The US gambling market has grown steadily over the past decade. Two landmark rulings are responsible for this – firstly the 2011 DoJ decision that the Federal Wire Act did not apply to online casinos and the overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
These decisions made it clear that it was now up to individual states to decide on legalizing online sports betting and online casinos, and that there was no federal law that could prevent them from doing so.
Since the 2011 ruling happened first, it’s natural that online casino was the first to be legalized, and as of 2021, the following states have now regulated their respective markets. These are (in order of legalization): Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. There is also the unique case of Nevada, which (under pressure from the big brick and mortar casinos) has only allowed online poker to be opened up.
Thanks to the popularity of sports betting, it has overtaken casinos for the number of states where it is legally possible (13 as of the present date). But recent confirmation from the US Fifth Circuit that no federal law stands in the way of online casinos should mean that we see more and more of these states open up.
Which operators will these new states open up to? Well, we already see a growing trend for national brands to start accepting customers in several states, as they can pool liquidity much better. So, we can expect to see some familiar faces when the likes of New York, Florida, and even one day Texas and California open up to online casinos.
Hopefully, residents of these states will be able to play at the following top 10 legal casinos, according to the analysts at .
DraftKings
This gambling behemoth made its name in the US in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) industry and has not turned its attention to the legal sports betting and casino verticals. A massive welcome bonus and a large selection of table games, slots, and live dealer titles make it an important site for any casino fan. Sports bettors who perform too well need to beware of getting limited, however.
Unibet
The Swedish gambling group is known to be one of the best-value sports betting providers in Europe. Unibet has decided to enter the US casino market too and bring their own brand of excellent customer service, outstanding game selection, and decent promotions to the American public.
Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget brand is famous across the US for its range of land-based casinos and hotels. A few years back, CEO and founder Tilman Fertitta (owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets) moved into the online space, with a separate Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand. It was recently sold to DraftKings, but the brand is so strong that it looks like the website will continue. We hope so, as it has some of the best selection of live games in New Jersey and Michigan.
Borgata
The Borgata is one of the best-known casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and is part of the MGM group. It has its own online casino website, however, that operates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Borgata is famous among online casino fans due to its $20 no deposit welcome bonus – and you can spend that free money on a full range of slots and table games.
Bet Rivers
BetRivers is the website of the popular Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, PA. It started off in Pennsylvania, naturally enough, and now is available to players in West Virginia and Michigan. The website uses the Rush Street Interactive software which users love and finding a large selection of slots is a breeze.
Caesars Casino
The Caesars name needs little introduction, as the group runs the most famous land-based joint on the Vegas strip. Fresh from their takeover of UK sportsbook William Hill, Caesars’ online presence offers integrated sports betting and casino experience, with access to one of the widest offerings of slots and table games in the US market. Their welcome bonuses are also consistently the best in the industry.
BetMGM
Another Vegas institution, MGM has moved online with this sportsbook and casino website fronted by Hollywood star Jamie Foxx. It’s a super slick website, with probably the clearest and easiest user interface in the US right now – and it’s available in all 4 states of NJ, PA, MI, and WV. BetMGM offers a full range of casino games and live dealer action – and is available with a dedicated mobile app. The welcome bonus of $1000 (in 2021) is outstanding too.
Wynn Bet
Real estate developer Steve Wynn owns an eponymous resort and casino on the Las Vegas strip, and now operates an online casino in Michigan and New Jersey. It’s a nice site, with a decent welcome offer, and a fantastic selection of slots. It also takes PayPal these days, which makes deposits a breeze.
Sugar House Casino
Like BetRivers, this site uses Rush Street Interactive software, so if you are familiar with one, you will be well-used with the other. Sugar House is only available to NJ residents, however, which is the largest market in the US (mostly due to NYC-based players crossing the state line). It does have a dedicated mobile app, though, and access to Bingo, Slingo, and Poker, as well as the classic casino games.
888 Casino
The Israeli-headquartered 888 gambling group has been operating the 3 Delaware online casinos since 2013, in a unique single operator monopoly model. The residents of the Blue Hen state don’t seem to be complaining though, as they can access the best slots under the Scientific Gaming umbrella. 888 also operates in New Jersey where they also offer live dealer games and access to a wide poker network.
We hope that more and more Americans get to benefit from the presence of legal online casinos in their state. Right now, slightly more than 10% of US residents can legally gamble online – with many forced to sign up with offshore casinos based in the Caribbean. At these illegal casinos, there are very few safeguards for responsible gambling or even cyber security, and unclear bonus conditions can make gambling there very dangerous. Let’s hope that more states decide to go the legalization route.