US online casinos

The United States is the world center of gambling, where the legendary casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City are concentrated. However, online gambling in the country has a complex and fragmented legal system. Each state (state) independently determines which types of gambling are allowed and which are prohibited.

Today, the United States is a huge and rapidly growing market for iGaming, where offline casinos, sports betting and online platforms form one of the most profitable sectors of the economy.

History and legislation

Gambling in the United States has a long tradition dating back to the 19th century.

In the XX century, the industry was legalized in individual states (primarily Nevada in 1931), which laid the foundation for the famous Las Vegas.

The modern legal framework for online gambling relies on several key acts:

Federal Wire Act (1961) - prohibits interstate wagering but does not regulate in-state gambling itself;
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006) - restricts the activities of unlicensed online operators, but leaves states free to pass their own laws;
Supreme Court Ruling (2018) - A Supreme Court decision overturned a federal ban on sports betting (PASPA), allowing each state to self-regulate online gambling.

As a result, today the legality of online casinos and bets depends on the specific state, and the federal government only controls financial transactions and the fight against money laundering.

Regulation by state

Online gambling is not allowed everywhere.

For 2025, fully legalized online casinos operate in:

New Jersey is one of the largest markets in the United States;
Pennsylvania;
Michigan;
Delaware;
West Virginia;
Nevada - only online poker is allowed.

Online sports betting is already allowed in more than 30 states, including New York, Illinois, Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee, Ohio and others.

The remaining states are either in the process of drafting legislation or maintaining a complete ban.

Licensing

Licenses are issued at the state, not federal, level.

Regulation is engaged in:

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE);
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB);
Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB);
Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB);
Delaware Lottery / Gaming Division.

Licensee requirements include:

registration of the company in the USA;
partnership with land-based casinos (mandatory in all states except Delaware);
certification of RNG and software by independent laboratories (GLI, iTech Labs);
anti-money laundering (AML) and player protection (KYC) system;
integration with government self-locking registries.

The license term is from 3 to 5 years, with an annual audit and verification of reporting.

Taxation

The tax system varies by state.

Average:

15-25% of gross revenue (GGR) for online operators;
10-13% - for sports betting;
corporate income tax - 21% (federal).

Part of the taxes goes to state budgets for the development of education, infrastructure and social programs.

Example:

New Jersey in 2023 received more than $500 million in taxes from online gambling alone;
Pennsylvania - about $600 million, becoming the largest tax donor in the industry.

Online operators and brands

Both national and international operators with individual state licenses operate in the US market.

Among the largest:

BetMGM is a joint venture between MGM Resorts and Entain;
DraftKings Casino is a leader in online gambling and fantasy sports;
FanDuel Casino - Flutter Entertainment platform;
Caesars Casino is the online brand of the Caesars Entertainment chain;
BetRivers (Rush Street Interactive);
Golden Nugget Online;
PokerStars USA - Legal in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Many of them cooperate with land-based casinos, providing legal and secure access for users.

Land-based casinos

The United States remains the birthplace of the most famous gambling centers in the world:

Las Vegas (Nevada) is a symbol of the global gambling industry;
Atlantic City (New Jersey) is the second largest casino cluster;
Reno, Biloxi, Tunica, Detroit, Pittsburgh are major regional hubs.

In total, there are more than 1,000 casinos in the country, including tribal establishments operating under the jurisdiction of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA, 1988).

Tribal casinos are operated by Indian reservations and generate substantial revenue for local communities.

Popular games and destinations

American players have a wide range of gambling entertainment:

slots and video slots (online and offline);
roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps;
poker (including online);
sports and fantasy league betting (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UFC);
lotteries and scratchcards;
eSports betting and live games have been gaining popularity since 2022.

According to statistics, poker and slots are the leaders in online betting, and football (NFL) in the sports betting segment.

Payment methods

The main currency is the US dollar (USD).

Licensed sites support:

Visa, MasterCard, Discover;
PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Play+;
ACH and Wire Transfer bank transfers;
Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay;
prepaid cards (BetMGM Play +, DraftKings Card).

Cryptocurrencies are not allowed on official platforms, but are actively used on offshore sites (Stake, BC. Game, Bitcasino. io).

Responsible play

The United States is actively implementing Responsible Gaming programs.

Each licensed operator shall provide:

self-exclusion tools;
deposit, time and loss limits;
risk notifications;
24-hour player support.

Largest organizations:

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG);
Gamblers Anonymous USA;
ResponsiblePlay. org.

The state level has its own initiatives, such as the NJDGE Self-Exclusion Program in New Jersey or the Michigan Responsible Gaming Initiative.

Economic importance

The gambling industry is one of the largest sectors of the American economy.

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA):

the total income of the gambling market in 2024 exceeded $110 billion;
of which $25 + billion is online gambling;
the industry provides about 1.8 million jobs.

The online market is growing by 15-20% annually and is a driver of regional budgets.

Challenges and challenges

Despite its success, the industry faces a number of challenges:

lack of unified federal regulation;
differences in taxes and licensing between states;
the growth of offshore sites and cryptocasino;
the risk of gambling addiction among young people;
the need to adapt to Web3 and AI technologies.

However, most states see iGaming as a powerful source of revenue and are actively expanding legalization.

Development prospects

The United States continues the path to full digital regulation of gambling.

Expected:

legalizing online casinos in Illinois, Indiana, New York and California;
integration of blockchain technologies and transparent payments;
development of the mobile-first casino and live games segment;
state regulation of cryptocurrency rates.

The United States is well on its way to becoming the world leader in legal and innovative iGaming, where Las Vegas traditions are combined with advanced digital technologies and strict standards of player protection.