylvania threw its hat in the ring in 2017. It legalized real money online casinos to become the third state in the US. Most recently, in 2019, West Virginia joined as the fourth state to legalize online casinos. Plenty of states are working toward becoming the next.

For example, Michigan has already gone through the legalization process. However, gambling won’t officially begin until they settle on rules and regulations. Other states that may follow in Michigan’s footsteps are Indiana and New York. Indiana has seen huge revenue by introducing online sportsbooks. Meanwhile, New York likely wants to tap into the online gambling revenue that is currently going to New Jersey.

Some individuals also believe that since West Virginia has legalized online real-money gambling, other Southern states may follow suit. Similarly, some believe Michigan will inspire other states in the Midwest to jump on the bandwagon.

Fanduel not showing active bets. Every online casino has its selection of gaming options, but most offer classic games. Some of the commonly-offered games you can bet real money on include:

Some online casinos also include poker games or specialty options like lottery games, bingo, keno, and scratch cards. Others incorporate an arcade into their website with free or paid games that you can play if you want to try something new.

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US Online Sportsbooks

Sports betting is another option for real-money betting online. It revolves around sports games and matches. This is an option that many states are now offering, even those in which online casinos are illegal. Each of the states below has already legalized online sports betting:

  • Mississippi (but only when you are located on casino property)
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island

Even more states are working toward legalizing online sports betting for those who want to wager on games from the comfort of their home. Washington, DC, for example, has already legalized online sports betting. However, it is working through a court injunction, which may or may not be resolved soon.

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Illinois became the most recent state to launch online sports betting. Over the summer of 2020, several online sportsbooks launched, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers. More are expected to follow suit.

In addition, Michigan has made online sports betting legal but does not yet have any operating platforms. Tennessee also falls under this umbrella since it has legalized online sports betting but has no sportsbooks yet available. In both of these cases, there will likely be online websites to wager on sports in either 2020 or 2021.

With so many states getting involves in sports betting online, it wouldn’t be surprising to see several new states jump on board in 2020. This is likely to be especially true in states that offer retail sports betting but haven’t yet gone through the process of offering online wagering. Some of the states to watch for include:

  • Arkansas
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Virginia
  • Washington

Basics Of Online Sports Betting

If you’re curious about what sports betting is all about, we want to share the basics with you. Essentially, online sports betting involves making wagers related to sports games. You might place a bet on a winning team, a player that you believe is going to score the most points in a match, or even a game that you predict will go into overtime.

While some states previously allowed sports betting inside casinos, others have taken this a step further by also making it possible online. The convenience of online sports betting makes it hugely popular among players. Simultaneously, it brings in significant revenue for the state.

Legal US Online Poker Sites

Just like online casinos and online sports betting, some states have made online poker available while others have not. The states that currently offer online poker are:

  • Delaware
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia

Some states have legalized online poker but are still in the process of introducing websites and apps for residents. Significantly, Michigan will also be introducing online poker alongside online sports betting and online casinos. It is now legal, but regulations are still in development.

You can also watch states that already have some form of legal online real-money gambling to see if they make any moves toward online poker rooms. This could include any of the following:

  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • New Hampshire
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Montana
  • Colorado

Of course, just because a state offers online casinos or online sports betting doesn’t mean it will also immediately offer online poker. However, if the state has shown that it is open to online gambling options, it might be more likely to consider adding poker. Doing so would bring in additional revenue.

Other states that might look into online poker after the legalization of sports betting include Virginia, Tennessee, and Illinois. However, these locations have not yet legalized online real-money casinos. The wait may be longer or may not occur at all.

It all comes down to how the government and people in the state feel about gambling as a whole, as well as the potential for it to thrive online. Feelings on gambling vary wildly from one place to another. For example, online real-money gaming is less represented in the South and the Midwest than it is on the coastal or the Northern States.

Each online poker provider will offer its own set of games along with the classics. The most popular options include Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, seven-card stud, 2-7 triple draw, and open-faced Chinese poker. However, you’ll also see other variations depending on the operator and state offering online poker games.

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Playing At Sweepstakes Casinos For Cash Prizes

Sweepstakes casinos are different from traditional retail or online casinos. They often act as alternatives to regulated casinos or poker rooms. Sweepstakes casinos often offer a large number of games that you can legally play to win virtual currency or other prizes.

How Do Sweepstakes Casinos And Poker Sites Work?

Typically, you participate in sweepstakes casino games or poker on a website, social media platform, or an app for your smart device. To use one of these sites, you’ll sign-up by completing a registration form that will ask for your personal details. It should not ask for any financial information.

After you sign-up for a specific sweepstakes website, it will usually provide you with free virtual currency so you can start playing right away. The best sites may even offer different daily, weekly, and monthly bonuses that will make it easier to earn more virtual currency as you play more games. Some sites will also let you purchase credits if you start to run low.

How Do You Win Real Cash?

Some of the top online sweepstakes websites like Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and Global Poker offer the option to play certain sweepstakes to win actual money. When using these sites, you can use items called “Sweeps Coins” and “Gold Coins” to play games like blackjack, slots, or roulette. You can play the games for free and still win cash prizes.

When you play the games on these online sweepstakes sites, you can win coins that can be redeemed for real cash. In most cases, the winnings are then wired to your bank account within three to five days. This is just one of the reasons these websites are a great alternative for those who cannot access legal online casinos in their current locations.

Since the top websites that offer sweepstakes gaming have promotions that include free coins, you can get started right away with playing games to earn real money in your bank account. There are also often progressive slot games at these websites where you can rack up lots of coins in a short period if you get lucky with your spins.

Do You Have To Deposit Money To Play?

No. When it comes to sweepstakes gaming online, there is no requirement to deposit to start using an account. If this was a requirement, the site would move from legal to illegal territory. It would fall into the category of an online casino or poker room instead of a sweepstakes website.

However, some sites offer the option to deposit money through a bank card if you want to access additional coins. What makes them different from other forms of gaming online is that they adhere to laws related to sweepstakes contests and adapt them for popular games like video poker and table games.

On the other hand, some sites do not allow deposits at all. Instead, you are given a certain amount of coins when you start playing. Winning games can provide you with extra coins that can be withdrawn as cash so you can make money playing your favorite games.

You can obtain free Sweeps Coins in many ways if you prefer to avoid spending money. Some sites have a no-deposit bonus, while others have contests and promotions on social media. All are required to provide you with Sweep Coins if you write and send them a physical letter with the request. This is part of the legality of these sites and why they differ from online casinos.

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What States Can You Play From?

Most states throughout the US allow sweepstakes and contests, including those that take place online. However, some states have additional regulations on participating that you should be aware of.

  • Colorado – Prohibits any requirements to make purchases even when winners are chosen based on skill.
  • Florida – Prizes worth over $4,999 have to be registered and bonded seven days before a sweepstakes starts. Also, a list of winners must be available to anyone who requests it.
  • Maryland – Prohibits requirements to make purchases even in skill-based contests.
  • Nebraska – No purchase requirements can be in place, even if the winners are selected based on their skill.
  • New York – Prizes of $5,000 or more have to be registered and bonded 30 days before the beginning of a sweepstakes, and a list of winners needs to be provided to anyone who wants it.
  • North Dakota – Does not allow purchase requirements even when winners are chosen by their skill level.
  • Rhode Island – Retail establishments with sweepstakes prices of more than $500 must register the promotion with the state government.
  • Tennessee – Any sweepstakes prize winners are prohibited from submitting to “in perpetuity” publicity releases.
  • Texas – Rules apply to prizes of over $50,000, including not entering someone automatically into a sweepstakes based on a purchase.
  • Vermont – Doesn’t require those who want a list of winners to pay postage for that information and prohibits required purchases even for winners based on skill.
  • Virginia – Cannot require that a player visits a location to enter since this would turn a legal sweepstakes into a lottery.
  • Washington – Requires disclaimers and terms and conditions in all sweepstakes offers and prohibits unfair and deceptive practices in sweepstakes or other commerce.

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For online poker players who don’t live in one of the handful of states that has legal online poker, sweepstakes poker is a great alternative. Global Poker offers players a similar online poker experience, which is why it’s the best online poker site in the US.

Cash games can be found at a variety of Sweeps Coins stakes. Ring game variants include both No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha. Poker tournaments run 24/7. Global Poker offers the largest tournament player pool, which includes players from 49 states. Legal online poker sites only have player pools from a handful of sites.

Most interesting for online poker players is Global Poker’s weekly Sunday Scrimmage. The Sunday Scrimmage offers a prize pool of at least SC 50,000, and at times that guarantee has gone all the way up to SC 500,000. Sit N Gos and Jackpot Sit N Gos are also available at Global Poker.

Global Poker is available in almost all states that don’t permit online poker for real money. This includes:

  • California
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Playing Daily Fantasy Sports For Real Money

If you live in the U.S., you’ve probably heard of daily fantasy sports. You may have heard about it from other people, seen websites, or commercials for websites and apps. Below we’ll dive into the many aspects of fantasy sports and explain exactly what it entails and means for you.

How Is Fantasy Sports Different From Sports Betting?

Fantasy sports and sports betting have plenty in common in that they require the same kind of skillset and knowledge bases to do well. Being up-to-date on sports information will give you an edge and can earn real money as well as long-term profits. Both of these types of gambling can be accessed in retail locations, as well as on websites and applications.

However, there are also many differences between the two items. For one, there is a difference between the charged commissions. Secondly, daily fantasy sports involve other players instead of bookmakers. Laws governing the two also differ from each other in many regions of the country. The laws that are associated with daily fantasy sports are much clearer in the United States than can be said for sports betting.

Someone who is experienced with sports betting might be more comfortable sticking with that. Conversely, someone else might prefer fantasy sports due to the clear legal situation. It all comes down to preference, and in some cases location, since not all states offer both fantasy sports and sports betting.

What Kind Of Fantasy Sports Contests Can I Play?

Daily fantasy sports offer a huge variety of contests in which players can partake. You can select everything from Sit N Go games, triple games, double-up games, quadruple games, head-to-head games, and quintuple-up games. However, this is only scratching the surface of the variety available, which can be overwhelming for beginners.

However, even for new players of fantasy sports online, some options are less stressful and complicated to understand. Low stakes games are the optimal place to start, as are tournaments with a large field of players, which creates a better chance of winning. As a beginner gains knowledge and experience, they can move on to the more challenging options.

On the other hand, head-to-head contests are designed for the more experienced players who don’t mind spending hours researching players and building rosters. Thankfully, the websites and apps that offer fantasy sports typically offer games that will appeal to both kinds of players, as well as those who fall somewhere in the middle.

Below are some of the most common type of games and a short description of how they work:

  • Large Tournaments – These games have a large player field and often offer huge prizes. If a player builds a winning roster, they can win a large prize. Entry fees range from a dollar to $100 depending on the provider.
  • Head-to-Head Tournaments – In this kind of game, one player competes against another player rather than competing against dozens or hundreds of other players. These tournaments are best used by experienced players who have been playing fantasy sports for a long time.
  • 50/50 or Double-Up Games – Another tournament that works well for beginners is the 50/50 since everyone in the top half of the field gets a prize. There is a reduced risk compared to head-to-head but experienced players also participate and can be hard to beat.
  • Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Games – These games work by challenging a player to triple, quadruple, or quintuple the initial entry fee. As an example, a quintuple game will have prizes distributed to the top fifth of the field, while a quadruple offers prizes to the top 25 percent, and so on.

Each of these contests can also be played in unique ways such as through a pre-determined bankroll, snake drafting where players take turns picking team members, and pick ‘em where users can choose up to eight athletes for any position.

What States Allow Real-Money Fantasy Sports Contests?

Unlike other forms of gambling online, real-money fantasy sports are available in the majority of the United States. Two of the largest providers of fantasy sports, DraftKings and FanDuel, give an idea of where you can play these games and where you cannot.

The states below are not allowed to engage in daily fantasy sports for real money at this time:

  • Arizona
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • Washington

The states that consider this a skill-based gaming option are more likely to make it legal. In contrast, those who consider it closer to traditional gambling are more likely to prohibit playing these games in retail or online locations.

Who Are Some Of The Leading Fantasy Sports Sites?

There are many fantasy sports sites on the market, which can make it challenging to decide which are the best to use. However, some of them are more popular than others and have a larger selection of options, which makes them ideal for beginners and experts alike. These include the following:

  • Yahoo Fantasy
  • FantasyDraft

The first two are the real leaders in fantasy sports and often include high-quality promotions and bonuses. They are also the providers who are most likely to offer the largest number of sports for you to play in whatever way you prefer to do so.

Depositing At Real-Money Online Gambling Sites

For any online site that takes real money deposits, there are various ways to get the money to the provider. Most of these providers take three or more payment types so you can enjoy online gambling, sweepstakes contests, or daily fantasy sports. Below we’ll be looking into how each of these deposit options works so you can use the method if you wish to do so.

Using Credit Cards At Online Gaming Sites

One of the top options for depositing money at betting sites is through the use of a major credit card like a Mastercard, Visa, or American Express card. Some of the sites and apps will also allow other types of credit cards, such as DraftKings, which lets you use Discover for sports betting and fantasy sports. You’ll want to take a moment to research your available options before signing up to make sure your card is an option.

Credit cards are one of the top payment methods for many. They are highly accessible and accepted by almost any gaming site online. If you have a credit card, many people would argue that it is the best option for any betting websites or apps. However, it’s worth knowing what other options are available in case you prefer another deposit choice.

Using Debit Cards At Online Gaming Sites

The second option in a card form is using a debit card for your daily fantasy sports, gambling, sports betting, or other activities. This is another option that makes it straightforward and quick to fund an account before you start playing. Since almost all banks and credit unions offer debit cards, it’s also simple and easy for most people to get one.

In most cases, you add a debit card by signing into your account and looking for the cashier option. You’ll put in the details of the card along with personal information that can verify you are the owner of the card. Most of the time, the three-digit number on the back of your card will be required, along with the expiration date. Once you submit the information, it will be processed and can be used for future deposits.

How Prepaid Cards Work At Betting Sites

Those who want a specific card for deposits on online gaming websites can choose a prepaid card, which is offered by most major credit card companies. They have several advantages, including wide accessibility, higher anonymity compared to other deposit options, and the ability to convert physical cash into funds for gambling or gaming.

However, be sure you do some research when choosing a prepaid card for gambling sites. Some prepaid cards will not allow deposits to these sites. For that reason, these cards are a less commonly used by players. If your prepaid card doesn’t support the websites and apps on which you want to deposit money, you’ll have to find an alternative method.

Depositing With Bank Wires

Moving away from credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards, another option to deposit funds into a betting site is through a bank wire transfer. Most online gambling and gaming providers allow deposits to be made through bank transfers, and there are reasons to consider it. The biggest reason is that they’re very secure compared to other options.

This payment method is typically free of fees, so you won’t spend extra to enjoy your favorite sportsbooks or online casino. Additionally, bank transfers are the best option for those who make large bets since they typically allow larger deposits than any other option.

On the other hand, bank transfers can take longer to go through than other methods. The minimum deposit amount can also be higher than other choices. It also makes it nearly impossible to maintain any anonymity about your use of betting sites and mobile apps.

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Making Online Deposits In-Person

The least common option for depositing to an online betting site is by doing it in-person. Many operators of these sites do not even offer the option. For those that do, you need to physically go to the website’s sponsoring casino and make a deposit in-person. While this makes sense for online casinos that are located near you, it may be counterintuitive since you have to visit the casino to deposit funds so that you can gamble from home.

Since most online real money betting sites do not have this option, we recommend checking with the operator you want to use first to see if it’s possible. If it isn’t, you’ll have to choose a different provider or use another method to deposit money into your account.

Real Money Online Betting Apps

Most legal online sports betting, gambling, sweepstakes, and fantasy sports websites also offer apps that you can use on your phone or tablet. They will likely be available for users of both Android and iOS devices.

Typically, the apps will have most of the same features as the websites, although this can vary based on the provider. You’ll also find that most of them are designed simply and have a sleek interface that is exciting to use. If you prefer gaming on your phone to using a laptop, you shouldn’t have any issues finding mobile apps to make that a possibility.

US Online Gambling For Real Money – FAQs

Why did a legal online betting site decline my credit card?

There are several reasons why this can happen. It could be because you didn’t enter the correct card number, expiration date, or other information. It might also be based on the fact that many banks reject deposits to known gambling sites to avoid problems with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. If your bank prohibits the use of these sites, you may need to deposit in another way.

Why do legal online betting sites ask for my SSN?

This is based on laws and regulations that require casinos and many other businesses to report any transaction over $5,000 to the IRS. To ensure the casino or other betting site has the information to report the transaction, having your social security number is crucial. The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 requires this in order to prevent money laundering.

Do legal online betting sites offer mobile apps?

Yes, in many cases, they do. The legitimate online betting sites typically have a website optimized for desktop. They will also have mobile apps available for both Android and iOS devices. However, there are exceptions to the rule, so it’s best to check the offerings on your preferred betting site. Find out if the site you want to use has an app and whether it works with the devices you own.

There are several ways to determine whether a site is legal or illegal. The first is to check the laws to see if online betting is allowed in your location. If not, all the betting sites are likely to be illegal. However, even if betting is legal in your state, that doesn’t mean every site is. Most of the time, legal sites will have a casino or other organization in the state as a partner. You can check for these things when deciding whether to use a site.

Do any real money gambling sites let me play for free?

Some do, while some do not. There are sites that only offer free gambling, others that only offer gambling with real money, and some that have a little of both available. However, most real money gambling sites do require a deposit and focus more on paid games than free ones. Make sure you know what the site offers before you start using it to ensure you’re satisfied with the results.