Gambling sites accepting US customers from outside of the three states are all ”offshore” sites, meaning they operate from outside of the US and have no license to operate within the US. They have obtained a license in some other jurisdictions – such as Antiqua & Barbuda or Panama – but many of those jurisdictions have less-than-stellar. Gambling related financial transactions for US gamblers must be done using only reputable, US friendly funding options that utilize multiple, high quality payment processors in order to operate successfully within the confines of the UIGEA – and only the most established and committed gambling sites are going to be able to pull that off.

• Legal Us Gambling Sites
• Us Legal Online Gambling Sites
• Legal Us Online Gambling Sites
• Legal Us Online Gambling Sites
• Legal Online Us Gambling Sites

Welcome to LegalUSGamblingSites.com, home of the best gambling sites that are legal for USA residents. This site is dedicated to making sense of all the confusion that surrounds the legality of online gaming in the U.S. while bringing some of the top offerings in the industry. If you wish to participate, all you need to do is to make sure that you are accepted and that you meet the minimum age required to gamble at the website you choose or the legal gambling age in your state, whichever is higher. As you will soon learn, there is actually nothing keeping you from gambling on the web... not physically or legally.

As for us, we're just a group of dedicated online gamblers that are about as friendly as they come. We've learned all this stuff and now want to share that with our readers which was the reason we've created this site. Having all the knowledge that we've acquired through first-hand experience and not sharing it would be a very selfish thing to do. We simply aim to educate and then if you feel like proceeding, you may do so with any of the legal gambling websites we've listed here, or venture out into the world alone. It's your call and know that you do not have to sign up, or even deposit, until you are 100% ready.

First, we're going to start out by giving you our recommendations of the best gambling sites that are legal no matter what type of gambling you're looking for... everything from casinos and online poker to places where you can legally bet on sports. But, before we get into that, there is just one more thing:

Are Online Gambling Sites Legal In The US?

We've got an entire section dedicated to this but the short answer is that you are not going to get in trouble for it being the end-user. Now, that doesn't mean it's one hundred percent legal (however things are starting to shift towards regulation) but don't expect someone to come bust through the door as you're spinning a slot or in the middle of a hand... that just won't happen unless you are actually operating a gambling business, online or otherwise, within your state's borders without permission. In fact, the U.S. government isn't going to like it very much either.

Here's short version of what you need to know about the industry in general, and about our website. With what we just said above, going with any gambling site located in your state is not going to turn out good and that is the reason we always recommend off-shore gaming sites. These sites fall outside of U.S. jurisdiction and are permitted to operate within the countries where they are located.

Gaming sites located outside of the U.S. can be considered to be legal although they are not regulated by any state government... yet! While individual states like New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada are leading the charge to regulate internet gaming within their borders, these sites regulate themselves through third-party verification and testing. It's just a matter of time before all states and even the federal government is on board. If you want to learn more about U.S. gambling laws, please click the preceding link or proceed to our section below.

Different Types Of Legal US Gambling Sites

The team here at LegalUSGamblingSites.com does not just focus on one type of online gambling. Between the avid sports betting guys that work here and the casino junkies, we can tell you about all types of gambling. We even have a guy that works for us that plays in the WSOP main event on a regualr basis. Needless to say we know our gambling.

Below you will find information about the main types of US online gambling sites which includes sports betting sites, online casinos, and online poker rooms. All of these gambling websites accept US players from all 50 states (with a few exceptions) and they are all among the most trusted websites in their particular field.

Below you will find only the very best legal US casinos listed here, all of which have all the things you want like slots, blackjack, video poker, and even some with live dealer games. These casinos have hundreds and hundreds of games to choose from to keep you busy and the software they use is all top of the line.

The legal sports betting sites we list below are the ones that we trust the most for US players. They have all the betting odds you can imagine for every sport in the world and the customer service at these sites is second to none. You will find that they have easy deposits, fast payouts, good bonuses, and a whole lot more.

As far as legal US poker sites, there is a very limited number of sites that we reccomend to our visitors. However, the ones that we do list are the best ones available to US players. All the really good sites no longer accept US players and until they do, you are going to have to play at the poker rooms that the different sports betting sites offer. These are great legal poker sites for US players, but none of them compare to the days of Poker Stars.

Legal Sports Betting Sites For U.S. Players

Betting on sports is something that is as American as Chevrolet and apple pie. The United States is home of the best athletes in the world in a variety of sports and even sends it's best players to other countries to compete in the highest leagues. As Americans, we love to support our teams and often debate with other fans about who is better. We like to think we're in-tune with everything that is going on and even make our own predictions. Oddsmakers have made their predictions too and as avid fans/followers, we can pit our knowledge versus theirs to make money betting on games.

Below, we're going to break down the sports betting indstury and show you where you need to go as a fan of sports in order to find the betting lines that you are going to want to wager on. There are several things you want to know, and we can help with a lot of it, but if you're looking for the right team to pick... so are we and we'd be thrilled if you'd let us know so we can bet too!

Are Sports Betting Sites Legal For U.S. Players?

Because the act of placing a bet online is not specifically outlawed under federal law, bettors in the U.S. can play at offshore sportsbooks. That's because these sites are not under the federal jurisdiction of the laws previously mentioned, such as the UIGEA and Federal Wire Act. This is why it is a legal betting option.

Best Sports Betting Sites That Are Legal For U.S. Players

Online sports betting is another aspect of gambling we had explored when we decided to start looking through online gambling sites and their legal status. Sportsbooks allow you to wager on sports odds, if you didn't know, and the legalities of these law are heavily debated. Should you decide to look into these betting sites, you will have very little trouble actually participating.

There are a number of online sportsbooks around the world that accept players from the United States to sign up and create accounts. These sites know that sports betting in the U.S. is surrounded by legislation, so they make it a simple process for the USA player to come to their site and bet. That's why you will see a ton of sportsbooks offer odds on sports in the United States. Whether it's the NFL, college football, NBA, MLB, college basketball, PGA Tour, or a number of others.

Legal Sports Betting Sites For US Players

Bovada Sportsbook

Bovada is one sportsbook we can recommend to all of our readers. Should you decide to bet on sports through their site, you will experience some of the best possible betting odds. Their games offer generous odds, with players able to wager on everything from the NFL on down. There is nothing that has been left out of this sportsbook.

If you'd like to sign up and make a deposit into Bovada, know that players from all states except a few are accepted. If you reside in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, or Nevada, you will not be allowed to make a new account at Bovada Sportsbook

When you do decide to make a deposit, it will be met with a 50% match which can give new depositors as much as $250 in freeplay. This bonus is rather new but should be around for the long haul which is just like Bovada. As one of the most secure sportsbooks around, Bovada will give you one of the safest gambling sites around and it is a name you can trust.

BetOnline Sportsbook

One of the great online sportsbooks legal for U.S. players to lay down a wager is BetOnline. This sportsbook allows players in all 50 states to sign up for an account, and enjoy the thousands of betting odds formed every month, covering a wide variety of sports.

It starts by registering for a BetOnline account, which can be done from the homepage, where you are then brought to the section to create the new login. After this process is complete, it's time to set up funds for your account. Depositing into BetOnline can be done through a Visa Card, American Express card, wire transfer, cashier's check, or even a money order. All of these aforementioned funding methods are U.S. friendly, meaning legal methods to deposit.

But the best part of BetOnline, in addition to the great number of betting lines offered, is the deposit bonus. How does $1,000 on every deposit sound? Because that is exactly what is offered when a players signs up an deposits here. And while there are sportsbooks out there which have a first-deposit bonus, BetOnline offers this bonus for life. A player can receive up to $1,000 on every deposit they make. So check out this great sportsbook, and see what everyone is talking about.

SportsBetting.ag

Betting on sports for American players doesn't get much better than at SportsBetting.ag. If you are worried about the legality of betting at such a site, put your mind at ease right now. SportsBetting.ag is legal for U.S. players to sign up for an account and deposit to bet for real cash. Bettors must meet the legal age requirement in their state to do so, but provided that that obligation is met, the world of online sports betting opens to you here.

SportsBetting.ag offers their player a host of different features and advantages. Among those are the wide variety of depositing options that are USA friendly. These include first and foremost a Visa or American Express card. But if you choose to go another route, a wire transfer, cashier's check, and money order are also accepted.

When a player makes a deposit into SportsBetting.ag, they will be presented with a bonus option of up to $500 via a 50% match of their deposit. This is a deposit bonus that is good on every one made into the account, not just the first deposit, or on the first day. This is a bonus option for life!

Be sure to check out SportsBetting.ag, and remember that U.S. players don't have to worry about legal issues that accompany online sports betting here, you are good to go.

5Dimes Sportsbook

The sportsbook at 5Dimes definitely has some unique qualities to it. And this is meant in a good way. In addition to being a legal online sportsbook for players in the United States, 5Dimes has some great features to take advantage of.

These features include betting lines that you won't see anywhere else, or at the very least, betting lines that are out before other sportsbooks. It's just how 5Dimes Sportsbook operates. This definitely makes the sportsbook appealing, because it's fun to get in on wagers that no other sportsbook has.

To do this, simply create and account and deposit into the sportsbook using a Visa Card, money order, or a cashier's check. All of these methods are designed for the U.S. player to fund their accounts legally without having to worry about breaking the law.

A bonus of up to $520 on the first deposit is offered for players. This is a great bonus to grab and apply towards the bets you will make.

Legal USA Online Casinos

Casinos were the first type of gambling site we had looked into. These casinos provide players with some of the safest ways to gamble. You will be able to play all of the famous casino games out there, including table games, slots, video poker and more. All of these casinos are located outside of the U.S. and all of them can be trusted to keep your information safe.

Are Online Casinos Legal For Players In The U.S.?

Players looking into online casinos who reside in the United States will find out two things. One, the operation of an online casino in the U.S. is effectively outlawed under the UIGEA. That's because the way in which a bet is processed by a site is banned. And two, that the individual bettor is not subject to the UIGEA because it specifically says intermediaries are not subject to its jurisdiction. As a result, online casinos that operate outside of the U.S. and allow players to join are a great option.

The Best Online Casinos that Are Legal In The U.S.

Should you decide that you want to play these casinos, you will find that the options are nearly limitless. In the end, we can tell you that the options are fairly limitless. In the end, you should be able to play without too many problems. We can tell you that players are visiting these casinos daily, and that you will not have any trouble if you follow our advice.

These casinos that we mention on this page are all very reputable and top-rated in the industry. There is certainly a series of checks and balances to ensure that the sites are fair and do not rip off players. Online casinos are highly regulated, so any U.S. player who checks them out will be going to a trusted site. Our reviews are of the best casinos that we either personally have played, or have reviewed.

Read more about legal US online casinos here.

Lucky Red

If you're feeling lucky, the casino at Lucky Red wants you to come try your hand at the more than 120 games offered on site. American friendly, and legal to sign up to create and account, Lucky Red is one of the best options that USA players can enjoy when to comes to playing at and online casino. Players from all 50 states in the U.S. are welcome to create an account and play their favorite games at the site.

Once the account is created, the next step would be to fund it so that players can win real cash. U.S. methods used to deposit into Lucky Red include a Visa or MasterCard credit card. This makes for safe, fast, and easy ways to fill your account.

A deposit bonus of up to $4,000 is offered for new players to Lucky Red, as players have the option to accept or decline the bonus when asked. It does provide the opportunity to get a ton of free cash to put into various games.

Las Vegas USA

So you might not be staying at the Bellagio or the MGM Grand this weekend. That doesn't mean you can't have some great casino action though. With Las Vegas USA casino, the fun of Vegas is brought right into your living room. And the best part is that USA players are encouraged and welcome to sign up for an account here. Las Vegas USA is a legal online casino for American players.

Las Vegas USA utilizes RTG software for their games and operation. RTG is widely recognized as the best software for online gaming.

Players from the U.S. will be able to deposit with a Visa or MasterCard, as well as an MST Gift Card. Making a deposit into you Las Vegas USA account as an American player is a simple process, with the funds transferred automatically.

When funding, an exclusive bonus option of a 200 percent match up to $1,000 is offered if you enter the code USA100. This is a great bonus to take advantage of, and can get you playing with a ton of free cash.

Club World

Bring the world of online casinos to your computer screen with Club World casino. This casino truly epitomizes quality for American players to take advantage of. Club World casino is a legal online gaming option for players in the United States, and they make it easy for U.S. players to become account holders.

To play for real money at Club World, there are several deposit options that are offered. But for USA players, this comes down a Visa or Mastercard deposit.

Players with new accounts are eligible to receive up to $777 in bonus cash. This is given to the player at the time they make their first deposit into the casino.

Legal Us Gambling Sites

Club World has all of the casino games you could want, ranging from a variety of slots, to different table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, and more. There is certainly something for every type of player out there.

Bovada

The casino at Bovada is fully stocked and equipped with everything a player would hope to find when searching for a great online gambling site. Bovada is a legal online casino option for American players, which certainly makes it appealing to those looking for somewhere to play who live in the United States. Of note though, residents in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada are not accepted at Bovada.

Those who sign up at Bovada and make their first deposits are eligible to receive up to $2,000 in free bonus cash. This is an option for the first deposits over the course of the first day that players join.

To fund your Bovada account, U.S. players have the option of a Visa Card or a Rapid Transfer wire transfer. Both are easy and efficient ways to fund you account. And when it comes to a withdrawal process, a check in the mail or a Rapid Transfer are accepted ways for players in the United States.

Slots Jungle

Slots Jungle Casino is another of the most famous gambling sites online, and this is true for various reasons. Besides being friendly to all U.S. players who come through the digital door, Slots Jungle is setup with the American player in mind which is why they've become a staff favorite.

Slots Jungle Casino offers their users a no deposit bonus of $20 for free, a $10,000 welcome package and even a wide variety of reload bonuses. The bonus code JUNGLE20 activates the no deposit bonus, while the bonus code JUNGLEWELCOME activates a set of ten 100% to $1,000 bonuses.

This casino provides their players with one of the most generous gambling sites around. Their jackpots have broken the 90% match on each of their slots, so plenty of money can be won by way of this gambling site.

Loco Panda

Win big at Loco Panda Casino, one of the fastest growing online casino for American players in the industry. This online casino is a great legal betting option for U.S. players, as they can sign up free from worry about getting into trouble, provided that the minimum age to gamble is met. At Loco Panda that legal age is 18, but you must also meet the gambling requirement in your state.

To register for an account at Loco Panda, you will be required to complete only a few steps in which you will need to provide the necessary information to verify who you are. This only takes five minutes or so, for which you are then brought to your funding methods.

Loco Panda accepts Visa and MasterCard for U.S. players, so this makes it easy to make a deposit. With the wide ownership of one of these two cards, just about all USA players will be able to play the more than 100 games offered. A minimum deposit of $21 is required.

A Deposit bonus of up to $4,000 is offered to players making their initial deposit into Loco Panda. Be sure to get in and take advantage of all this casino has to offer.

Legal USA Poker Sites

This is a touchy subject for a lot of USA players that used to be involved in the online version of the game when the big three sites went down on Black Friday. Fact is, most were able to recover funds from those websites and some of those sites are still around today and trying to get back in the good graces of the U.S. government. That could take some time but do know that there are plenty of other options out there that are all above board. You can rely on these sites and trust that they're not going anywhere, at least not until there are better options and right now, there aren't.

We'll break down why this is safe and more as we keep going. We urge you to stick to the recommendations we've provided as we cannot testify to the quality and professionalism of any other site you may find browing through search engines.

Is Online Poker Legal For U.S. Players?

Players living in the United States can definitely find a legal online poker site to join. This site will not operate in the U.S. in all likelihood, but there is some progress being made in that department, specifically in the state of New Jersey. As it stands now though, the best bet for USA poker players will be to navigate to one of these credible offshore sites and sign up for an account.

Recommended Poker Sites That Are Legal For U.S. Players

Online poker is not a form of gambling we regularly look at, but there are a few different sites we can tell you that provide players offer with a fair and legitimate gaming experience. Unfortunately, there are quite a few different scammy poker sites out there, and we do not want our readers to join these - hence our extensive testing at our own risk. Keep in mind that these sites are all completely legal, so you will have no trouble if you decide to join.

But just like with online sportsbooks and online casinos, American players won't have problems finding a poker site that they can join. But like we have alluded to, not all poker rooms are created equal. That's where we come into play here, checking out and reviewing a number of different sites. The top sites that we believe are the best for poker players in the U.S. to check out are listed below.

Read more about legal online poker sites for US players here.

5Dimes

Legal online poker for players in the United States can be found at 5Dimes by the bulk. They offer a dozen different types of tables that players can sit in on. American players from all 50 states can legally sign up for an account here, and begin to play the most popular online gambling game in the entire world.

Registering for a 5Dimes account is a simple process, which will take the player creating a new account just moments to complete. After verifying your account, you will have the option to make a deposit to begin to play for real money. This can be done with a Visa Card, a cashier's check, or a money order.

Promotions and bonuses for 5Dimes poker room are routinely available, and changing. 5Dimes is committed to offering their players the best and most unique bonus and prize opportunities available. If you are a prospective online poker player, or even an experienced one looking for a nice change, consult 5Dimes and let them take care of you.

BetOnline

Trying to find a great legal online poker option while living in the United States? We know that there are laws in place preventing state-regulated sites in your most likely. But the good news is that BetOnline poker offers American players a great legal online poker room to join. All 50 states are accepted at BetOnline's poker room. Meet the minimum age restriction at the site and in your state for gambling, and get ready to play!

Think funding you account will be a pain? Think again! Do you have a Visa card, or an American Express? If you do, you already have methods to fund your BetOnline poker account. But if you don't, other U.S. accepted deposit methods include a wire transfer, money order, and a cashier's check.

While there are poker-specific promotions that BetOnline runs, perhaps the best bonus offered is the generic lifetime deposit bonus. This bonus stipulates that players can get up to $900 in free cash with every deposit. It's a 15-25 percent match depending on your deposit, with the cap at $900, and it doesn't get any better than that.

More About Legal US Gambling Sites To Know

The laws surrounding online gambling in the United States are very confusing and almost completely unnecessary. They are mostly obsolete, and they do not really do much to prevent gamblers from participating in the games. In fact, the legislators have been contemplating strengthening the laws in order to actually criminalize gambling over the Internet. To date, nothing has made it a crime to gamble online, so you will not have to worry about being arrested for gambling online. In the end, you should have no trouble actually participating in the games if you know where to look.

UIGEA of 2006 - Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

So much has been said about the UIGEA among the gaming population that those who don’t know about it probably don’t need to.

But much has happened since 2006, including Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), trying to get the whole thing overturned in 2009.

That hasn’t happened yet, and according to experts who spend their time watching the trends related to internet gambling, it probably won’t happen, on the federal level, until 2015 at the the earliest.

So, the provisions remain – banks operating in the United States cannot “knowingly” facilitate internet gambling operations conducted in the U.S. or its territories. You can read the fine print, but that’s about it.

If the next logical question is, “Does that mean betting online is illegal?”, the obvious answer is, “No”. A myriad of legal online sites provide the opportunity for gaming aficionados to play the games they find appealing and exciting – poker, slots, roulette, craps – not to mention all the sports games which create many more wagering and winning chances. Yes, it’s legal, under the provisions of a law touted as a measure designed to eliminate the “scourge” of internet gambling.

Actually, what this law was designed to do, in its original form, was protect America’s ports from terrorists. Is someone can explain this to me, I’m listening.

Wire Act Of 1961

The U.S. Interstate Wire Act of 1961 was a piece of legislation designed to provide federal investigators with tools to fight illegal gambling promoted by organized crime. As originally intended and written, the focus of the law was exclusively on sports betting and bookmaking.

The law earned its name because it doesn’t outlaw any form of betting, but rather, the use of “wires” to transmit information or requests related to betting, making a wager or collecting on a wager.

Of course, in the early days of the Kennedy administration, not even Carl Sagan could have imagined the advent of the internet, and how the gambling industry would grow and flourish as a result of online betting. While current estimates vary, it is generally assumed that more than eight million people worldwide place bets online on a regular basis.

While federal prosecutors have used the Wire Act as a means to control interstate gambling within U.S. borders, it has proven ineffective as a means to reduce the number of gaming sites operating legally in other nations. Further, no provision of the measure has served to reduce the numbers of U.S. citizens gambling legally online.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that it agreed with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the law did not apply to online games such as poker, but only to sports betting in a specific realm.

PAPSA

In 1992, in an effort to eradicate or severely handicap the sports gambling industry and the entities controlling it at the time, Congress passed the “Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act”, or “PASPA”. Sponsored by Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-AZ, and co-sponsored by 62 of the remaining 99 members of the Senate, the bill enjoyed bipartisan support and was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush in October of 1992.

Under provisions of “PASPA”, all forms of sports gambling that involved professional or amateur athletes were essentially outlawed. Existing sports lotteries in Oregon, Delaware and Montana, and the legal sports pools in Nevada, were exempted, as were horse and dog racing and jai alai. Another provision of the bill would have allowed New Jersey, a state where casino gambling was legal, to pass state laws which would effectively exempt it from federal enforcement. That allowance expired after one year, with New Jersey lawmakers taking no action.

Since that time, however, New Jersey has acted, and as a result the law may be overturned. A suit filed in federal District Court by a New Jersey state senator has drawn the attention of other state legislators around the country. Many legal experts predict the law cannot endure the court scrutiny and will either be ruled unconstitutional or be repealed through congressional action.

State Internet Gaming Laws

To further confound players, there are also the state laws related to gambling on the Internet. Each state is allowed to pass their own laws regarding online gambling. To date only a few states have actually banned online gambling, though there are various states with even more confusing laws. Washington and Louisiana are two states where you definitely do not want to gamble online. Provided you do not live in these states you should not have too much trouble participating, nor will you have to worry about breaking the laws.

We touched on this briefly above, but there are a few states that are beginning to recognize the potential revenue stream that regulated online gaming could provide. As of mid-2013, there are no states that have officially regulated the industry however there are gambling sites that have been approved once legalized online gambling in the U.S. goes online later this year.

In the end, casinos, sportsbooks and poker rooms all operate freely without any trouble. If you are looking for legitimate, legal sites, you will find that these options are free to use. Should you decide that you want to participate in the games, you will find that plenty of money can be won online, very easily and legally. The one thing you you need to keep in mind is the state laws, as well as the legitimacy of the gambling sites online. If you are truly unsure, you will want to look at the laws of your state, and perhaps consult an attorney if you are really unsure over whether or not you can gamble in your state.

• 50% Bonus up to $250

• 50% Bonus up to $1k

• 50% Bonus up to $1,000

• 100% Bonus up to $500

• 50% Bonus up to $520

• RANK
• SPORTSBOOK
• USA?
• RATING
• CONNECT

Skip the Headaches and Play at a Legitimate Site

You’re looking for a legitimate U.S. gambling site, but can’t decide which site to trust with your hard-earned money?

Good news! We’ve been in the online gambling industry for over a decade (several decades, really, if you add all of our experience together), and we’ve spent countless hours to bring you a list of the most legitimate sites.

Here’s what all of these sites have in common:

• 10+ years in the business with strong reputations.
• Attractive promotions for first-time customers.
• Quick money withdrawals (relative to the U.S. market).

Why Bovada Is #1 in the U.S.

#1: Fastest Check Cashouts

Bovada gets 10 times as much traffic as its second best US competitor and still delivers check payouts faster than any of them. Bovada processes check withdrawals in 7 days; many of its competitors take weeks, some more than a month to do the same. (There are other fast options, like the #3-ranked BetOnline, which delivers checks in 14 days.)

#2: Service

An equally important aspect of Bovada’s operations is its customer service. If there ever was an indication of how much a company respects its customers, it’s the level of customer service the company provides. I haven’t found any US-friendly site doing this aspect of the business better (although 5Dimes is a worthy runner-up).

#3: All-In-One

Finally, all parts of Bovada’s business (sportsbook, casino, poker, racebook) are popular. Bovada is best-known for sports betting and casino games, however, even its online poker room has around four times as many players online as the second biggest US poker site. You can access all of their games with one player account.

… But You Should Know This

Bovada is recreational-friendly, perhaps more-so than any other US site. You’ll find few golden opportunities in their sportsbook (read more about their use of dual lines), they have a relatively high overall house edge (especially after recently increasing house edge in video poker games) and their online poker room only has “anonymous” tables.

Although not everyone agrees with me, the recreational-friendly part is an advantage for skilled poker players. Since Bovada appeals to recreational gamblers, you’ll be like a shark among regular fish.

Bovada charges a 4.9% fee for credit card deposits (a lot considering how most sites charge nothing). The impact of the deposit fee is slightly compensated by their welcome bonuses, which are better than average.

All online gamblers look for entertaining games, attractive promotions and aesthetically pleasing software. To have a safe experience, however, you want a site to:

1. Serve its customers with safety and respect,
2. Operate with a reasonable house edge, and
3. Handle money transactions promptly.

Yes, the third point is included in the first point but it’s also such an essential part of the customer experience that it must be mentioned separately. Many online gambling websites operate without an adequate level of service so these points are worth considering. It’s rare to find a combination of all three points.

Bovada fulfills all of the above criteria better than other sites but 5Dimes does well, too. In fact, I’m confident in ranking those two as the best USA gambling websites specifically because they deliver so well in the areas related to safety and trustworthiness. A site without proper customer service and safety measures is not one you should deposit money to, regardless of its promotions and whatnot.

What Are Some Alternative Options?

For Sports Bettors

5Dimes.eu is the best betting site in the US for the following reasons: they’re professional-friendly and offer reduced juice betting lines (in other words, less house edge). Before betting on any game, I recommend taking a look at the odds 5Dimes is offering. They’ve been a reliable sportsbook for over 10+ years — you’ll find few complaints about 5Dimes online, and the ones you find have been resolved quickly.

For poker and casino games, I would go with Bovada. But for sports bettors, it makes the most sense to have an account at 5Dimes.

Another Solid Option

BetOnline.ag is my third suggestion. It’s not significantly better than the others in any area but they’re simply a solid option. Prompt cashout processing, decent poker traffic, good sports betting options and entertaining casino games. Additionally, I’ve had good experiences with their customer service.

For sports bettors, BetOnline is worth signing-up at simply to be able to compare betting lines among a few sites. For poker players, BetOnline may offer some good games every now and then (keep in mind: you can bet on sports and play casino and poker games with the same account, so plenty of gamblers will stumble on the poker games eventually). For casino gamblers, BetOnline has a basic but reliable offering.

BetOnline charges a 6% fee for credit card deposits.

Is It Legal to Play?

The definition of ”gambling” and the laws surrounding vary depending on which state you live in.

In Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey, some forms of online gambling have been legalized and regulated (only state-licensed sites are allowed to operate legally). In other states, it’s likely (although not widely agreed upon) that playing – and certainly operating – online gambling games for real money is illegal.

On a federal level, sports betting is the only form of prohibited gambling via the Wire Act of 1961. For several years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained that the Wire Act applies to all forms of online gambling, but in December 2011, they corrected that stance by stating that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting – a result of a 13-page memorandum from the Office of Legal Counsel to the Criminal Division of the DOJ (source).

State laws, however, often indirectly prohibit gambling. Or to put it another way: it would be difficult to claim any forms of online gambling legal with absolute certainty in most states (lotteries and such aside). Most state laws indirectly prohibit gambling simply by making all forms of gambling unlawful that have not been made lawful.

Purely based on history, it’s unlikely you’ll get into legal trouble; then again, if something is illegal, you can get into trouble, and someone probably will. Gambling online may be illegal where you live. Contact a local gaming lawyer to get a better idea of your local laws.

Legal Troubles

Industry-changing events have taken place in the online gambling world – mainly concerning online poker – such as the UIGEA and Party Poker’s exit from the US market, or PokerStars’ exit from the US market in 2011.

Those crimes were committed by online poker operators, though, not players. Still, the mere fact that online poker companies were targeted was enough to cast a shadow over the legality of US online poker, and furthermore, players grew more and more worried about one of these sites getting shut down along with the money on their player accounts.

In fact, there is a legitimate reason to worry about dishonest US gambling sites taking your money. Some sites have indeed taken off with the money – a recent example is Lock Poker, which currently may owe its customers over $15 million. I created LegitGamblingSites.com mainly to give more exposure to the sites with strong track records of honest business practices.

The lawmakers, in that regard, have a point about not allowing unlicensed sites to provide online gambling games to US citizens. While that may not be the reason, it’s likely one of them. (If I had to guess, I’d say they’re more concerned about losing out on tax dollars and protecting the interests of brick & mortar casino owners such as Sheldon Adelson, although through the RAWA – Restore America’s Wire Act legislation – he tries to do that by himself.)

How to Move Money Around

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) became a law, US citizens have had a more difficult time finding a suitable deposit method.

There are only a few left, actually.

The most common deposit method for US citizens is still credit card deposits, out of which VISA is the most widely accepted brand, followed by Mastercard, with American Express being a distant third. Cards must be eligible for both international and online transfers.

The alternative method is to use a money transfer service such as Western Union. Western Union is mostly a deposit-only method. (Bovada is an exception since they only allow you to withdraw money via a check.)

Why to use a money transfer service instead of a credit card?

• A card deposit fails to go through. This happens every now and then, and the only way to know if your card will be accepted is to try. According to various forum reports, Vanilla VISA is declined at most sites while Netspend VISA has been successful.

  Surprisingly, players have had problems with card deposits even at state-licensed sites due to banks like Bank of America outright declining all gambling transactions. Things will likely get better with the new MCC codes for VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Distant which will help casinos to identify gambling transactions more accurately. It’s unclear how much of a help this will be since banks still have the right to decline transfers marked with the new MCC codes, and due to not wanting to violate the UIGEA (according to which they’re prohibited from knowingly processing unlawful gambling transactions), banks may decide it isn’t worth it and keep cancelling transactions even if they were for state-licensed sites.

  This is expected to change once bigger states – perhaps even the biggest of them all, California – join internet gambling, since declining the transactions will then affect such a large percentage of any bank’s customer base.

• You want a faster cashout. While money transfer services cost more (many sites, like Bovada, allow one free check cashout a month), the money is usually delivered to be picked up at a local Western Union location in five days or less.
• You don’t want a check cashout. You need to go to a cashier to cash a check. Most people would rather avoid doing this, especially since banks aren’t allowed to knowingly process online gambling related transactions (unless in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey, but people have had problems in those states as well).

In general, you’ll have higher transaction costs with money transfer services than with a combination of credit cards and checks. BetOnline and Bovada are the only major USA sites charging for credit card deposits and most allow one free check cashout per month – some, like True Poker, allow a free check withdrawal every seven days.

How to use a credit card/check combination?

1. Enter your credit card details online after which you have the money on your player account instantly.
2. When done playing, order a check cashout, which will take from a week to over a month depending on which site you’re dealing with.
3. Go to your local bank to cash the check.

How to use a money transfer service (like Western Union)?

1. Go to their website or a live Western Union location and send money to the gambling site. (You’ll need to contact the gambling site first to get their transfer details.)
2. When done playing, initiate the withdrawal from your player account.
3. Go to a live location to collect the money.

State-Licensed Sites

As mentioned, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated some forms of real-money online gambling. Delaware started with online poker but has since expanded into casino games as well; Nevada offers online poker games only; New Jersey offers online poker and casino games.

As you can see, not a single one of these states offer online sports betting. In New Jersey – clearly the biggest market of the three – there’s a clause according to which sports betting may be considered to be added in the future.

Requirements

You must be physically located within a state’s boundaries to play at the licensed sites. If you’re currently located in California but live in Nevada, you’re unable to play until you return to Nevada; if you’re currently located in Nevada but live in California, you can play as long as you stay within Nevada’s state boundaries.

Licensed sites have to make sure nobody outside of the state can participate in the games. Geolocation – identifying exactly where a person is located – has been difficult, and there are still people who are unable to play even though they’re located within those states. This is one of the reasons licensed online gambling sites have done financially worse than expected.

Only existing brick & mortar casino owners within those states can apply for licenses, although they can apply together with an existing online gambling site in a software-licensing agreement, like Caesar’s Interactive and 888.com have done. If a poker site kept operating in the US after the UIGEA of 2006, it will be subjected to a ”bad actor” clause in Nevada and be prohibited from operating in the state for now.

Us Legal Online Gambling Sites

Performance

Each state has had a rocky start, although New Jersey is doing OK. In March 2014, they did $11.87 million in revenue, which grew into $13.16 million in March 2015. A growth rate of 14.57% year-over-year is better than nothing, but still a far cry from the $1 billion within the first 7 months of operating Governor Christie expected (New Jersey gambling sites were launched in November 2013). In other words, his expectations were a little over $140 million a month on average, or about ten times the current revenue.

Legal Us Online Gambling Sites

According to PokerScout.com, Nevada’s online poker revenue is going downhill. Year-over-year decrease in revenue of around 44% (from February 2014 to February 2015) is, no matter how you look at it, a disappointing result. Problems with card deposits and geolocation – both of which exist in other states as well – and player liquidity have undoubtedly contributed to the significant decrease. Players have to deal with fewer problems when playing at offshore sites, and as long as that continues, it will be difficult for state-licensed sites to gain major traction.

In Delaware, the state keeps all yearly revenue up to $3.75 million. Since total revenue for 2014 was around $2.1 million, gambling operators have made nothing. The main reason for such a low amount of revenue is Delaware’s population of 0.94 million (in comparison, New Jersey has a population of 8.9 million). Liquidity is important for online poker since you need lots of players to run games at various stakes, in several forms and throughout the day. Delaware is trying to improve its poker liquidity by combining player pools with Nevada but so far there hasn’t been a significant improvement to its online gaming revenue.

If all of the three states were to combine their player pools, it would create a poker economy of around 12 million people, which could add significant liquidity to the games and thus bring in more revenue to each of the states.

Offshore Sites

Gambling sites accepting US customers from outside of the three states are all ”offshore” sites, meaning they operate from outside of the US and have no license to operate within the US. They have obtained a license in some other jurisdictions – such as Antiqua & Barbuda or Panama – but many of those jurisdictions have less-than-stellar reputations.

The disadvantage of gambling at offshore sites is the lack of safety. For an outsider, it’s impossible to know how strict testing measures these sites go through to prove their legitimacy, and hypothetically, if one of them were to disappear from the internet tomorrow along with your money, what could you do about it?

Lock Poker, as already mentioned, is an ongoing example. They’ve now lost their license in Curacao (weirdly, they were able to keep the license easily over a year after refusing to process customer cashouts) and there’s nothing anyone can do to make sure Lock Poker’s customers have their money returned. All we can do is spread the word to the people who are considering signing-up and depositing money to their site.

The best thing you can do is consider the reputation of the site rather than the jurisdiction since all jurisdictions have had dishonest sites. The longer a site has been fully operational, and the fewer complaints it has generated, the better. Essentially, Bovada has been in the online gambling business since 2000 when Bodog.com was founded (the US-friendly operations of Bodog were re-branded as Bovada in 2011), and as mentioned, they’ve achieved an excellent reputation with a high level of customer service.

But there are advantages to playing at an offshore site, too, and you can legitimately argue that the advantages override the disadvantages. Offshore sites place fewer restrictions on customers, need less personal information and have to compete with lots of other sites (within US states, competition is limited) which forces them to be at their best in order to succeed. There are no geolocation issues either.

Safety and legality aside – although obviously, both are big considerations – offshore sites are the better option in almost every area. Since only three states have legalized some forms of real-money online gambling in the US, they’re the only places for internet gambling for around 96.4% of US population.

Legal Us Online Gambling Sites

What’s Next?

US online gambling is in a transitional phase: after a long wait of legalization, three states have done it, mostly with lackluster success. Suggesting geolocation and deposit issues are resolved, revenue streams may grow. With online poker, though, most likely at least one of the bigger states has to legalize it and combine player pools with the others to create a meaningful poker economy.

Legal Online Us Gambling Sites

A federal legalization would create much-needed competition and player pools, which in turn creates a bigger incentive for operators to participate and, in many ways, a better environment for gamblers. If internet gambling was to be legalized nationwide, every operator and their grandmother would want a license. As of now, it’s more beneficial for most operators to stay outside of the US.