Historical Highlights of Online Casinos
I wouldn’t be much of a tour guide unless I knew what I was talking about. So I’m just going to enlighten you briefly with some casino-related facts. Let’s flash back 200 years to the borders of Wyoming and Utah to a tiny mining township which housed the very first land-based casino known as Brown’s Saloon.
Brown’s was dedicated entirely to satisfying the earthly pleasures of the miners. I won’t go into too much detail there, but suffice to say that miners enjoyed more than just casino games behind the saloon doors! Things sure have moved on since then and land-based casinos have sprung up all across the US, but most notably in the vacation cities of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Moving at the speed of light to the late 1990s when humans first discovered the Internet, which truly opened their eyes and became their window to the world. It also became home to the first online casino that accepted real money tokens, which was launched in 1994 thanks to software developers Microgaming.
And as they say, the rest is history, which means that part of our journey is over, but I’ve got plenty more to tell you and show you.
Our Favorite Online Casinos
Online casino reviews USA
Many US gamblers are frankly in a state of confusion where online casinos and sports betting are concerned, with some US states have legalized
gambling sites, some still considering it and yet more staunchly against it.
There are actually two sides to this coin to add to the confusion.
- If you happen to live in one of the more liberal states, then you are already catered for and permitted to gamble completely legitimately. There are plenty of online casinos in Pennsylvania ready to visit and you’ll also find it equally easy to track down a casino for real money in NJ for example. They’re easy to spot too; any online casino or sportsbook in those two US states is required to proudly display the licensing badge related to its state of origin on the web portal.
- However, what can you do if you’re from one of the states that is highly unlikely to legalize gambling, like Utah and Hawaii? Your only alternative is to sign up for an offshore operation, but as online casino ratings are non-existent for some of these, you’ll need to watch out for some of the sketchy sites that exist out there. More on that later…
So, where exactly is online casino gaming legal in the USA?
| Delaware |
Nevada |
New Jersey |
| Pennsylvania |
West Virginia |
Michigan |
Where is online gambling legal in the United States?
It’s a very good question in fairness and I’m more than happy to answer it for you.
The US comprises 50 states plus D.C. and since the all-powerful PASPA laws were overturned in 2018, each of those states is responsible for making its own decisions about all forms of gambling.
That covers everything from land-based premises with a single slot machine, right through to online mega-casinos with millions of money tokens in turnover.
Those US states which have already officially legalized online gambling are still not easily defined by a simple yes or no, there are exceptions each state has implemented. For example in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it is illegal to place a bet on in-state college sports teams or events, but pretty much everything else is permitted.
Situations in the online gambling USA industry can change very quickly, sometimes overnight.
Best rated online casinos
Bet now
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you’ll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM Review
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet now
Online Casino options…
I’d like to start by telling you about some of the different options on my casino sites list. You’ll find it makes a useful gambling comparison, which I’m hoping will give you a much better idea of what your ideal online casino destination might be.
- Casino only:
If you’re only interested in playing casino games, then reading some of my casino site reviews will help you select a good one. This type of operation will usually offer you multiple casino table games, hundreds of different slots, and a variety of live-dealer gaming opportunities, with everything from roulette to game show style options.
- Casino and sportsbook:
Here, you’ll find a happy online blend of sports betting and casino games to play. This sector is by far the most popular for those who happen to enjoy wagering on their sporting idols. Our expert reviewers are assigned the task of trying many of these out and their casino site reviews can be found documented on the PlayersBest web portal for your entertainment and further knowledge.
- Mixed operations:
The mixed operators on my online casino list do their level best to keep all online gamblers happy all of the time, by offering them a bit of everything – casino games, slots, sports betting, poker, esports, and pool betting. You won’t find anything spectacular in any section, but they can be a lot of fun if you have the desire to try out different types of entertainment.
- Specialist sites:
Sweepstakes betting is an interesting alternative. Here you won’t need any standard money tokens, you’ll use free coins, or some other form of digital currency to play with instead. That means that it is entirely legal in all US states, with the exception of Washington State. Horse racing is the most popular sweepstake manifestation, but there are a limited number of
live social casinos
and
new sweeps casino
sites offering slots, casino, and sports betting sites too.
- Blacklisted operators:
Here at PlayersBest, we have dedicated ourselves to discovering the best legal and licensed casinos across the cosmos. However, we have also made some rather unpleasant findings along the way. Due to this, we feel it is our duty to present our findings on operators who do not own a valid license, nor offer sufficient security features, who operate offshore, provide qustionable customer service, sketchy payment methods, sub-par gaming options, or are otherwise deemed untrustworthy by our experts. If ever you see the term
blacklisted online casino
in our reviews, proceed with caution – we cannot recommend these operators due to them ticking one (or a few) of the boxes mentioned above.
Easiest Casino to join now!
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
How to find the best online casino sites
There are some rules you need to know about to make sure that you are safe during your visit to the best online casinos.
1. Licensing
I have seen that some casinos are more pleasant in their business dealings than others and one way to assess their integrity is to check out their verification documents, that is their online gambling license. If you are a resident of one of the more liberal US states, then the best online casino site option for you is one that proudly displays a state license on its web portal.
If you are thinking of using an offshore casino site, then you must tread a little more carefully. Firstly, it’s important to understand that you are technically breaking US law by gambling on one of these sites although there are very few cases of any action being taken against US citizens.
Secondly, I don’t recommend picking out an online casino at random. I’d always suggest only using a site that has been around for a while and that is already frequented by many other happy visitors. I’d also strongly recommend that you enter the PlayersBest web portal and read plenty of the casino site reviews you’ll find on display there.
2. Security
Having a secure connection between your device and your casino’s web portal is always the place to start. Look at the URL in the address bar at the top of your browser page and you should see the sacred padlock icon. If you hover over it with your pointing device, it will magically display the source of the SSL certification. Every web page should feature the icon and have a URL that begins with https://.
When it comes to sharing your details and adding money to your online casino account, you need a private portal with an asymmetric session key and a minimum of 128-bit SSL encryption in place. Don’t accept anything less, bad things can happen to your personal data, or even worse you could have your money tokens morphed away into the ether, it’s really that crucial.
3. Terms and Conditions
I understand that most of us get no pleasure from reading such long and detailed documents, no matter how much I underline the fact that those documents are really important. Luckily, our experts have no such reading difficulties and provide all the information you need to know in their online casino reviews. However, this is not a failsafe plan, it does not excuse you from checking for yourself.
Within this subject area lies another puzzle that you might need to solve. If your online casino or sportsbook offers free money tokens of any sort, that means you must read extra terms and conditions to understand exactly how to obtain them.
4. How to transport your money tokens
I’m going to start by telling you that US bank bosses don’t like online gambling sites. They have the power to block payments to gambling sites and employ resources to track down those transactions amongst the millions they process every day. Players, understandably, find this most annoying and frustrating, but outside of their control.
If you find yourself in that situation, there are a few ways to get around it and one of the most popular alternatives is to use an e-wallet. Now, I do know that there are a lot of different variations in the US and they all have their own pros and cons. If you’re unsure which might be the best for you to use, then you’ll find plenty of helpful payment method guides over at the PlayersBest web portal
5. Seeking help with technical failures
All of the best casino sites online care about their players and support them in a variety of ways. The ideal online casino will make everything clear for you, including how they are licensed and how they ensure that their games are verified as fair. You’ll find demo versions to play and perhaps even a fact sheet with hints and tips on how they work.
Alongside this, you’ll also find there are several ways to get in contact with the customer service team should you have any questions or perhaps an issue with your gaming platform or account portal. It’s always good to see 24/7 support with either a toll-free phone number or a live chat option too. Part of the PlayersBest online casino site reviews reflects on this part of the casino and crew members even test it out before reporting back to the web portal.
Exclusive casino bonuses
1.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x
3.
Get Up To 40 SC FREE + 200 Gold Coins and 100 Diamonds!
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
4.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
5.
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 9.99
Best online casino games
Now that I’ve talked you through some of the crucial, but rather less exciting aspects of finding the best online casino, it’s time to get down to the fun side. Let’s talk about what you’re likely to find once inside.
1. Online Slots
Slot games often feature as the biggest part of most online casino sites. If you enjoy playing them, you’ll likely already have your favorite title, theme or preference from a specific software developer. If that’s the case don’t leave it to chance that a casino will have exactly the slots that you happen to like playing.
If you have no special favorites, then it’s still worth checking a couple of things. Many
slots casino online
sites list their games by software developer. The developing studios I’ve listed below are all known to provide great games in terms of both gameplay and graphics quality. I’ve added a couple of the most popular titles from each, which I’m certain will have crossed your radar at some point:
- NetEnt:
Gonzo’s Quest and Starburst
- Microgaming:
Mega Moolah and Game of Thrones
- Playtech:
King Kong and Gladiator
- Real-Time Gaming (RTG):
Aztec Millions and Crazy Vegas
- International Game Technology (IGT):
Family Guy, Cleopatra, and Wheel of Fortune
- Play ‘n GO:
Book of Dead
That’s not an exhaustive list by any means, so I’m not saying that they’re the only developers of games worthy of playing. However, some online casinos have opted to develop their own brand of slots, presumably due to savings in money tokens. If you come across any of these I strongly recommend trying them out as demos first, or you might find they don’t match up to expectations.
2. Casino table games
There are two particular games that you are always going to find on any online casino site: blackjack and roulette. There are often many variations on a theme, from classic play options right through to the most recent multi-deck games, I’ve seen around 100 different ones in fact.
From your perspective quantity is good, from mine I see numbers. In this scenario, those numbers represent the house edge percentage, which to you means more or fewer chances of winning money tokens. It’s always worth looking into that side as well.
You’ll find a similar situation exists for roulette games but now you know how to check out your chances and find a game that gives you the biggest advantage, you’re already onto a winner. Other table games you’re also likely to have close encounters with include baccarat, sic bo, craps, and pai gow dice.
3. Poker
This is a fascinating game that requires skill to play. Poker is one of the most-played card games on the planet and comes in several game variants. Even if you’ve never braved a real-life poker tournament, there’s nothing to stop you from trying out online poker to improve your skills.
Even as a complete beginner you’ll find digital games rated at your level and suited to those who have limited money tokens to invest. For those of you who think they’re ready for a bigger challenge, you can try out some earth-shattering live dealer games.
By the way, when you check out the math for online poker, you’ll see it’s described as the casino ‘Rakeback’ for poker games, rather than the house edge as for other table games.
4. Live dealer games
It’s not just poker that you can play live either. Many of the games I mentioned in the casino table games section also have live dealer versions. How many you’ll find at any specific online casino does vary quite a bit, so if you have a preference for this type of play, then it’s certainly worth checking that out in advance to avoid disappointment later.
If you’re really lucky, you might come across a special live casino bonus promotion for a particular game or live table. If you do, you’ll need to make sure you use it quickly as many of these bonuses have a very short time to make use of them before they expire.
By the way, if you haven’t played in this way before, rest assured that it is great fun. However, I do recommend that you research the way different live games are played in advance and also make sure that you learn the etiquette that applies in a live game situation. If you don’t it’s likely to give you more stress than fun.
The Future of online casinos
Something that makes my sensory extremities really waggle with excitement is anything that involves new technology. I’ve had two waggling events in recent times and I have an urgent need to attempt a portrayal that humans will understand.
One is virtual sports. They’re growing more popular every year, and I’ve got to say, can be pretty fun to watch. I was almost tempted to try a tiny wager myself.
However, experience number two, is one that I highly recommend trying if you get the chance. Virtual reality casinos are starting to become more and more popular. Once you enter through the doors, it’s the closest thing to entering a land-based casino you’ll ever find and the rules of engagement are no different.
You can walk around wherever you want, buy a drink from the bar, and communicate with other patrons inside. And I nearly forgot, of course, you can play the games too.
The only potential downside to this new technology is the need to obtain equipment to adapt your eyes and hands to this environment, which at this time still demands a considerable amount of money to purchase. But when you feel the time is right definitely give it a shot.
TOP 5 Online Casino Bonuses
1.
Bet $5 Get $150 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you’ll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
2.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
3.
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
+ 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
4.
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit
5.
Second chance bet: Get up to $500 in Bonus Bets
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Free money token opportunities
It’s not just live dealer games that come with the opportunity to get free money tokens at the best casino sites online. You’ll find betting offers for new customers with mega amounts of money tokens to collect just for signing up. But here’s a little word of warning…
As I mentioned earlier on, there are far fewer casino-only sites than mixed operations, which have a casino and a sportsbook running side by side. Often you can access both of them directly using the same web portal and account, but that’s not always the case.
The same goes for their money token bonuses and although it’s a tough choice, you might just have to decide which is really the best one to pick. I’m fully aware that when it comes down to money tokens humans have a tendency to pick the biggest number. However, in reality, bigger is not always better when it comes to bonuses.
It all comes down to numbers (again) and also to that tedious small print I mentioned earlier and the constraints contained within it. You must learn to follow the rules accordingly, or your dreams of winning it big might fall flat.
Take heart though, some of the best online casino websites want to keep you on board, so even as an existing player you’ll continue to be offered more
online casino bonus,
best online promos, and added value vouchers just for playing regularly at the best casino sites online. How exciting is that?
Members of our team monitor those opportunities constantly and portray any that they think are worthy of our your attention on the PlayersBest web portal. There, you’ll find every part of the bonus puzzles laid out in clear detail, so you won’t have to work too hard to take full advantage of them.
Comparing casino bonuses
Not only does it pay to compare casino sites, but you’ll also need to compare casino bonuses to make sure that each special offer works for you. After all, there is a big difference between how a matched deposit bonus and a losing bet refund works!
Our advice is to always dig deeper to see how good each casino bonus really is. The worst thing that you can do is to simply claim the biggest casino bonuses as the chances are that you’ll be stuck with wagering requirements that are near impossible to contend with
Instead, take the time to read through the small print of each casino bonus. This will give you a good understanding of the true value of each deal and from here you can simply compare each casino bonus so that you use the promotion that’s best for you.
Step-by-step guide to finding the best online casino site
You may feel like there are more online casinos than there are stars in the sky. This doesn’t mean that you should settle for signing up to the first gambling site in the USA that you see. We think that it’s always smart to compare how different online casinos work first so that you can see which is the best fit for your wagering mission. Here are the steps we’d recommend taking to find and sign up on the perfect online casino:
Am I missing something? – Use our guides and online casino reviews for the USA
If you think you’re missing something then drop us a line. The PlayersBest crew never lets up on finding and documenting anything and everything they think US gamblers, regardless of their level, will find valuable.
It doesn’t matter what you seek, the stash of guides and reviews contained within our web portal is likely to hold it. We try to cover all bases starting with a betting guide for beginners and working up from there to detailing gambling strategies, giving you tips on popular casino games, and even detailed breakdowns of the many money token transfer methods available to US gamblers.
Our reviews are another whole story, in fact, a whole new world. You won’t just find reviews of casinos and sports betting sites, the crew goes above and beyond to give you the lowdown on portable device apps, free money token offers, and much more.
Draw to Conclusion – Are you satisfied?
Thank you for joining us and our whole team hopes that you’ve managed to spot something along the way that helped you out. We really have provided you with the arsenal you need to compare online casinos and choose the best operator to suit your needs.
Best Online Casino Reviews December 2024
1.
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
Get Up To 40 SC FREE + 200 Gold Coins and 100 Diamonds!
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Best Online Casino FAQ Section
💳 What sort of payment methods can I use at the best online casinos in the US?
When it comes to making a deposit or withdrawal, it’s vital that you find an online casino that supports payment methods that you are happy with. Our
online casino guide
articles and operator reviews provide a breakdown of what banking options you can expect to find at American sites.
🕹️ What sort of games are available at real money online casinos in the USA?
Slot games usually dominate each of the
best real money casino
site in the USA, but the selection doesn’t end there. Explore the best online casino reviews on our site so find out more about what game selection each operator showcases to its customers.
💰 Are the bonus offers worth my time at US online casinos?
Bonuses are essentially free casino credits that allow you to play games without footing the bill yourself. Some bonus offers are more competitive than others, so we strongly suggest that you rate them on a one-for-one basis. You can compare online casinos and their bonus offers using some of the best online casino reviews in the USA, right here, at Playersbest.
