Play at an Online Casino USA for Real Money. CasinoTop10 provides a concrete space for the best online casino reviews for US players. Each casino listed on the site features games such as online Roulette, Slots, Video Poker, Craps, Blackjack and many more. So what are you waiting for?
The popularity of USA friendly online casinos is unquestionably growing. Many online poker operators, that were once exclusively dedicated to providing poker, have expanded into providing online casinos for players in the US to accommodate the demand – and some doing quite a good job of it.
Here is my list of the best online casinos for US players for 2020:
There are other online casino operators that have gone the other way – starting life as a sports betting or casino operator, and then adding online poker as a service for its clients. Although these operators may have been around a bit longer, it does not necessarily mean their casinos are any better!
What Are The Top USA Online Casinos?
Different players have different motives for playing at USA online casinos, so choosing the best US casino sites will depend on your particular preferences. For example, if your motive is to have an enjoyable, recreational gambling experience, I would suggest that you play at the top recommended casinos that offer low stakes gambling options with good graphics.
POKER SITE | SIGNUP BONUS | BONUS CODE | SIGNUP |
---|---|---|---|
Wild Casino | 100% Up To $5000 | WILDSLOTS | Play Now |
Bovada Casino | 100% Up To $5000 | Not Needed | Play Now |
Ignition Casino | 100% Up To $2000 | Not Needed | Play Now |
Cafe Casino | 500% Up To $5000 | CAFE500 | Play Now |
Slots.lv Casino | 200% Up To $5000 | HELLOSLOTS200 | Play Now |
Naturally many players will be attracted to online casinos because of the bonuses. There are dozens of different bonuses to choose from depending on your preferred style of game, but you should always make sure you are aware of the clearing requirements – and how the bonus is released – before dedicating hours of your life to pick up just a few dollars.
I dedicated hours of my life to playing and finding the best US online casinos, and I believe that most players will find something to suit their tastes and their wallets with our list underneath.
Here's A Detailed Look At The 5 Best US Online Casinos
www.WildCasino.ag
Wild Casino is a pretty good venue for slots players; but, if you enjoy playing video poker and table games, you will love this site. There are plenty of games to choose from, loads of non-slots bonuses to take advantage of, and plenty of weekly and monthly promotions to keep you engaged.
www.Bovada.lv/Casino
Visitors to Bovada Casino benefit from access to an industry-leading online sportsbook and one of the busiest US-friendly poker sites, but is the site worth visiting for the casino element alone? I certainly think so, and you can read my explanation why I believe this is one of the best US-friendly online casinos in my Bovada Casino review.
www.IgnitionCasino.eu
Ignition Casino may be a relatively new kid on the block, but the people behind it have got decades of experience in providing an excellent casino experience. Is it for everyone? Naturally not. Like every online casino, there are pros and cons. To find out if the pros outweigh the cons, read my Ignition Casino review.
www.CafeCasino.lv
Cafe Casino is one of the best options for people that like to deposit with Bitcoin. You can also deposit with credit cards, but then you will ‘only’ get a 500% match up to $5,000 instead of the 600%. You will find a rich collection of casino games with more than 400 games being offered. Cafe Casino offers a good customer support and fast payouts.
www.Slots.lv
If you like slots games, you will love Slots.lv – the online casino with the widest range of slot games anywhere. Slot games are not the only things waiting for you at this site, so read my Slots.lv review to find out more about its other gaming opportunities, the valuable bonuses, and potentially very lucrative rewards program.
Are Online Casinos Legal for US Players?
Let´s start my online casino guide by getting the elephant out of the room. If you live in a jurisdiction that has specifically banned playing at an online casino, that only permits state-sanctioned gambling or that expressly prohibits non-regulated USA friendly online casinos, you should avoid playing at casinos with offshore licenses.
Offshore casinos are perfectly legal. They are licensed and regulated in their own jurisdictions. They provide casino games to players from all over the world with the same level of fairness that you would find at any regulated casino. They are able to offer better benefits and rewards to players than regulated online casinos and have much bigger jackpots than casinos in ring-fenced markets.
When you register for an account with USA casinos online, the terms and conditions inform you that you can only sign up for an account if online gambling is permitted in your jurisdiction. If you agree to the terms and conditions but live in an area where online casinos are banned, it is you who is acting illegally and not the casino operator.
Registering with USA Casinos Online
Registering for an account is a fairly simple process. It is important to remember that, when you create an account with a US friendly casino, you enter the same details as appear on any documents you will use to verify your account. Verification is always necessary before you are allowed to withdraw your winnings, so best to get it done straight away.
Depending on your choice of USA friendly casinos, some will ask you to download the software. Others offer an “Instant Play” browser-based version of their casino games, while some US-facing online casinos are only accessible through the poker client. Typically there will be a variety of deposit options to take advantage of, and all online casinos naturally accept US dollars.
Where available, I recommend playing your first casino games for play money. This allows you to become familiar with the rules of the game, the betting process, and the software. The graphics on some live dealer casinos for US players can be a bit temperamental, so best to make sure the software works on your computer before investing your hard earned cash at the virtual tables.
Mobile Casinos that Accept US Players
With the exception of poker sites that only provide access to casino games through a downloadable client, you can play casino games on any mobile device without having to download apps or special software. Most US casino sites have their websites optimized for mobile devices and playing casino games on a Smartphone, Blackberry, Windows Phone or iPhone is just as straightforward as playing on a desktop.
From my own personal experience, I would suggest that you avoid playing games such as roulette on small screen mobile devices – when placing your chips on a specific number can be quite tricky – but most other table games, slots, and video poker can be played anywhere and at any time at mobile casinos.
The full range of banking facilities can be accessed from your mobile, and you can also keep up to date with how you are progressing in casino promotions. You can even play casino tournaments at some USA casinos online, but beware of being easily distracted and make sure you have full battery power before starting a tournament – these events can last a whole day!
Games You Will Find at USA Casinos Online
Not all US casinos offer a full range of games. Most will offer a selection from the following – with many offering table games in live dealer format. Live dealer casinos for US players are a relatively new addition to the portfolio of games you will find and, as technology advances, you can expect to find more innovations being introduced.
Blackjack
Possibly the most popular casino table game either live or online. Almost every online casino provides several different formats of blackjack. It is also the most popular game played at live dealer casinos for US players.
Roulette
Roulette is often provided in single player mode, multiplayer mode and with a live dealer. My advice would be to play European single zero roulette rather than American double-zero roulette because your chances of winning are greater.
Craps
Craps is one of the most entertaining casino games to be played in a live venue, and although playing Craps does not have the atmosphere, it is still fun. If you don´t have a thorough understanding of the game, read a guide before you put your cash down!
Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games in the world. Especially popular among high rollers and Asian gamblers, baccarat look complicated but is essentially betting on the flip of a coin (or was I doing it wrong?).
Slots
These are the most populous games at any online casino – there are thousands to choose from, with more being introduced every day. The most popular slots are undoubtedly those with progressive jackpots, but these do not necessarily offer the best payout percentages.
Video Poker
There are many different formats of Video Poker to choose from. My personal favorite is Jacks or Better playing three hands at a time, but it is possible at some USA casinos online to play up to one hundred hands simultaneously.
3 Card Poker
There is also plenty of variety in Three-Card Poker games at USA friendly online casinos. Side bets are often allowed on whether or not you will get a pair or better, but these represent poor value in respect of your actual odds of getting a pair within three cards.
Keno
Definitely not for the serious gambler, Keno can be a bit of fun if you are into your number games and fancy your chances at a substantial cash win. Because of the large house edge, they all offer this variety of casino game.
Bingo
Bingo games at online casinos are a little different from those you might be familiar with at dedicated bingo websites. In the online casino version of the game, you play against the house by choosing how many balls will get called in each game – the fewer number, the more you win. Completely different from playing against other players.
House Edges at US Online Casinos
Playing at US online casinos can be a load of fun and enable you to win a little money or a life-changing jackpot. However, you should be aware that casinos make their money by having an “edge”. This is the percentage that games are in their favor. For example, if you were to bet on every number on a European roulette wheel, you would be placing 37 chips to get 36 back – an edge to the casino of 2.7%.
The edge varies according to the game, so I have listed a selection of games and what the house edge is (you will never play American roulette again). Please be aware that slots are not included in this list because each type of slot has a “payout percentage”. These can usually be found on casino websites and can vary considerably – so it is worth taking a look if you want to maximize your winnings.
Casino Game | House Edge |
---|---|
Baccarat | when playing as banker 1.06% |
when playing as player 1.24% | |
Blackjack (Vegas rules) | 0.28% |
Caribbean Stud | 5.22% |
Keno | 25% |
Three Card Poker | 3.37% (Ante and Play) |
7.28% (Pairs or Better) | |
Video Poker | 0.46% (Jacks or Better) |
European Roulette (Single Zero) | 2.7% |
American Roulette (Double Zero) | 5.26% |
Craps | varies according to nature of bet from 0% (Odds) up to 16.67% (Any Seven) |
My Conclusion about US Online Casinos
With all of these games being in favor of the house, is it worth playing at casinos? Absolutely. Playing online at casinos is an enjoyable and potentially lucrative pastime. However, I would suggest you keep an eye on how much you are gambling because unlike online poker – in which you buy into a tournament or cash game for a certain amount – when you play casino games, your entire bankroll is available to you.
It is nice to watch your overall bankroll increasing, but it is not inconceivable that you could lose your whole bankroll in one bad session. The best way to avoid losing more than you can comfortably afford is to moderate your deposits. Most USA friendly online casinos offer frequent reload bonuses, so you are unlikely to miss out on any bonuses or rewards while keeping your bankroll under control.
Happy gaming!
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US poker sites ranked by traffic
Poker Site | Online | Cash | 24 H Peak | 7 Day avg | Last Week | Play Now |
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WSOP/888 US | 94 | 381 | 220 | 330 | Play Now | |
PokerStars NJ | 66 | 233 | 100 | 169 | Play Now | |
PartyPoker NJ | 33 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Play Now |
PalaPoker | 0,8 | Play Now |
There are currently 4 states that offer legal online poker in the United States – New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Pennsylvania became the latest to join this group when PokerStarswent live in the state on Nov. 4, 2019.
WSOP/888 US is currently the only poker site that shares online poker players between all three legal online poker states (NJ, Nevada & Delaware). It’s currently the #1 US online poker site by traffic.
Poker Stars – New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Party Poker – New Jersey only
Pala Poker – New Jersey only
US States launching soon
With the official launch of online poker Pennsylvania, there remains only one state that has legalized online poker. West Virginia legalized online poker in 2019, but wasn’t expected to go live until 2020.
The Mountain State, however, has a small population and launching an online poker room with a large number of players may be difficult without a shared liquidity pool with other states.
That may be resolved through litigation regarding the federal Wire Act.
Sweepstakes Online Poker – Available to all US Players
Global Poker – Uses a unique sweepstakes model allowing for online poker for real cash prizes and is available in all US states.
What is or is not legal in US?
Playing online poker is not strictly against any US laws. Therefore, a number of offshore sites continue to find creative ways around the banking issues created by UIGEA and continue to accept US customers.
In the years following the 2011 indictments, four states have also passed bills legalizing and regulating the activity in fenced-in markets inside state lines. Three of those states have also signed an agreement to share player pools.
Online Casino Poker Games
In the meantime, Global Poker, which started accepting US customers in December 2016, uses a sweepstakes and virtual-currency online poker model. As a result, it is not considered online gambling, leaving it outside the purview of the UIGEA.
Where can I play poker online in the US?
Outside of state-licensed online poker sites in Delaware, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, there’s really only one legal online poker site for US players.
Global Poker
Global Poker offers what amounts to real-money online poker to players inside the United States. The site launched in December 2016 offering a form of virtual currency gaming. The virtual currency can later be converted into real money on PayPal, but players don’t start out on Global Poker buying into tournaments and cash games with real dollars.
Instead, they purchase Gold Coins which come with bonus sweepstakes prizes called $weeps Cash. The $weeps Cash can be used to buy into $weeps Cash tournaments and ring games. Any $weeps Cash earned can then be cashed out through PayPal. There are also Gold Coin poker games, but no real money available down that road.
Global Poker uses its own custom-made poker software incorporating its patented sweepstakes technology. It’s glitchy, but serviceable.
The site is strictly No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha, but there are cash games, tournaments and sit and go’s. Global Poker runs various freeroll tournaments and promotional leader boards. All of the banking is done through PayPal.
Where can I play poker live in the US?
Poker is America’s game. As a result, most states have tribal casinos, commercial casinos or card rooms where you can expect to be able to play live poker.
In fact, it’s much easier to list the states where you can’t legally play live poker. Although, even in that list of states below, you likely won’t have to look too hard to find an underground game, or a casino in a neighboring state with a poker room tucked right up next to the border.
- Utah
- Texas*
- Hawaii
- Tennessee
- Alaska
- New Hampshire
- Georgia
*Texas is experimenting with poker in private social club settings. The state attorney general has declined to issue an opinion so far, leading to sizable operations opening in major cities. However, a recent raid in Houston has cast considerable doubt on the longterm viability of the clubs.
Individual states with online poker offerings
Up to and including January 2018, there are just four US states with laws legalizing and regulating online poker.
Delaware was the first state to do it, passing the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act in the summer of 2012. It approved both online poker and online casino games.
In February 2013, Nevada became the second state to come on board, authorizing the issue of online poker licenses. Within a week, New Jersey became the third state to legalize online gambling. It authorized the issue of licenses to casinos in Atlantic City that allowed them to operate both online poker and online casino sites.
In April 2013, the first-ever legal and regulated online poker site in the US went live in Nevada. The site’s name was Ultimate Poker. An offshoot of Station Casinos affiliated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organization ran the site. By November of that same year, legal and regulated online poker sites also went live in Delaware and New Jersey.
Pennsylvania jumps on board
Pennsylvania became the fourth state to authorize online gambling. It passed online poker and online gambling legislation as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansion bill in October 2017.
Since then, there has been much legal and regulatory maneuvering in the state. There has even been an external threat that arose after the Department of Justice revised its opinion about the Wire Act’s applicability.
PokerStars officially launched in Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, 2019.
West Virginia makes it five to go
West Virginia is now the fifth state to legalize online poker. The Mountain State did so with the passage of H 2934, the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act.
The bill became law after Gov. Jim Justice declined to sign. However, the appearance of online poker (and casino) sites in West Virginia is not imminent.
Lottery officials must still promulgate regulations for the new industry. It is likely to be 2020 before any site will possibly launch.
Activity in other states
Of course, a number of other states, including California, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois have all seriously considered various forms of legislation that would legalize and regulate online poker over the past few years.
In 2018 and 2019, Michigan also made significant pushes to legalize online gaming, including poker.
The federal government has succeeded in pushing the largest global online poker site operators out of the US market. However, several offshore online poker operators still accept US players.
US online poker overview
There are essentially two federal laws that govern online poker in the US.
The Wire Act
The first is the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, aka the Federal Wire Act. The law essentially prohibits the operation of certain types of betting businesses using wire communications. Its original aim was to stop interstate gambling and end organized crime’s interest in the business.
The act passed decades before the internet or online poker even existed. However, since it governed the loosely-related act of betting or wagering using wire communications, many believed it had some jurisdiction over online gambling.
In September 2011, in response to questions regarding the legality of online lottery sales, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a formal legal opinion on the scope of the act. The opinion concluded that interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a sporting event or contest fall outside of its reach.
Interested states took it to mean the act did not apply to online poker or other forms of online gambling. Now, four of those states have passed legislation legalizing and regulating the activity.
That may be changing, however. In January 2019, the DOJ reversed its opinion to say that the Wire Act, in fact, does relate to all online gambling.
In June 2019, a New Hampshire federal judge threw out the opinion as it relates to two litigants – the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and an associated vendor. However, the ripple effect of this judgment is unclear at this point.
The UIGEA
The second law is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Congress passed UIGEA in 2006. It made it illegal for US banks to process transactions for offshore online gambling operators. The law effectively pushed a number of online poker sites out of the market.
Other sites stayed in the US. However, the DOJ forced the largest remaining sites in the industry, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet out in 2011. The DOJ charged them with various illegal gambling and money laundering charges, partly under UIGEA.
History of online poker in the US
Online gambling first hit the internet when online casinos started opening in 1994. The operators were mostly based in places like Antigua or the Isle of Man, but they still took customers from the United States and were only too happy to accept US cash.
In 1996, the Mohawk Territoryof Kahnawake, a First Nations group based just outside of Montreal, Canada brought online gambling to North American soil for the first time. It set up a gaming commission and started issuing licenses to online casino sites. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission helped the number of online gambling websites around the world go from a handful to hundreds.
Nj Party Poker Online Casino
In 1998, a Canadian entrepreneur launched the first-ever online poker site. Planet Poker advertised in CardPlayer Magazine in the US prior to its Jan. 1, 1998 launch. The first ever real-money online $3/$6 Hold ’em game was filled with US players.
By 1999, the US Senate realized online gambling was widespread across the US and sought to do something about it. The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act was introduced, but it did not pass.
Over the next few years, sites introduced more sophisticated online poker software, and new sites launched around the world, offering cash games and tournaments.
In 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled the Federal Wire Act prohibits sports betting, but not necessarily online gambling. At the time, the DOJ disagreed, claiming online gambling was illegal, However, the industry kept growing.
The poker boom
In 2003, online poker’s popularity really took off. A Tennessee accountant aptly named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event after getting into the tournament through an online satellite. Coverage aired on ESPN, and Moneymaker’s story became a national obsession. Millions of Americans thought they could be next.
Poker was suddenly everywhere on TV, as the advent of hole-card cameras made live games more watchable than ever. Most shows were branded, and the commercial breaks were filled with spots for offshore online poker sites. The productions sold the game to the American TV-watching public and they bought it.
Then, in 2006, Congress took another shot at taming the wild beast. It passed UIGEA, making it illegal for US banks to handle transactions with offshore online poker sites. It certainly pushed a handful of operators out of the US market, but it didn’t eliminate the market altogether.
Several sites still accepted US players and found ways around the banking issues. Online poker continued to grow until April 15, 2011.
On that day, three of the largest online poker operators in the world were indicted on various illegal gambling and money laundering charges, including violating UIGEA. The sites included PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet. Access to the sites from the US was shut down, and the massive US online poker market was effectively closed.
However, it wouldn’t take long before efforts to open it up again began.
US legal and regulated online poker
In response to questions regarding the legality of online lottery sales in December 2011, the DOJ released a legal opinion that the Federal Wire Act only applies to sports betting. Several states took this to mean they could consider licensing and regulating online poker and casino sites if they wanted.
Delaware was the first state to do it, approving both online poker and online casino legislation in 2012.
In February 2013, Nevada became the second state to pass online gambling legislation, authorizing the issue of online poker licenses. A week later, New Jersey became the third state to legalize online gambling and made plans to issue licenses for online poker and online casino sites.
In April 2013, the first-ever legal and regulated online poker site in the US went live in Nevada. Legal and regulated online poker sites went live in Delaware and New Jersey in November 2013. Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online poker when it passed a comprehensive gambling expansion bill in October 2017.
Online Poker Casino Usa
Now, as sites jump through the regulatory hoops to get games up and running in Pennsylvania, even more states are considering similar online poker legislation.
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