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Gambling is one of the most profitable industries in the United States, bringing in billions of dollars annually. The year 2021 set a record turnover for the industry — $55 billion. Compared to 2020, the turnover increased by 76.6%.
Yet only 20 years ago, gambling in the USA was only legal in two states. In other regions, gaming halls and electronic casinos remained illegal. Fans of arcade machines and cards had to make a trip just to have fun.
Today, everything is different. Real casinos and virtual clubs are legal in 48 states; only Utah and Hawaii have not legalized them. The number of establishments is in the hundreds, and there are even floating gaming halls.
The Casino Zeus team has studied the specifics of gambling in the United States. In this article, you will learn which web casinos online are popular in the U.S. in 2025. We’ll tell you which software manufacturers operate in the country and how the market is regulated.
Gambling Regulation in the USA
The Interstate Wire Act, a federal law on networks, entered force in 1961. The document prohibits organizers from accepting bets from players from other states. For example, if you are from Washington, you can make a bet on the website of a bookmaker registered in Washington, but you cannot make a bet with an operator from Louisiana. The offender faces a fine of $10,000, imprisonment for two years, or both penalties.
In 2011, the Department of Justice made it clear that this law did not apply to online casinos in the United States unless they involved betting on sports. In 2018, however, lawmakers changed their minds.
The types of gambling that were covered by the Interstate Wire Act were not clarified until 2019. During that period, the U.S. District Court ruled that the federal Wire Act did not apply to online gambling.
The Louisiana Fifth Court of Appeals followed suit in 2018. There have been a lot of court hearings, but the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on USA casino gambling online.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) is another gambling-related law. The document states:
- the banning of financial transactions involving an online gambling provider;
- the list of payments to be blocked;
- regulations for the verification and identification of transactions.
However, the law is silent about the prohibition of betting at online casinos in the United States. The status of state lotteries and betting on horse races is not specified either.
The industry is regulated differently in each state. In Missouri, Iowa, Louisiana, and Illinois, for example, it is illegal to play “on the ground”. Organizers place machines and tables in floating establishments.
In 2018, the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. After that, the government set standards for licensed sports betting and procedures for accepting online bets. As a result, online betting was allowed by gambling regulators in 14 states, including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and the District of Columbia.
Regulating Online Casinos in the USA
Online clubs are regulated by the territorial body — the state gambling commission or department. It acts in accordance with the adopted regulations in the region. But all regulators are subordinate to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The operator specifies the list of permitted categories of entertainment in the state before applying for an online casino and license. It is not yet possible to accept bets from players across the country.
Online casinos in the United States with an international license are also prohibited. At the same time, American players can make bets on the operators’ websites, which are not registered in the country, for example, in honest casinos in Canada.
State Gaming Commissions do not have a unified position on the regulation of the gambling industry; hence, it is impossible to control the sphere on an interregional level and get a common licenсe. No changes in the legislation are expected in the near future.
Obtaining an Online Casino License in the USA
Online bookmakers, reliable casinos, and other forms of online gambling are permitted in ten states. The procedure for issuing licenses for Internet service providers varies from county to county.
| State | Regulator | Permitted forms of online gambling |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Gambling Control Commission | Social casinos with slot machines. Users do not play with real money. They get points or virtual coins |
| Delaware | The Division of Gaming Enforcement | State where U.S. casinos, lotteries, and online poker are allowed |
| Illinois | Illinois Gaming Board | Sites with slot machines for entertainment purposes and sports betting |
| Iowa | The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission | Online virtual sports betting |
| Nevada | The Nevada Gaming Commission The Nevada Gaming Control Board |
Online poker rooms |
| New Hampshire | The Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority The New Hampshire Lottery |
Web casino without cheating with slot machines, poker, blackjack Poker Rooms Instant and traditional lotteries |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Casino Control Commission | Online poker Classic casino games |
| Pennsylvania | The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | Online casinos with good returns and traditional games: machines, poker, blackjack, roulette Sports betting |
| Rhode Island | The Gaming and Athletic section of the State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation | Sports sweepstakes with downloadable client for Android, iOS |
| West Virginia | The State Lottery Commission | Online casino dollars for American players with poker, blackjack, slots, roulette Online sports betting |
Slot Machines in U.S. Online Casinos
Slot machines were invented in the United States. Charles Frey of San Francisco, California, introduced the first mechanical machine with three reels sometime between 1887 and 1895. Slots with five reels were created in 1891 by Sittman and Pitt, who lived in Brooklyn, New York. There is a long-lasting dispute over who was the first to invent the slot machine.
With the advent of virtual institutions, all versions of “one-armed bandits” became available in online casinos in the U.S. with high payouts. Developers, in addition to land-based machines, began to release more online slots based on different themes. The most popular with U.S. and Canadian players are the following emulators:
- Mega Moolah by Microgaming. This highly volatile slot was nicknamed the “millionaire maker.” Players from New Zealand, Estonia, Canada, and Sweden have received large payments. In March 2019, an American got lucky — he snapped a jackpot of $12.945 million. Within the same period, a Canadian user won $3,308,063.71 playing CAD in a good casino.
- Gonzo's Quest from NetEnt. This slot machine with 3D graphics was released in 2011, but it is still popular because of the Free Falls, Earthquake, and multiplayer features.
- Mega Fortune by NetEnt. Another popular slot machine in the US online has made some players millionaires. In 2019, a Briton hit the progressive jackpot of 3.3 million euros. He spent only 5 cents, which proves once again: any bet can bring a big prize.
This generosity is the reason why revenue at U.S. casinos for money is growing every year. In 2021, betting turnover at traditional games is up 6.6 percent from the pandemic year of 2020.
Software Developers in the U.S.
The United States is home to several major software developers for normal casinos. They create software for land-based and online establishments.
The best-known are:
- International Gaming Technology (IGT). Once a small studio, this company has grown into an international corporation. Its offices are located in Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas. Its portfolio includes hundreds of video slots, roulette variants, card games, and instant lotteries. You can find IGT licensed software in 50% of legal American online casinos.
- WMS Gaming. The company was founded in 1943. Its first development was a pinball machine. Today, the studio’s portfolio includes hundreds of slot machines and terminals for land-based halls. Additionally, the company develops platforms for web clubs. It created the Player’s Life social network.
- Genesis Gaming. The company was created in Las Vegas in 2008. But it has offices in many cities around the world, including Vancouver. The studio is known for its innovative Radi8 series of online machines and the Radi+ player loyalty program. Users at online casinos licensed in the United States purchase a variety of amps and loot boxes with their accumulated points. The Genesis portfolio includes hundreds of slot machines on various themes.
Apart from the well-known studios in the gambling market, there are also those which are unfamiliar to the players. They develop software for online casinos. They include Custom Game Design, Slot Constructor, and Chico Rive Holdings.
Financial Transactions in Online Casinos in the USA
The main currency used in the U.S. virtual institutions is the U.S. dollar (USD). In international online casinos, it is usually euros, so when a resident of the U.S. pays for chips, the conversion takes place, and a commission is withheld. Players use various payment methods at legal American casinos with no deposit bonus offers.
| Payment system | Type | Waiting time for a transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Bank card | 0–24 hours |
| MasterCard | Bank card | 0–24 hours |
| PayPal | Debit electronic payment system | 0–24 hours |
| PayNearMe | Payment system through the cash register of American 7-Eleven convenience stores | 0–24 hours |
| Skrill | Electronic payment system for e-mail transfers | 0–24 hours |
| Neteller | Electronic payment system for e-mail transfers | 0–24 hours |
| iDebit | Canadian (CA) online service | 0–24 hours |
| Trustly | Online service for secure online shopping with a bank account | 0–24 hours |
Responsible Gaming
Gaming Commissions regulate gambling sites and protect players’ rights. The procedure for filing an appeal by a user is set by the local regulator. But the supervisory authority can only help players who use a site with a casino license in America. When betting on illegal sites, there is no way to punish the service provider for misconduct.
There is a body called the American Gaming Association (AGA). Its members are software developers and financial companies in the U.S. gambling market. The slogan of the association is Dynamics. Prosperity. Responsibility. Its website posts the results of market research and statistics on virtual and land-based U.S. casinos.
The Stop Illegal Gambling portal was created in 2015 under the auspices of the association. It is focused on detecting illegal transactions and interacting with law enforcement agencies. The site operates an Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Treatment of addiction is provided by private and state clinics. You can seek treatment with any of the following:
- National Council of Problem Gaming. Call 1-800-522-4700, email ncpg@ncpgambling.org, or visit https://www.ncpgambling.org/.
- American Gaming Association. Phone number 202-552-2675, email pa@americangaming.org, website https://www.americangaming.org/.
There is no national registry of persons excluded from gambling, but regulators require casino owners to provide customers with a self-exclusion option.
Land-Based Casinos in the U.S.
There are more than 450 real establishments in the country. Hundreds more are registered on Indian lands. Visitors share their feedback after visiting the halls.
The top places include:
- Beau Rivage Casino. It is located on the territory of the namesake hotel. There are many new slots and tables with blackjack, poker, and roulette. Address: 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530, USA.
- Golden Nugget Casino. The casino has a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and beautiful views from the hotel rooms. There is a poker room and many slots. Address: 600 Huron Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA.
- Catalina Island Casino. The building is located next to Avalon Bay, so visitors can enjoy the wonderful view of the ocean. The building is decorated with art deco murals. Inside it is a cinema and a huge ballroom where concerts and weddings are held. The address is 1 Casino Way, Avalon, CA 90704, USA.
- Caesar Atlantic City Casino. It is a large building with a Greek-style interior with columns, statues, and domes. There are lots of slot machines and tables with blackjack, poker, and roulette. Address: 2100 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA.
- Hard Rock Casino. The hotels and casinos are located next to the mall. In the evenings, the bars play live music, and parties and concerts are held. Club card players get a free drink. Address: 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA.
Travelers regularly leave reviews, so the rating can change depending on the preferences of the players.
Conclusions
The gambling business in the United States is constantly evolving. The growth of players’ spending in land-based and virtual clubs is a testament to this. The list of online casinos in the United States is also growing. However, AGA members note the abundance of illegal operators, which hinders the development of the industry. It is important for players to choose an official, licensed casino so that their rights are protected by the law. According to representatives of the association, the measures against money laundering should also be more effective.
Analysts from the AGA forecast that the industry will develop rapidly in the next decade. More than 62,000 people in the country will get jobs in this field.
FAQ
Is it legal to gamble at online casinos in the USA?
Yes, but not in all states. A list of no deposit US casinos online can be found on the Zeus website.
What payment methods are available at American casinos?
Players use bank cards, online wallets, and prepaid vouchers. Popular payment methods include PayPal, iDebit, Skrill, Visa, and MasterCard.
At what age can I gamble in casinos in America?
Gambling is available from the age of 21, but each state has its own requirements.
Do I have to pay tax on winnings in American casinos?
Yes, the amount of tax depends on the territory where the gambling takes place. Each county has its own commission percentage. However, it cannot exceed 40% of the prize.