US Gambling Sites

While there are plenty of land-based casinos throughout the United States, players who want to take their real-money gaming online often find themselves wondering which websites are legitimate, legal and worth their time. With so many options available, it can be not only hard to determine which casinos are available to those in the U.S., but which gaming establishments are the best for those players who enjoy betting online.

3 Features Great Casinos Share

Before selecting a casino from this list or another source, it is important to understand which features are most important to look for in U.S.-friendly gaming portals. The number of years in business, the quality of the promotions offered and the reliability of banking processes are three factors that separate the good casinos from the great ones.

  • Newly established online casinos may be worth a player's time and money, but it is typically a far better idea to choose a gaming establishment that has been in business for a number of years; after all, doing business with any new enterprise can be risky. By playing at a casino that has been around for 10 years or more, gamblers can generally rest assured that the operation will not suddenly fold or engage in illegal or unfair gaming practices. Finding out how long a casino has been in business can often be determined through a quick internet search, and those who cannot locate such information can contact the casino to find out. It may also be helpful to read reviews of casinos, as the most reputable ones will have a variety of third-party reviews or endorsements that can be viewed by anyone who takes the time to read them. Similarly, this is also a good time to check on the casino's licensing, as legitimate gaming establishment will hold such credentials. Information on licensing and regulatory bodies should be prominently displayed on the casino's website, typically near the bottom. Gamblers who cannot find this information at a specific casino may be wise to completely steer clear of that gaming establishment.
  • Gamblers choosing a new place to play online may be swayed to select one over the other when a gaming establishment is advertising an unbelievable welcome bonus; however, like anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That said, there are plenty of legitimate casino bonuses for new players, and they often offer significant amounts of casino cash. However, before choosing a casino and the bonus that it offers, customers must understand playthrough requirements; while many players assume that a casino bonus is free money that they can use to wager, win and withdrawal, but that is not necessarily the case. Playthrough requirements can be best described as the minimum amount of times that bonus funds must be wagered before they can be withdrawn as cash; the biggest, best-appearing bonuses often have huge minimums that will undoubtedly be difficult to meet. Gamblers should also be aware of the fact that the actual game in question has an impact on bonuses and the playthrough requirements associated with them. For example, those who enjoy games like blackjack and roulette may see a smaller bonus with playthrough requirements that are vastly different than those associated with the large offers that are generally available to slot players.
  • Banking practices can vary greatly between casinos; from payment methods accepted to the length of time that passes between a player request and his or her payout, understanding the banking processes available at a gaming establishment will directly impact a gamer's experience at any given casino. First and foremost, depositors must ensure that transactions processed on the casino's server are processed securely. Players should specifically look for SSL encryption when conducting a transaction on a casino server; SSL, also known as secure sockets layer, encryption is assurance that a third party cannot interfere with information being transmitted between the depositor and the casino where he or she is funding an account. Most casinos accept major credit cards, but they generally also offer the opportunity to add money through other sources, including payment services like NETeller, Western Union and several others; additionally, players often have the opportunity to fund their account through prepaid methods that may be purchased in the real world and used online. Finally, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin are often accepted when making payments to an online casino; not only does this eliminate the potential for compromised banking information, it makes the spending habits of online gamers virtually undetectable by their spouses, employers or anyone else who might misuse such information.

Ranking Quality Casinos

Online casino players who have taken the time to evaluate the online casinos that they have been considering may still end up with a fairly substantial list of gaming establishments from which they may choose. However, those who do not wish to spread their entertainment budget between four or five high-quality casinos may wish to further rank their selections to ensure that they are playing at the place that best meets their financial and entertainment requirements. Those ranking their top five casinos may want to do so using a combination of some of the factors above alongside some new additions, including length of operation, welcome bonuses, payout times and reputation among players. Online casino players who lack the time or energy to complete their own rankings may find ours useful.

The Top 5 Casinos Open to U.S. Players

Online gamblers looking for hard, fast information on where to play will be pleased to learn that there are several U.S.-friendly casinos that offer a satisfactory combination of the factors that should be considered when choosing where to game. Described below are five of the online casinos that not only welcome players from the United States, but also have a longstanding, excellent reputation, offer signup bonuses with acceptable playthrough requirements, provide a secure experience for customers who opt to play for real money, and are fully licensed. Keep reading to find out more about these high-quality gaming establishments. In no particular order, reputable U.S.-friendly places to play include:

  • Bovada Casino, originally known as Bodog, has been entertaining players for well over a decade. While the name changed and the gaming choices and other betting options have evolved over the years, gamblers continue to enjoy various forms of entertainment, including casino play, betting on horses and the thrills in the poker room. The welcome bonus at Bovada Casino is a 100 percent match of up to $1,000. The promo code can be used on three deposits for a maximum total of $3,000; the offer is attached to a reasonable 25X playthrough requirement in place for each deposit. Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and in business for 15 years, Bovada Casino is one place players can gamble with the assurance that they are experiencing legal, fair entertainment every day.

  • Sportsbetting.ag is an excellent place play casino games, but gamblers can also look forward to wagering on sports, esports, horses and live casino choices. Additionally, Sportsbetting.ag has been in business for more than 15 years, giving it a terrific amount of experience in the industry. Newly registered real-money players can score themselves a 75 percent bonus of up to $1,000, and gamers only have a 12X playthrough requirement to meet before they may withdraw funds from the casino. Those who have never deposited using at Sportsbetting.ag using Bitcoin are eligible for a 50 percent bonus of $500; while the rollover requirement on this promotion is 14X, it is still fairly quick and easy to meet.

  • GTbets Casino offers gamblers plenty of outstanding casino games, but players can also cash in on tremendous wagering opportunities with horses and sporting contests. While GTbets has been open only since 2011, its outstanding reputation has made a splash with bettors all over the world. Those interested in casino play can look forward to scoring double loyalty points with the revolving Game of the Month, and those who enjoy placing sports wagers can look forward to a 100 percent bonus and a 50 percent bonus of up to $500 each on their; first and second deposits, respectively; the playthrough requirements on the sports betting bonus is 10X, while slots players will experience 25X playthrough requirement.

  • BetOnline is another online gaming portal that leaves gamblers satisfied with not just their entertainment options, but with the bonuses offered, banking and other casino features. With more than 10 years of serving customers, gamblers need never worry about whether BetOnline is a reputable establishment, and new depositors can look forward to a splendid 50 percent bonus when they initially deposit with one of the accepted cryptocurrency. Unlike many casinos, the cryptocurrency is not attached to a traditional playthrough requirement, but instead simply does not allow withdrawals within the first 30 days. Sports bettors are eligible for a 50 percent bonus worth up to $2,500, and the earlier described 30-day playthrough requirement is in effect with this offer as well.

  • Wild Casino, a recently established online gaming choice does not have the long history that most of the options described on this list; in fact, Wild Casino was not even available to players until 2017. However, this casino is one that is already setting itself apart from competitors with its excellent bonuses and high-quality customer service. Offering new players a sweet five-part welcome bonus that encompasses slots, table games and video poker, Wild Casino really embraces new players and allows them to try various types of gaming after they deposit. While playthrough requirements for slots, table games and video poker are 30X, 80X and 60X, respectively, the total value of the welcome bonus package could reach as high as $5,000.

Recognizing Rogue Casinos

The phrase "rogue casino" is used to describe gaming establishments that engage in unfair play, a lack of transparency and other unethical practices, and the ability to recognize a rogue casino is incredibly important for those who play with real money. There are several ways to uncover a casino's legitimacy, and all gamblers are advised to verify a gaming establishment before making a real-money deposit or revealing sensitive personal information.

  • Casino reviews, including those that leave room for user comments, are one of the best sources of information when it comes to determining the fairness and legality of any given gaming site.
  • While most casinos are genuinely interested in providing quality entertainment, those that can be considered rogue may plagiarize legitimate gaming establishments in an effort to appear as though they are on the up and up; those who steal content from another casino are likely running a scam and should be avoided.
  • Investigating a casino's licensure is another fantastic way to discover just how legitimate it is; first, establish that the gaming establishment is truly licensed, then find out where it is licensed. The jurisdictions was the most widely accepted and used licensing requirements are the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Alderney; typically, casinos licensed in one of these three areas are acceptable.
  • Finally, some real-money players like to put customer service to the test before they actually deposit and begin playing, arguing that they prefer to verify that a customer service team is experienced enough to handle basic casino issues before a serious one, like an issue with a withdrawal after a big win, crops up. Those who choose to do this may want to ask customer service some basic questions about promotions, banking and playthrough requirements.

Simply Great Gaming for U.S. Players

Whether you're new to online casino play or you are simply looking for somewhere different to play, the casinos described here are awesome choices for those gamblers who are ready to cash in on high-quality, legal gaming in the United States. By taking the time to evaluate where you plan to play and truly understand the welcome bonus and other special offers, lucky players will find that they can truly enjoy online casino gaming as an entertaining and potentially lucrative hobby. Head to one of the casinos mentioned here or one that meets your personal standards today to get started; you'll be glad that you did.